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African energy businesses to pitch for millions in funding at Energy Investment Village

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3 years ago

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energy projects

The initiative is open to start-ups in the early stages of rolling out clean-tech projects, as well as large-scale energy projects of between 20 and 100MW, requiring finance to get off the ground

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 4, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The Green Energy Africa Summit (GEAS) (GreenEnergyAfricaSummit.com) has announced the launch of the 2023 Energy Investment Village (EIV), an exciting deal-pitching event for African clean-tech starts-ups and energy projects.

The EIV is now open for entries from emerging African energy businesses, and will culminate in a lion’s den-type pitching event during the GEAS in Cape Town on 11 October 2023.

The EIV is a partnership between Saldanha Bay Innovation Campus and the Research Institution for Innovation and Sustainability (RIIS), supported by Anza Capital and Afida.

This is the second year of the EIV. Last year’s event saw finalists representing local clean-tech projects pitching to energy leaders holding potential investments worth more than $100 billion.

The event was won by Brayfoil Technologies (www.Brayfoil.com), a South African wind-energy company whose adaptive turbine designs enable more efficient applications in the wind energy, aerospace, sailing and automotive sectors. Following the win, the Brayfoil team hosted several meetings with potential investors on the sidelines of the GEAS.

“We are proud to have been able to put some of Africa’s best emerging clean-tech firms in touch with serious funders looking to invest in the sector,” says GEAS Vice President for Energy Paul Sinclair, “We look forward to amplifying that commitment with this year’s event, and helping to develop black-owned business in the booming green-energy industry.”

Sinclair called upon all African clean-tech start-ups and energy projects to enter this year’s EIV. The initiative is open to start-ups in the early stages of rolling out clean-tech projects, as well as large-scale energy projects of between 20 and 100MW, requiring finance to get off the ground.

The EIV is an excellent platform to strengthen the building blocks of collaboration that are critical for problem solving in a fast-changing world

“If you’re solving for a cleaner, sustainable future for South Africa and Africa, we want to hear from you,” says Sinclair.

EIV is also calling for organisations looking to become strategic partners to support its commitment to giving Africa’s clean-tech start-ups and energy projects access to global investors.

Freeport Saldanha CEO, Kaashifah Beukes explains that the conceptualisation of the EIV was driven by the need to connect and capacitate clean-tech start-ups and energy projects. “The work that is being done in clean energy innovation and development in South Africa and Africa is hugely exciting. But the challenge is that investors who have an appetite for investing into these kinds of projects, often do not have sight of them. The EIV seeks to become a conduit between investment and solution.”

Davis Cook, CEO of advisory firm RIIS, says the Energy Investment Village is a unique opportunity to accelerate innovation through the development and deepening of supportive ecosystems.

“Long-term sustainability can only be achieved if we ensure a responsive and connected environment in which business and society can innovate,” says Cook. “The EIV is an excellent platform to strengthen the building blocks of collaboration that are critical for problem solving in a fast-changing world.”

The EIV has become an exciting innovation pipeline at a time of global energy crisis due to bottlenecks in international power supply, geopolitical uncertainty and a rapidly evolving energy mix.

As part of the GEAS, it supports stimulating deals and transactions across the African Energy Industry. GEAS brings together governments, national regulators and utility companies, independent power players, investors, financial institutions and service providers to drive deals and investment into energy projects, provide energy access and solutions for the future of Africa.

At EIV 2022, besides securing invaluable investor engagement, Brayfoil Technologies won a R20 000 cash prize from FNB, a year’s business membership with the Africa Scotland Business Network (ASBN) and an ASBN branding and marketing workshop.

At the EIV finals, judges adjudicate start-up pitches according to criteria such as innovativeness, sustainability and business merit.

To register your interest in the Energy Investment Village, visit here (https://apo-opa.info/40Ur6LS) or email Belinda.Williams@Hyve.group

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Green Energy Africa Summit.

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Learning curves: Addressing the skills shortage in African mining

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8 hours ago

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March 23, 2026

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mining

The discussion will unpack key factors contributing to the skills shortage and examine how stronger collaboration between mining companies, universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions can help bridge the gap

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 23, 2026/APO Group/ –The African mining industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by technological advancements, increasing sustainability demands, and rising global demand for critical minerals. However, a widening skills gap continues to pose a significant challenge to the sector’s growth and long-term competitiveness.

 

To address this pressing issue, an upcoming webinar hosted by Vuka group’s Mining Review Africa will bring together industry experts to explore practical solutions for building a skilled and future-ready mining workforce across the continent.

