UK-Funded Forum Connects Capital to Africa’s Green Manufacturing Opportunities at Nairobi Summit

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By Irene 



 The UK government-funded Manufacturing Africa programme today convened more than 150 stakeholders at the Pan-African Green Business Building (GBB) Forum in Nairobi, bringing together startup founders, investors, and industry partners to unlock green manufacturing investment across the continent.

The one-day forum, funded by the UK government, served as a high-level matchmaking platform aimed at catalyzing green industrial growth by connecting capital to scalable, climate-positive businesses.

Nairobi was strategically selected as the host city due to its dynamic SME ecosystem, which attracted the largest share of start-up funding in Africa in 2025. Kenya has also cemented its status as a continental renewable energy leader, generating electricity from geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar sources.

At the heart of the forum were “Pitch Den” sessions, where green manufacturing startups presented investment-ready opportunities to more than 30 impact investors. The showcased ventures spanned electric mobility, recycling, solar energy, organic fertilizers, and other innovative subsectors driving Africa’s green transition.
Research by the Manufacturing Africa programme indicates that unlocking new green investments could generate between $2–4 billion annually by 2030 and create at least 200,000 direct and indirect jobs across participating African countries.

Speaking at the event, Diana Dalton, Development Director at the British High Commission Nairobi, said the forum exemplifies the innovation underpinning the UK–Kenya Strategic Partnership.
“By connecting green manufacturing entrepreneurs with the investment they need to scale, we’re helping turn bold ideas into real, climate-positive businesses that will create jobs. This is our modern economic partnership in action — unlocking Kenyan innovation to drive sustainable growth,” she said.

Thomas Pascoe, Team Leader of the Manufacturing Africa programme, emphasized the long-term impact of early-stage support for African entrepreneurs.

“We are thrilled to support the next generation of African business talent on their journey to growth and success. Supporting these entrepreneurs at this critical early stage will not only drive job creation and tax revenue but also solidify Africa’s leadership in green industrial innovation,” he said.
The forum also shaped Africa’s climate-industrial narrative through insights from leading voices in green enterprise, including Peter Scott of BURN Manufacturing, Jesse Moore of M-KOPA, Bethelhem Dejene of Zafree, Jack Oyugi of Vertical Lake, and Simon Mnyele of Lishe360.

The GBB Forum builds on the momentum of the UK-funded Green Business Building (GBB) Accelerator, launched in January 2025 to cultivate a thriving green manufacturing ecosystem. The three-month accelerator provides tailored mentorship, peer learning opportunities, and direct access to investor networks.

To date, the accelerator has supported over 50 startups across Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania, helping founders raise capital and scale sustainable, climate-positive solutions.
Organizers said the GBB Forum and Accelerator align with the UK government’s broader commitment to advancing shared priorities on climate, nature, and clean energy. By fostering partnerships and unlocking investment in green manufacturing, the initiative underscores Africa’s growing role in shaping global climate solutions and building resilient, future-ready industries.

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