Africa Energy Innovation Challenge 2025 offers $10,000 for young problem-solvers
Applications are now open for the Africa Energy Innovation Challenge 2025 (AEIC), an initiative by the Nigeria Energy Forum (NEF) that supports early-stage energy entrepreneurs across Africa. This is not just a competition; it serves as a launchpad for young African innovators developing technologies to create jobs, enhance businesses, and promote greener systems throughout the continent.
Selected innovators will receive cash grants of up to USD 10,000, pitch their prototypes at the prestigious 2025 Nigeria Energy Forum, and access mentorship, business development support, and high-level industry networks.
Africa’s energy transformation relies on local innovation that can provide sustainable and scalable solutions across various sectors, including agriculture, fintech, transport, and manufacturing. The African Energy Innovation Challenge 2025 (AEIC) tackles this challenge by funding high-impact prototypes, supporting youth employment, and promoting African-led creativity through regional recognition. This initiative offers an opportunity to enhance visibility, build capacity, and establish credibility, ultimately elevating your innovation to the next level.
The Africa Energy Innovation Challenge 2025 builds on the legacy of empowering young innovators across Africa. While individual startup names have not been widely published, earlier winners have gone on to secure funding, catalyse job growth in communities, and form strategic partnerships, demonstrating the programme’s record in advancing impactful, locally rooted energy solutions.
Who can apply
Africa Energy Innovation Challenge 2025 is open to young African energy entrepreneurs (ages 18–35) organised in teams of at least three people, with a gender balance requirement (minimum one woman and one man). Multiple entries per person or across teams are permitted, provided the innovations are special.
Eligible prototypes should fit within one of the following tracks:
- Powering Youth Employment & Job Creation
- Energising Agribusiness & Social Development
- Greening Local Manufacturing & Value Addition
- CNG for Transport & Electrified Mobility
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Benefits
Finalists and winners will gain:
- Cash grants up to $10,000 to validate or scale their prototypes
- The opportunity to pitch at the Nigeria Energy Forum, using a poster and a short video
- Networking opportunities with government officials, financiers, development experts, and industry leaders
- Business development workshops plus continued support from a dedicated startup incubator
How to apply for the Africa Energy Innovation Challenge 2025
Applicants are expected to submit their application through a concise, one-page A4 prototype summary. The document should clearly outline the project title (up to 250 words), the chosen innovation track and its expected impact, an abstract, design tools and methodology, the problem statement, as well as estimated costs and timelines.
Submissions will be judged on originality, local relevance, scalability, job creation potential, and commercial viability. The deadline for applications is Monday, September 15, 2025. Shortlisted teams will be announced in October, and finalists will pitch their solutions in November at the Nigeria Energy Forum.
For startups and innovators ready to test their ideas on a continental stage, there`s a chance to gain visibility and validation. If you believe your project has the potential to shape Africa’s energy future, apply now before the window closes.
Do you have an innovative business (small, mid-scale business or startup) that adds value, creates opportunities or solves bold problems? Then you`ve got a story worth telling? Shoot us an email with the subject “Story Worth Telling (+Name of Business)” to [email protected]
