Ideas Often Get Stuck
Across East Africa, promising climate innovations emerge from universities, research and entrepreneurship. But many never make the difficult transition into viable businesses.
Who We Are
Circle Innovation Is a Social Enterprise Advancing Climate Innovation Across East Africa.
Based in Nairobi, we work with climate innovators, entrepreneurs and partners across the region to turn promising ideas and research into viable startups. Our work spans the journey from early innovation to commercialisation, connecting business development with the capital and partnerships needed for growth.
Co-create
Collaborate
Impact
Why We Exist
Africa does not lack climate ideas. Too many simply never get the chance to grow. Promising innovations often get stuck between research and the market. Founders struggle to access the support and early capital they need, while universities, industry and investors often operate in separate worlds.
Circle Innovation closes these critical gaps. We help promising climate solutions make the difficult transition from early potential to viable enterprises with a real path to growth.
The Market Is Hard to Reach
A good solution is not yet a viable business. Innovators need to understand their customers, prove demand and find a way to compete in the market.
Early Capital Is Difficult to Find
Young climate enterprises need funding to test and grow, but are often too early for commercial investors and too advanced for traditional grant funding.
The Solution
This Is Where We Come In – From Innovation to Startup
We build with purpose. We connect what really matters, and we combine startup building with access to catalytic finance and a strong regional network.
This allows us to work beyond individual programmes and help climate enterprises move from early potential towards commercial traction and growth.
We believe the best solutions are built close to the problem. That means working alongside entrepreneurs and partners, testing ideas early and learning from what happens in the real world.
What Defines Us
These principles shape the way we work with entrepreneurs and partners, and the decisions we make along the way.
Our Journey
From our foundations as a design advisory to becoming a key ecosystem catalyst for climate venture creation in East Africa.
Explore Circle Innovation
Our Approach
From Climate Ideas to Investable Startups
Discover what we do
Our Portfolio
Meet Our Startups Turning Climate Innovation into Growing Businesses
- Idea Stage Innovations
- Proof of Concept Labs
- Early Stage Startups
- Early Growth Ventures
- All Projects & Programmes
Our Team
The People Behind the Ideas.
Meet us
Programmes and Case Studies
Innovation in Action
View our Case StudiesLet’s Build the Future Together.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, university, investor, government agency or development partner, we'd love to explore how we can create impact together.