Edge Growth Drives Development Of Green SMEs
Edge Growth Drives Development Of Green SMEs. The 2nd edition of Africa’s Green Economy Summit took place recently, a platform which saw the continent’s major sustainability thought leaders explore the green investments potential and instruments to mobilise funding in combatting climate change and fostering a more sustainable and inclusive future. Small business development specialist, Edge Growth, participated at the summit for the first time, and sponsored one of the pitching sessions which covered key themes of recycling and waste management businesses, green hydrogen initiatives, and e-mobility operations.
This three-day event saw 436 delegates from 35 countries explore and unpack the five key sectors of the green economy, including clean technologies, green transport, renewable energy, water services and waste management. Edge Growth’s experience in investing in innovative green tech SMEs, and their successful partnership with the Green Outcomes Fund which supports and incentivises local fund managers to increase investment in green SMEs, has helped this impact investor to develop a solid track record in supporting and developing green startups.
This includes providing investment support along with other partners for I-G3N, a black-empowered female-owned SME that is successfully developing lithium-iWeon batteries specifically for the African continent. Another highlight over the last few years has been assisting family-owned recycling business Waste Want with a combination of strategic funding for the purchase of equipment, mentoring in business skills, data analysis to inform process flows and investment into company culture.
Some examples of green SME’s currently being supported via the Edge Growth ecosystem include a black owned independent company that specialises in technical, business management services and project development in the renewable industry in Africa, as well as a next-generation manufacturer of unique sustainable building solutions. Another exciting investment alongside other partners is in a majority black owned smart-home solutions technology company that specialises in smart geysers and innovative and energy-efficient solutions.
