Why it matters

Start-ups and SMEs are engines for growth and innovation, especially in the cleantech sector. Early-stage innovators are not bound by the existing practices and offer unconventional solutions to the long-unresolved problems. Cleantech enterprises can therefore lead the transition toward sustainable low-carbon economies and create employment opportunities for women and young generations, thus reducing inequality and poverty.

Despite having this promising potential, entrepreneurs often find it difficult to commercialize their solutions. They encounter serious barriers to business and technology development, referred to collectively as “valleys of death” that they have to cross to ensure traction, growth and scale-up. By bringing its services and high-quality expertise in cleantech and business development, GCIP induces transformative change and increases the chances for start-ups and SMEs to bridge these “valleys of death”.

GCIP Impact

GCIP has well-established expertise and a reputation in cleantech and business development. Over the last eight years, GCIP has supported over 1,200 enterprises in 9 countries, shortening the gap between companies and the market, facilitating investment for innovators and enabling knowledge exchange. Our accelerators have produced investment-ready and scalable cleantech solutions, selected and mentored for economic viability, environmental sustainability, social and gender-specific impact.

Combining GCIP business accelerators with our ecosystem approach, normative role and support for women-led enterprises, we aim to achieve environmental, social and economic benefits, including job creation, poverty reduction and empowerment of women and youth. While other programmes with a similar scope focus on some of these components, GCIP combines them all in one well-functioning programme. This uniquely places GCIP among them in the context of cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship support.

In the coming years, we expect to empower even more cleantech enterprises in a wider network of partner countries. GCIP interventions can cumulatively mitigate at least 2,225,000t GHG emissions over the next ten years. We keep expanding our network of GCIP countries and are constantly exploring further partnership possibilities.