SESA 2022 Incubator Programme for Entrepreneurs

Siemens Stiftung on behalf of the Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) consortium is calling Small and Medium-sized Enterprises with a focus on sustainable energy solutions from Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa to apply for its first SESA Call for Entrepreneurs. Enterprises with innovative, scalable and impactful business ideas will join the SESA Incubator Programme and receive grant funding of up to 70,000 Euro. Women-led enterprises are particularly encouraged to apply.

Description

SESA aims to test, validate and later replicate scalable energy solutions in multiple locations supported by solid business models and partnerships between African and European stakeholders. SESA focuses on innovation within the three areas of (1) energy access, (2) productive use and (3) circular economy.

The uptake of new solutions and business models requires close cooperation between innovative entrepreneurs, local enterprises, industry, city administrations and research and academic institutions. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises can play a key role in this process through the provision of their innovative products or services and by having a positive social as well as environmental impact on their communities.

With the acceptance that energy access and productive use are strongly correlated with economic development, this first SESA Call for Entrepreneurs focuses primarily on Productive Use of Energy (PUE) solutions in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa.

Country Challenges

The below country challenges provide further information on thematic and regional focus per country.

• Country Challenge Ghana
• Country Challenge Malawi
• Country Challenge Morocco
• Country Challenge Morocco (FR)
• Country Challenge South Africa

• Table of Content
• About Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA)
• SESA Incubator Programme
• Aim and Benefits of SESA Incubator Programme
• Requirements for SESA Incubator Programme Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA)

The Smart Energy Solutions for Africa (SESA) consortium project has launched the first “SESA Call for Entrepreneurs”, seeking small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly women-led, with a focus on sustainable energy solutions in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco and South Africa.

SESA Incubator Programme

Aim and Benefits of SESA Incubator Programme

Successful applicants will receive both financial and non-financial support:
? Funding of Euro 50,000 up to EUR 70,000 over max. 18 months per selected business
? Access to non-financial support such as mentoring, coaching, and technical assistance, which is based on an individual needs assessment

Requirements for SESA Incubator Programme Qualification

We can only consider applications, which meet the below minimum criteria:

• Your enterprise must be registered and operationally active in Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, or South Africa;
• Your enterprise must have officially been in operation for at least two years;
• Your enterprise must have generated revenues and provide financial statements for the last two years (if 2021 is not available yet, please provide financial statements for 2019 and 2020);
• Your enterprise must contribute to at least two of the SESA Key Performance Indicators (please see the Application Form for further detail);
• There are no pending litigations against your enterprise or members of its management team;
• Thematic focus of country challenge must be met.

Women-led and women-owned businesses are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Participants are requested to carefully read and follow the instructions:

1. Review the Eligibility Criteria to make sure your social enterprise is eligible
2. Review the Required (Mandatory) Documents to make sure you can provide all documents with your application
3. Fill in the Application Form; please try to stay within the character limit
4. Submit your complete application (including the Application Form and all relevant documents) via e-mail to [email protected] by 20th November 2022.
5. Applying to an open call takes time and dedication and we would like to make sure that you succeed, hence we have provided a quick check-list for your application

For more details, visit SESA website.