Botswana
Accelerator

The Home Grown Solutions (HGS) Accelerator Africa 2026 is a Pan-African acceleration programme designed to support high-potential, locally rooted ventures driving innovation in healthcare systems strengthening and climate resilience across the continent.

Led by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and supported by JICA, with implementation partners including Villgro Africa and BCG, the programme targets scalable African solutions addressing systemic challenges.

Programme Focus Areas

1. Healthcare Ventures

Solutions that strengthen Africa’s health systems, including:

  • Diagnostics & medical devices
  • Pharmaceuticals & healthcare products
  • Digital health & health technology
  • Maternal, newborn & child health
  • Disease prevention & management
  • Health workforce & training
  • Health supply chains & logistics

2. Climate-Focused Ventures

Solutions advancing climate resilience across four key sectors:

Energy & Power

  • Off-grid solar, mini-grids, battery storage, green hydrogen
  • PAYGO models and clean cooking technologies

Mobility & Transport

  • E-mobility, electric fleets, low-carbon transport
  • Sustainable logistics and last-mile delivery

Waste & Circular Economy

  • Recycling, reuse, packaging optimisation
  • E-waste, marine plastics, hazardous waste management

Nature-Based Solutions

  • Ecosystem restoration (forests, wetlands, marine systems)
  • Biodiversity protection and sustainable land use
  • Carbon removal and conservation solutions

What the Programme Offers

Selected ventures will receive a highly tailored, four-month acceleration programme, including:

  • Context-specific advisory from global experts
  • Investor readiness support
  • Matchmaking with strategic partners and investors
  • Customised growth roadmap aligned to venture needs

This is not a generic accelerator, it is a bespoke intervention designed for scaling ventures.

Eligibility Criteria

General Requirements (All Applicants)

Applicants must:

  • Operate primarily in Africa
  • Employ predominantly local staff
  • Demonstrate strong African leadership representation
  • Be a for-profit entity
  • Show clear ambition and ability to scale
  • Demonstrate market traction and customer base

Healthcare Ventures

Must:

  • Be growth or mature stage
  • Have validated product-market fit or scaled operations
  • Demonstrate impact on strengthening health systems

Climate Ventures

Must:

  • Be early, growth, or mature stage
  • Operate within defined climate sub-sectors
  • Demonstrate contribution to climate resilience

Programme Track Record & Impact

Since its launch:

  • 46 healthcare ventures supported
  • Across 36 African countries
  • $82M raised in additional capital
  • 48 million patients served
  • 6,000+ jobs supported

The 2026 cohort marks a strategic expansion into climate innovation, reflecting Africa’s growing need for resilience solutions.

Application Process

  • Separate applications for:
    • Healthcare ventures
    • Climate ventures
  • Applicants must complete the application in one sitting
  • Supporting documents required:
    • Leadership profiles
    • Pitch deck/company overview

Deadline

19 May 2026

Click HERE to visit the official website.

Closing date
Industry
​Other service activities
Website link
https://villgroafrica.org/funding_calls/home-grown-solutions-hgs-accelerator-africa/