GCIC admits 11 entrepreneurs into business incubator
The Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) has admitted the first group of entrepreneurs into its business incubator at the Ashesi University College. The 11 entrepreneurs were selected from a total of 72 applicants from across Ghana who responded to the GCIC’s call for Expression of Interest last year.
The GCIC is implemented by Ashesi University, SNV, Ernst&Young and United Nations University (UNU). The business advisory and support facilities the successful businesses will receive from the Centre include:
Provision of office space and facilities
Business skills training & mentoring by a select group of established business leaders and social entrepreneurs
Proof of Concept grants
Funding facilitation
Policy advocacy & regulatory support services
Market growth and market access support services
Technical assistance with technology and product development
Out of these components, the last two ('Market growth and market access support services' and 'Technical assistance with technology and product development') are led by SNV.
The induction of the first cohort of entrepreneurs marks a milestone in the life of the Centre which aims to support over 100 climate innovation businesses by the year 2020.
Speaking at the launch event on May 22nd, Ms. Ruka Sanusi, Executive Director of GCIC stressed the Centre’s mission to constantly create & support an exceptional set of transformational innovative ventures who are pioneering adaptive and mitigating solutions for climate change issues in Ghana. “We incubate businesses and business leaders to operate their enterprises at the place of joint value — that point where the needs of society, the CEO/business, client and stakeholder values and needs can be maximised,” she said.
For SNV, Maarten Kleijn appeared in a panel discussion about cleantech business incubation in Ghana. He also presented about the bouquet of services that the entrepreneurs can expect to receive.
About GCIC:
The Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) is a pioneering business incubator whose objective is to to support Ghanaian entrepreneurs and ventures involved in developing profitable and locally-appropriate solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Centre’s key focus is on businesses operating within the areas of energy efficiency, domestic waste management, solar energy, water supply management and purification, and climate smart agriculture.
The GCIC is part of the World Bank’s Climate Technology Program and its global network of Climate Innovation Centres which include centres in Caribbean, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and Vietnam.
Supported by the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands, the centre is managed by a consortium led by the Ashesi University College and includes Ernst & Young, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, and the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa.
Entrepreneurs involved in clean ventures can apply for support from the Centre by responding to a call for expression of interest that is available at the GCIC website.