On Tuesday, Halcyon, an impact-driven accelerator, announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to invest in 10 visionary African startups. These startups are focused on developing impactful solutions to address food insecurity and climate resilience across Africa. 

The initiative is part of Halcyon’s Climate Resilience and Food Security in Africa Fellowship program, which aims to scale tech solutions in climate-smart agriculture, water technology, and renewable energy.

Program structure and benefits

The program includes a one-week in-person residency in Nairobi, Kenya, followed by several months of virtual programming and a second residency. This comprehensive approach ensures that the selected startups receive extensive support to enhance their operations and impact.

Mercy Erhiawarien, Senior Manager of Intensives at Halcyon, emphasised the importance of AWS’s support, stating, “We deeply value AWS’ support in working with us to strategically strengthen organisational capacity and scale impactful AgTech businesses across Africa”.

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The founders will benefit from training on investment readiness, product-market fit, leadership, and access to technical support and credits from AWS. They will also be connected to a network of climate-focused early-stage investors and mentors for further support.

The partnership highlights the role of local founders in addressing Africa’s pressing challenges, including food insecurity and climate change. 

Carolyn Vigil, AWS’s Social Responsibility Impact Leader, noted, “Through AWS’s cloud technology, Halcyon is empowering entrepreneurs to turn their bold ideas into impactful solutions that will drive lasting change across Africa.”

By focusing on AgTech ventures, Halcyon and AWS are enabling a new wave of African startups committed to improving nutrition, increasing agricultural yields, and deploying innovative climate-adaptation strategies.

Halcyon impact and expansion

Halcyon aims to expand its successful programs, identifying more talented founders across the continent committed to driving sustainable change. The startups will benefit from Halcyon’s robust support infrastructure, including mentorship, access to AWS’s world-class cloud services, and connections to a global network of investors, industry leaders, and policymakers. 

The program offers participants $10,000 in AWS credits and a $5,000 stipend, providing the resources needed to develop and scale their innovative solutions. This initiative underscores the potential for technology and entrepreneurship to address some of Africa’s most pressing challenges, leveraging the power of collaboration between organisations like Halcyon and AWS to foster impactful change.