ASAP, which is led by Village Capital and The Lightsmith Group, will help 16 SMEs and startups in Africa and Asia scale climate adaptation and resilience solutions. A grant-funded initiative supported by the Global Environment Facility’s Special Climate Change Fund, Conservation International, and the Inter-American Development Bank that aims to create an ecosystem for small- and medium-sized businesses in emerging markets with technologies, products, and services that can help build resilience to climate change impacts. “Accelerating the growth of selected climate adaptation solutions companies in developing countries is the key final step in the ASAP strategy,” said Jay Koh, managing director of The Lightsmith Group. “By connecting SMEs identified through the Adaptation Solutions Taxonomy to resources of a world-class accelerator, we can demonstrate how these companies can scale up their solutions to the growing impacts of climate change, especially in the places that are most vulnerable.” Adedana Ashebir, regional director for Africa and Middle East at Village Capital, said SMEs and startups provide the local, contextualised solutions for climate adaptation and resilience in developing countries. “Despite this fact, many struggle to secure financing and lack the operational capacity to scale their solutions. Through ASAP, companies at the intersection of impact, inclusion, and investability will have a chance to bring their ideas from vision to scale,” she said. Each of the 16 startups selected for the accelerator will have the chance to collaborate directly with industry experts, investors, and ecosystem partners to build the networks they’ll need to scale their impact. Abaca, Village Capital’s global online platform that assists entrepreneurs in analyzing and preparing their businesses for investment, will be open to all startups in the program. In addition, the network connects them with the appropriate investors and resources. Until January 31, 2022, you can apply here.
