The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced the opening of applications for its Sustainable Innovation Seed Accelerator Programme 2025, an eight-week initiative designed to support seed-stage startups developing technology-enabled solutions across Africa.
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The programme, based at the GreenTech Hub in Nairobi, is part of UNDP’s timbuktoo initiative and specifically targets founders creating innovations in agriculture, mobility, the built environment, and energy sectors. The accelerator seeks what organisers describe as “bold, sustainability-driven companies ready to scale their vision and drive change.”
According to programme details, the initiative will combine four weeks of in-person programming in Nairobi with four weeks of hybrid delivery. The structure aims to help startups refine their commercial strategies, strengthen technical foundations, and connect with supportive ecosystems through mentorship, peer learning, and hands-on programming.
Eligible applicants must be building at the seed stage in Africa for the African market, have launched or recently introduced their products and be ready for growth. The programme requires tech or tech-enabled business models driven by missions to create sustainable impact, with founders prepared to participate in person in Nairobi for half the programme duration.
Participants will receive sector-specific mentorship from sustainability and growth experts experienced in scaling startups across emerging markets. The programme promises local and global networking opportunities, connecting founders with ecosystem partners across government, corporate entities, and venture capital to support product growth and customer base expansion.
The initiative also offers access to what organisers term a “Global South Community,” described as a supportive group of impact-driven founders. This community aspect includes retreats, weekly gatherings, and ongoing collaboration opportunities designed to foster connection and peer learning among participants.
The programme follows a structured timeline beginning with a founders’ retreat and foundational programming covering growth marketing, ideal customer profile development, and effective communication strategies during weeks one and two. Weeks three and four focus on growth and scaling, with founders working on business expansion, tech solution refinement, and weekly one-on-one mentor sessions.
The middle phase, spanning weeks five through seven, involves hybrid delivery combining in-person events with virtual mentoring to accelerate sales and experimental processes. The programme concludes in week eight with showcase preparation and a final presentation event where startups demonstrate innovations and results achieved throughout their participation.
Applications are currently being accepted through a two-deadline system. The priority application deadline is set for August 29, with a final submission deadline of September 15. The programme team will review all applications and provide decisions before the October launch date. The programme is scheduled to begin in October 2025, offering African entrepreneurs a structured pathway to scale their sustainable technology solutions.
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