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Efficiency for Access Design Challenge Accelerator Programme

The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge Accelerator Programme is an exciting opportunity for Challenge alumni to take their innovative ideas to the next level. Delivered in partnership with Energy Catalyst and supported by Intellecap and Eigen Ventures, the programme provides tailored support, mentoring, and funding to help participants transform projects into early-stage businesses.

Programme Overview

The Accelerator Programme is structured to support participants in developing their market strategies, business models, and product innovations. With the expertise of Intellecap and Eigen Ventures, both leaders in business advisory and clean-tech innovation, participants gain valuable insights and tools to progress their ventures. Core activities include workshops, mentoring sessions, and tailored needs assessments, culminating in a final pitch and eligibility for grant funding.

Credit: PikaNaSolar

Key Components of the Programme

Workshops

Participants engage in 11 interactive workshops covering the six thematic areas of market analysis and understanding, strategy and business planning, supply chain and operations, financial strategy and capital raising, technology and product IP, and team development. These two-hour sessions are followed by practical exercises, allowing participants to apply insights and skills to their specific projects.

Needs Assessment

Each team completes a needs assessment to identify their strengths, challenges, and development priorities. This helps the programme adapt workshops and mentoring sessions to their specific requirements, ensuring a personalised approach to success.

Mentoring

Participants receive tailored assistance in one-to-one mentoring sessions with an industry expert which are designed to help students integrate workshop learnings into real-world applications. Mentoring also provides teams with the resource to discuss their projects, and apply their learnings throughout its developmental stages.

Final Assessment and Grant Funding

The programme concludes with a final pitch, where teams present their projects to a panel of judges. Pitches cover key themes, including strategy, supply chain, and capital raising. Teams are eligible for grant funding to further their ventures:

  • Large Grant: Up to £10,000 for the top three teams
  • Standard Grant: Up to £4,000 for other eligible teams
Credit: Solar Sip Africa

Recent Awardees

The first round of awardees from the first year of the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge Accelerator Programme have been announced:

  • M&S: Joy Muntet & Vallary Shinaywa – Affordable smart solar irrigation system with soil moisture sensors to optimise water usage for small-scale farmers.
  • ASEI: Moses Alicwamu – Solar powered UV-C LED systems for sterilising drinking water, targeting schools and healthcare facilities.
  • Solar Sip Africa: William Steve Mwai – Solar-powered kiosks generating clean drinking water from atmospheric moisture for areas with limited water access.
  • PikaNaSolar: Angela Achola, Angeline Njuguna & Collins Mugwanga – Solar-powered pressure cooker with inbuilt battery for 24/7 clean cooking access in off-grid areas.
  • Solar Water Filter Fountain: Mika Sall, Amadou Ndiaye & Mamadou Faye – Autonomous solar water filtration fountains providing clean drinking water in rural African areas.
Credit: Solar Sip Africa

About the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge

The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge is a global, multi-disciplinary competition that empowers teams of university students to help accelerate clean energy access. The Challenge is delivered by research and development innovators, Efficiency for Access, in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders UK and funded by the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform and the IKEA Foundation.

To provide sustainable energy for all, we urgently need to enhance the efficiency and affordability of high performing appliances. The Challenge invites teams of university students to create affordable and high-performing off-grid appliances and enabling technologies.