Deadline Date: August 31, 2026
The CirculaRise Accelerator in Kenya supports growth-stage social businesses by helping them develop and scale inclusive circular economy solutions that combine economic viability, environmental responsibility, and social impact.
The program focuses on enabling businesses to implement validated circular solutions, strengthen circular economy practices, improve business models, create green jobs for women, support women’s economic participation and leadership, develop circular operations, apply gender-responsive growth strategies, improve investor readiness, strengthen customer readiness, and scale impact while maintaining financial sustainability.
The CirculaRise Accelerator is implemented by Yunus Environment Hub across different country contexts, adapting its framework to local ecosystems while maintaining a consistent approach. In Kenya, the program is supported by the Employment promotion for women for the green transformation in Africa (WE4D) programme, funded by the German government and the IKEA Foundation and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Kenya faces growing environmental challenges due to unsustainable consumption patterns, resource depletion, and increasing waste generation. The transition towards a circular economy requires inclusive solutions that are accessible to a wide range of economic actors.
Social businesses play an important role in this transition by combining entrepreneurial approaches with social and environmental missions. However, many businesses face challenges such as limited access to finance, technical expertise, markets, and difficulties balancing impact goals with financial sustainability.
Women entrepreneurs often experience additional barriers related to access to capital, visibility, and participation in business ecosystems. The CirculaRise Accelerator aims to address these challenges by supporting businesses that are driving circular economy solutions or are ready to integrate circular principles into their operations.
The six-month accelerator provides participating businesses with structured support through 10 personalised coaching sessions, including five on-site sessions at business premises and five virtual sessions. Kenyan experts provide guidance on circular operations, gender-responsive business growth strategies, and investor readiness.
The accelerator concludes with a graduation pitch day that connects participants with a Tier-1 Kenyan bank and other investors. Businesses also gain visibility through events, international conferences, alumni networks, and global circular economy platforms.
Each participating business must nominate two individuals who are founders and CEOs. Both participants take part in personalised coaching, expert-led training, and peer learning activities. At least one participant must be involved in strategic decision-making to ensure the business can develop and implement a circular strategy.
Eligible businesses must be legally registered entities in Kenya, have operated for at least three years, qualify as SMEs employing between 10 and 250 people, be active in or interested in transitioning towards circular economy practices, demonstrate commitment to social impact, and be women-led, women-owned, women-managed, or actively support women’s economic participation.
For more information, visit Yunus Environment Hub.
