The greenlabs Incubation Programme 2025 is now open for applications. It is organised by the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) in Nigeria, in partnership with Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA), and designed to help young African innovators turn bold green ideas into working businesses.
Focus Areas
This year’s cycle centres on innovations that address:
- Food systems – how we grow, process, distribute, and consume food in Africa.
- Energy access and renewable solutions that power sustainable agriculture and processing.
- Green economy and circular business models that reduce waste, use local resources and build new value chains.
What’s in It for You
Selected participants will gain:
- A structured 9-month (or similar) incubation programme including training, mentorship, business coaching and peer-support.
- Networking opportunities with green innovation leaders, investors, industry practitioners and fellow entrepreneurs across Africa.
- Support in turning prototypes or ideas into market-ready ventures, ready to scale.
- Participation in an innovation challenge which feeds into the incubation programme (for example, the “Powering Food Systems Innovation Challenge”).
Eligibility Criteria
You should qualify if you:
- Are a young innovator between 20 and 35 years old.
- Have a green innovation idea or early-stage venture linked to food systems, energy access or the broader green economy in Africa.
- Are committed to participating fully in the programme (virtual sessions + in-person activities).
How to Apply
- Visit the official greenlabs webpage (via CADEF or JLA) to access the application form.
- Complete the application: include your idea, team details, problem statement, and how you intend to build the solution.
- Submit before the deadline: 30 November 2025.
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited into the incubation programme, bootcamps and mentorship phases.
If you are a young African entrepreneur with a passion for green innovation, this is a prime chance to join an ecosystem built to support your growth.
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