500 Global, a prominent venture capital firm, is launching its Sustainable Innovation Program to support startups addressing sustainability challenges in the Global South.
The initiative, backed by the Shell Foundation and the UK government, aims to scale ventures that provide both market returns and measurable impact.
The program’s first initiative, an 8-week seed accelerator, is launching in Nairobi, Kenya. It provides African startups with mentorship, investor access, and a global network. The program focuses on solutions in agriculture, energy, mobility, and the built environment.
Dr. Alaa Murabit, Managing Partner, Sustainable Growth, 500 Global, states, “Through our Sustainable Innovation Program we are supporting commercially viable solutions to critical challenges. We are backing founders who are building businesses that strengthen their communities and scale real impact.” She adds that the goal is to “create, solve, scale, and sustain inclusive, regenerative societies.”
The Shell Foundation is serving as the catalytic partner, with funding from the UK government through its Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform and Catalysing Agriculture by Scaling Energy Ecosystems (CASEE) program.
Jonathan Berman, CEO, Shell Foundation, emphasizes the partnership’s importance. “Partnering with proven investors like 500 Global is a critical element in Shell Foundation’s vision of scaling clean solutions to reach millions of customers in emerging economies,” he says. Berman explains that supporting these technologies will “increase incomes while lowering emissions for millions of underserved customers.”
500 Global has invested in over 140 companies across 27 countries with sustainability-focused business models since 2010. The new program seeks to mobilize mission-aligned capital and create long-term economic and environmental benefits across emerging markets.
