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Nature-First Lab Selects Five African Enterprises

The 12-month accelerator aims to help sustainable businesses raise $10 million in total commercial investment.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Africa

Screen-print poster illustration showing a stylized acacia tree and a burlap sack of produce, evoking sustainable African business development.
The Nature-First Innovation Lab has launched an accelerator for five African businesses, providing grants and technical support to boost sustainable economic development. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe nature-based enterprises can successfully scale using standard commercial investment models?

The Nature-First Innovation Lab has chosen five enterprises across Africa for its inaugural 12-month accelerator program. This initiative provides participants with grants and technical assistance to help them scale operations and prepare for commercial funding.

Why it matters

The program addresses critical funding challenges for nature-positive businesses, which are essential in a region where 62 percent of GDP depends on natural resources.

The accelerator supports five businesses operating across Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania with grants and financial planning. Participants aim to reach a combined $10 million in new commercial investment through the program.

The players

Nature-First Innovation Lab

This accelerator program is run by FSD Africa, Systemiq, and the African Natural Capital Alliance to support nature-positive business development.

Savanna Agri Chains

Based in Ghana, this enterprise works with over 1,000 women harvesters and is planning to expand its collector network to 7,000 people.

Boston Consulting Group

This global management consulting firm provides data on the multi-billion dollar potential of the world's most valuable landscape regeneration projects.

The details

Participants include Savanna Agri Chains, Acacia EPZ, Forested, NovFeed, and ForestFoods, all of which receive guidance in corporate governance and impact measurement. The program does not take equity in these ventures, focusing instead on scaling existing business models.

Timeline

  1. 2016: Savanna Agri Chains was founded.

  2. 2023-2025: Savanna Agri Chains doubled its revenue.

  3. 2025: Boston Consulting Group published a $310 billion investment opportunity estimate.

  4. October 2026: The five enterprises were officially selected for the accelerator.

Travel Outlook

This program reflects a broader trend of institutional investment in nature-based economies, where landscape regeneration is viewed as a significant global opportunity. The accelerator bridges the gap between grassroots agricultural enterprises and the massive scale estimated by the Boston Consulting Group.

For travelers and observers of African economic development, monitoring these five companies provides insight into the growth of sustainable, nature-based tourism and agriculture. Supporting these enterprises can directly influence local livelihoods, such as the thousands of women harvesters currently working within these networks.

The takeaway

Investment in nature-positive businesses remains a critical driver for regional economic stability across Africa. Readers interested in sustainable development should look for how these enterprises leverage their technical assistance to achieve long-term growth and environmental impact.

Further reading

Learn more about the business and development landscape across the continent in our Africa section.

Live Poll

Do you believe nature-based enterprises can successfully scale using standard commercial investment models?