RMBVenturescongratulatesthe2026FNFAfriGreenPitchwinners

RMB Ventures is celebrating green innovation with the announcement of the Southern Africa winners in the 2026 Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Afri GreenPitch Challenge. Marking the challenge’s expansion from a national competition into a cross-African platform, the 2026 edition attracted approximately 310 entries from green SMMEs across Botswana, eSwatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Tanzania. 

The Southern Africa leg brought together nine green economy solutions from Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa, with finalists selected for their pioneering work across circular economy and waste, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, sustainable mobility, water and wastewater. As part of the judging process, these entrepreneurs pitched to a panel of judges and investors at a “shark tank-style” networking event in Cape Town on 3 September 2026. The East Africa pitch event is scheduled to take place in Nairobi on 25 September 2026. 

Championing green innovation solutions

RMB Ventures is a key sponsor of the GreenPitch Challenge, offering the coaching and networks that are critical in scaling green businesses. As part of the build-up to the pitch events, the finalists participated in a capacity-building workshop hosted by RMB Ventures, where they engaged in one-on-one conversations with investors and other business experts. The workshop offered market insights, strategic coaching, and direct investor access, essential in helping businesses to scale. 

“This year’s finalists demonstrate the growing maturity of Southern Africa’s green economy. They represent a diverse range of sectors, all with the common aim of developing practical, commercially viable solutions to address critical environmental challenges. We are proud to participate in and sponsor the GreenPitch Challenge, a platform that reinforces our commitment to building a stronger green economy ecosystem. By offering these entrepreneurs essential tools, networks, visibility, and expert coaching, we are helping transform early-stage innovation into lasting  economic value,” says Cayla-Rae  Hammond, Private Equity Transactor, RMB Ventures. 

Announcing the Southern Africa winners

Following an intense selection process that evaluated the finalists on criteria such as innovation, environmental and sustainability impact, business viability and scalability, the expert judging panel selected the following winners:

The Southern Africa winner is Pee-Cycling from South Africa, which uses a highly energy-efficient process to convert source-separated human urine into valuable NPK fertiliser and clean, non-potable water. Mattie’s Success from Botswana was named runner-up and also received the People’s Pick Award for its work transforming banana stem agricultural waste into safe, biodegradable hair braiding fibre that eliminates toxic chemicals found in synthetic alternatives. 

Scaling African innovation for a sustainable future

The Southern Africa results from the 2026 FNF Afri GreenPitch Challenge highlight the capability of African entrepreneurs to develop practical solutions addressing both environmental and economic challenges. These businesses show how early-stage green ventures are turning resource challenges into commercially relevant opportunities with the potential to create value for communities, investors and the broader green economy. 

RMB Ventures continues to support the development of the green economy. The focus is on helping early-stage eco-ventures strengthen their business models, build the networks they need and prepare for growth, while contributing to more resilient and sustainable economic activity across the region.