Reflections from Demo Day

On January 24th, 2025, we celebrated the results of months of relentless dedication. At Jacob's Ladder Africa, innovation takes center stage through our Greenlabs Incubation Program. Each year, we challenge young minds to tackle the most pressing issues in the Green Economy by sparking bold ideas and groundbreaking solutions. Through these Innovation Challenges, we don’t just seek brilliance—we nurture it, empowering the next generation of trailblazers to reshape the future.

Resetting our Food Systems is Urgent

Africa holds an unparalleled opportunity in global food production, with approximately 60% of the world’s unused arable land found on the continent. Properly harnessed, this immense resource could position Africa as a global leader in agricultural output. Yet, the reality remains stark: Africa is a net importer of food, and over 140 million people across the continent currently face severe food insecurity.

The challenges become even more pressing when we consider the broader Food System—a complex network encompassing every step of food’s journey, from production and processing to distribution, consumption, and eventual disposal. Each stage demands energy, but Africa lags significantly in energy access for agri-food systems. This limitation stifles growth, restricts food diversity, and widens the gap in food security.

Expanding energy access across the agri-food chain is imperative for unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential.

"However, relying on traditional fossil fuels—currently powering 70–80% of the global food system—risks exacerbating climate change."

A sustainable energy transition tailored to Africa’s unique needs is not just an option; it’s a necessity to transform the continent’s food systems and secure its place as a cornerstone of global food security.

Powering Food Systems

It all started with a bold ambition: to discover the next generation of young innovators and their groundbreaking ideas. Our mission was clear but daunting—how could we unearth hidden gems across Kenya?

We launched our innovation challenge with a flurry of activity. From electrifying event speeches to interactive webinar sessions, we left no stone unturned. Leveraging a vast network of partners, we called on them to connect us with the brightest minds—young innovators who were dreaming big.

The response was nothing short of extraordinary. Over 500 young visionaries from 18 counties came forward, each brimming with ideas that could reshape the future.

"What started as a simple challenge turned into an unforgettable adventure—one fueled by collaboration, mentorship, and the boundless creativity of Kenya’s young innovators."

Recognizing the power of collaboration, we assembled a stellar team of volunteer mentors. Their expertise and dedication became a lifeline for our budding entrepreneurs.

Week after week, the mentors coached them on sharpening their ideas, building confidence, and delivering powerful pitches that could command any stage.

On the Demo-day, we were priviledged to have a great panel of judges who brought decades of experience in entrepreneurship, food systems, renewable energy, and mentoring founders. They had the unenviable role of selecting the Top 3 ideas, but the did it with finesse!

The Journey Begins

On the 3rd of February, we onboarded 70+ participants into our Greenlabs Program.

Greenlabs is an incubation program of Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) whose bold mission is, “Activating 30 million jobs in the African Green Economy by 2033.”

The incubator focuses on discovering aspiring entrepreneurs, supporting their very early-stage activities, thereby enabling them to transform ideas into revenue-generating startups. This is done through a 9-month incubation program.

The 2025 greenLabs program aims to support young aspiring entrepreneurs to find viable innovative solutions for sustainable energy in food systems. We will be enhancing innovations in 4 critical stages of the food system:

1. Primary production stage: Across each of these activities, one finds major variations in energy needs depending on the scale of the enterprise and on the type of food being produced.
2. Post-harvest processing and storage stage: Energy availability plays a crucial role in value addition as well as food and income loss reduction for various actors in agri-food systems.
3. Transport and distribution stage: Energy consumption in this stage can vary significantly depending on the structure of supply chains and the mode of transport.
4. Retail, preparation and cooking stage: involves food packaging, storage and the inputs for cooking meals using various cooking appliances.?

These 4 stages offer a variety of opportunities for innovation, and I am looking forward to what the next generation of changemakers will come up with. If you are interested in being part of this journey and partnering with us, kindly reach out to me.