The National Award Event on the 20th April at Intercontinental Nairobi recognized and awarded the best 14 entrepreneurs from over 120 nature-based businesses that submitted their business plans. The winners are...
1st Price 5000 euro & business week in the Netherlands:
Lorna Rutto, Global BioEnergy Solutions Ltd: Recycling of post consumer waste plastic into aesthetic, durable and environmentally friendly plastic fencing posts.
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2nd Price 3000 euro & business week in the Netherlands:
Charles Abramson, Terra Endeavors: Building a low cost algae biodigester units to produce ethanol cooking fuel, clean energy & other outputs.
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3rd Price 2000 euro:
Victor Rasugu, Melrose Bounty and Bown Enterprises: Manufacturing high quality and fashionable 'Back2Nature' - a patented Hand and Body lotion from natural extracts.
Over 130 persons attended the function, from corporate, financing, government and development community!
Prior to the award ceremony, the marketplace allowed the best nature-based entrepreneurs to meet and interact with business partners, financiers and support organizations targeting developing countries.
Have a look at the film on the Award ceremony : www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYR72ukIoz8
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All Finalist:
| Title (clickable) | Subtitle | Nature Relevance | Finance Requested | Form requested | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terra Endeavors | Building a low cost algae biodigester units (proven concept) to produce ethanol cooking fuel, clean energy & other outputs | Sustainable alternative income for rural poor, GHG reductions. A breakthrough potential for east africa | $865.000 | mainly equity | Start-up |
| Tea blending packaging and distribution | Radiant Sip ltd offers a certified full range of tea products - blending and packaging the tea in bags, iced tea and glavule Packets. | reforestation, training sustainable farm practices, organic production | $175.000 | mix | Established |
| MIKARO Bees & Trees | Production of honey and tree seedlings, improving the lives of thousands living in the bufferzones of the Aberdare forest | reduce deforestation through alternative income, reforestation, watershed protection | $110.000 | mix | Established |
| MKUNGI Floriculture | Producing organically grown flowers (different varieties)for domestic and export markets | organic production, alternative income in bufferzone, offers the market a clean alternative | $50.000 | debt | Established |
| Vic Reliance Energy-Clean Energy for Kenya | Vic Reliance Energy is a Kenyan based turnkey solar and wind energy solution provider. | Clean energy - reduction of toxic fumes from wood, kerosene and diesel generators. Over 2000 ton CO2 reduced. | $450.000 | mainly debt | Start-up |
| E ENERGY Green Revolution Initiatives | Making carbonized and biomass charcoal briquettes and super energy saving stoves out of agribusiness related waste streams | substitution of forest charcoal leads to forest conservation, CO2 reduction, water catchment protection, soil fertilization, | $450.000 | debt | Start-up |
| Cookstoves for conservation | Expanding the roll-out of quality, affordable and efficient ceramic cookstoves for both rural and urban communities | reduce forest charcoal and firewood consumption. Alternative job creation. | $170.000 | mainly equity | Established |
| The Giant Step | MBB Ltd. manufactures high quality and fashionable 'Back2Nature' - a patented Hand and Body lotion from natural extracts | Offering farmers a market for organic aloe vera & corn. Offering consumers a healthy, 'green' alternative to skincare | $1.000.000 | mainly debt | Established |
| Fencing Posts From Recycled Plastic | GBS Ltd. recycles post consumer waste plastic into aesthetic, durable and environmentally friendly plastic fencing posts (KEBS certified) | Saving red cedar trees. Reduce release of PET(E), HDPE, PVC, LDPE and PP into land and atmosphere. | $25.000 | mix | Start-up |
| The Sweet Road | Rift Valley Asali Farms (RVAF) Ltd will expand, improve and diversify current honey production (5000 kg/year) and processing capabilities into soaps, candles, and skin creams | balancing the eco-system for sustainability of the bees and its products. Create improved and sustainable income for farmers | $170.000 | mix | Established |
| Kyoto Algae | Diversification business aimed at prduction and sales of low cost high quality nutrient production through revolutionary growing system of algae (Chlorella / Spirulina) | A green business and job creator. Algae provides a common base level required to avoid disease and death. | $150.000 | loan | Start-up |
| Zero-Waste Coconut Plant | Eco-Conut Ltd. is setting up a coconut processing plant with zero wastage, producing Coco peat, Coir Fiber, Coconut charcoal, Wood Vinegar & Tar, and Geo-Textile and eventually also Copra Cake, Activated Carbon and Bio diesel. | This business saves trees from being felled for charcoal. Reduce GHG (CO2 & Methane). Organic pest- & isectiside. It offers products that with positive impact on soil fertility and water consumtion. | $150.000 | equity | Established |
| Polymer Energy East Africa Company ltd. | PECOL will install a turnkey plant to produce environmentally responsible fuels (Heavy Fuel Oil and Carbon Black) from waste plastics and tyres. | Minimise discriminative waste collection practices, completely eliminate non-biodegradable wastes from the environment, show case renewable energy as a practical alternative | $350.000 | mix | Start-up |
| AquaFarm Kenya | AquaFarm is the farm of the future, combining aquaculture, hydroponics, vermiculture, organic fertilizer and rabbit breeding | serve as a model farmers for smart, profitable and sustainable land-use practices | $35.000 | debt | Start-up |
