BongoHive EU-Funded Circular Economy Incubator - Zambia

Enriched EU · Found: 2026-03-11 12:31

12-month EU-funded incubator/accelerator strengthening green digital entrepreneurship in Zambia. Targets circular economy startups including plastic recycling enterprises.

Source: https://thenextafrica.com/new-eu-funded-incubator-to-power-zambias-circular-economy-startups

Funding Details

Funder

European Union / BongoHive Innovations

Funding Goal

Support 40 early-stage digital enterprises in Zambia building solutions aligned with green and circular economy principles, helping them validate products, strengthen business models, and prepare for market growth; top 10 performers receive non-equity milestone-based grants.

Funding Amount

€2,500 to €25,000 non-equity grants for top 10 acceleration-phase participants; milestone-driven disbursement (2.500 € – 25.000 €)

Deadline

2026-04-05 (Fixed)

How to Apply

Phase 1 (March 26 – April 5, 2026): Apply online, participate in a 2-day in-person design sprint in Lusaka, Ndola, or Kitwe to refine MVP and validate problem-solution fit. Top 40 selected for Phase 2 (Design Lab, online). Top 10 advance to Phase 4 acceleration with grant funding.

Target Region

Zambia (Lusaka and Copperbelt)

Contact

BongoHive Innovations (implementer); Self Help Africa (partner). No direct contact details provided on the page.

Last Checked

2026-03-11 15:56

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Startup must be primarily based in Lusaka or the Copperbelt, Zambia
• Core business must be in digital technology (agriculture sector excluded)
• Must have a validated MVP — active users, pilot studies, strategic partnerships, or revenue (no idea-stage)
• Zero tolerance policy on fraud, corruption, and exploitation; strong emphasis on gender and youth inclusion (women-led and under-35 founders encouraged)

Project Scope

• Apply and participate in the 2-day in-person design sprint in Lusaka, Ndola, or Kitwe during Phase 1 (March 26 – April 5, 2026)

Required Documents

• Business must be legally registered with PACRA (Zambia's Patents and Companies Registration Agency)

Constraints

• Founders must commit to attending both in-person sprints and virtual sessions throughout all phases
• Grant funding (€2,500–€25,000) is milestone-driven and only available to top 10 performers in Phase 4 acceleration

Summary

GreenTech4CE (Green Recycling Enterprises Engaging in New Technology for a Circular Economy in Zambia) is a 12-month EU-funded incubator and accelerator programme implemented by BongoHive Innovations in partnership with Self Help Africa. It targets 40 early-stage digital enterprises based in Lusaka and the Copperbelt of Zambia that are building solutions aligned with green and circular economy principles, including plastic recycling enterprises. The programme is structured across four phases: a recruitment and design sprint phase (March–April 2026), an online Design Lab for comprehensive technical audits (April–June 2026), a hybrid incubation phase for the top 40 startups (June–October 2026), and an exclusive acceleration phase for the top 10 performers (November 2026–February 2027). Participants receive technical audits, business model development support, mentorship, investor readiness preparation, and access to circular economy experts. High-performing ventures in the acceleration phase can receive non-equity grant funding ranging from €2,500 to €25,000. These grants are milestone-driven and tied to clear growth targets, supporting product development, market testing, and scaling efforts. The programme also provides CTO-as-a-Service clinics, legal advisor access, and curated investor events. Eligible applicants must be digitally-focused businesses (all sectors except agriculture) primarily based in Lusaka or the Copperbelt, legally registered with PACRA, and must already have a validated minimum viable product. The programme has a strong emphasis on gender and youth inclusion, encouraging women-led and youth-led enterprises under 35 to apply.

Historical Context

This is a newly launched programme, announced March 4, 2026. No previous rounds mentioned.

Why it was added

EU-funded circular economy incubator in Zambia, supports plastic recycling startups

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