The discussion will unpack key factors contributing to the skills shortage and examine how stronger collaboration between mining companies, universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions can help bridge the gap. It will also consider how digitalisation and automation are reshaping workforce requirements, and what this means for the next generation of mining professionals.

Participants can expect insights on:

  • Key causes of the mining skills shortage across Africa
  • Strengthening collaboration between industry, universities, and TVET institutions
  • The impact of digitalisation and automation on workforce requirements
  • Strategies for developing the next generation of mining professionals
  • Practical solutions for upskilling and workforce development
  • How regional collaboration can develop a skilled workforce
  • Preventing the brain drain in African mining as skilled workers seek greener pastures

 

Event details:
Date: 7 May 2026
Time: 14:00 (SAST)

To register for the webinar, visit: https://apo-opa.co/4brnadB

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Business

Mining Review Africa Introduces French and Portuguese Website Translation

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8 hours ago

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March 23, 2026

By

vukagroup

By enabling multilingual access, Mining Review Africa aims to better serve its diverse readership, including industry professionals, policymakers and investors who rely on timely mining news and insights

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 20, 2026/APO Group/ –VUKA Group’s (https://WeAreVUKA.com/) Mining Review Africa has introduced French and Portuguese translations on its website, responding to growing demand from readers across the continent.

 

This allows users to access content in multiple languages, improving accessibility for audiences in regions where English is not widely used.

We recognise that language should not be a barrier to information, especially in a sector that plays such a critical role in the continent’s economic growth

The move follows insights gathered by VUKA Group during its flagship mining events held across Africa, including DRC Mining Week, Angola International Mining Conference and Nigeria Mining Week The organisers noted a clear need for more inclusive communication, particularly in countries where French and Portuguese are dominant languages in business and industry engagement.

By enabling multilingual access, Mining Review Africa aims to better serve its diverse readership, including industry professionals, policymakers and investors who rely on timely mining news and insights.

“This development is part of our ongoing commitment to making mining content more accessible across Africa,” Mining Review Africa’s Editor-In-Chief, Gerard Peter said. “We recognise that language should not be a barrier to information, especially in a sector that plays such a critical role in the continent’s economic growth.”

The translation feature is now live and available to all users on the Mining Review Africa website.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Business

Qianhai Launches OPC Mavericks Program to Empower Global AI Solopreneurs

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8 hours ago

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March 23, 2026

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QianHai

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 March 2026 – On March 18, Qianhai, a flagship hub for institutional opening-up, high-end services and technological innovation in southern China, officially opened the application portal for the Qianhai OPC (One-Person Company) International Community and launched its global OPC Mavericks Program. Adhering to the philosophy of “All Innovation, Zero Distraction”, the initiative aims to build the world’s leading ecosystem for AI-driven one-person companies.

Widely recognized as a pioneering zone for China’s institutional opening-up and a key innovation node in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Qianhai leads the country in piloting cross-border cooperation, regulatory innovation and business-friendly reforms. It has grown into a highland for advanced services, tech research and development, and entrepreneurial ecosystems, connecting global talents, capital and technologies with the massive market of the Greater Bay Area.

The OPC Mavericks Program targets six elite groups: academic pioneers, tech veterans, global AI competition winners, elite prodigies, influential open-source contributors, and outstanding graduates in AI and computer science. Eligible projects should leverage generative AI, large language models, AI agents and automation to build sustainable closed-loop businesses.

As the world’s first vertical accelerator dedicated to OPCs, the community provides a tailor-made AI launchpad with the SENSE ecosystem and the “Eight Zeros” guarantee to remove startup barriers: supported office space up to 200㎡ for two years, talent housing up to 50㎡ per person, annual free computing power up to 50P, free LLM trials, Greater Bay Area market access, collateral-free loans, high-risk-tolerance seed funding, annual talent rewards up to 600,000 RMB, and one-stop services for visas, finance, IP, taxation and global internet access.

To help global innovators experience opportunities in the region, Qianhai offers the Shenzhen-Hong Kong 72-Hour Experience Pass, which was officially launched in 2025. This pass provides streamlined entry arrangements, guided visits to tech platforms, enterprises and research institutions in both cities, and on-site insights into the OPC entrepreneurship environment. It serves as a key channel for global talents to fully explore cooperation and development prospects in the Greater Bay Area.

The program supports AI solopreneurs to turn ideas into scalable businesses. Qualified applicants can submit core founder resumes and project pitch decks to inqianhai@qhidg.com to join the program and embrace new opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

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