Climate Insider Brief:
- Novastar Ventures launched The Africa People + Planet Fund to invest in climate solutions and sustainable agriculture, continuing its support for startups in East and West Africa.
- The fund’s key investment in Sistema.bio supports its biogas technology, which converts animal waste into renewable energy and biofertilizer.
- This technology has benefited over 100,000 farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, reducing emissions and improving productivity.
Novastar Ventures, a leading impact investor with offices in Nairobi, Lagos, and London, is doubling down on its commitment to addressing Africa’s fundamental challenges. Following the success of its second fund, which closed at $108 million in 2020 to support startups in East and West Africa, the firm has launched The Africa People + Planet Fund. With an ambitious target of over $200 million, this fund is dedicated to climate solutions and agricultural innovation, aiming to empower communities to adapt to climate change and access clean technologies.
One of the fund’s key investments is Sistema.bio, a company that develops biogas technology to convert animal waste into renewable energy and biofertilizer. Sistema.bio’s solutions have already reached over 12,000 farms in 31 countries, positively impacting more than 100,000 farmers across sub-Saharan Africa. By providing affordable renewable energy for cooking, electricity, and sustainable farming practices, Sistema.bio is contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy security for family farmers.
“This investment strengthens our mission to empower low-resourced farmers with solutions that drive economic growth and climate resilience,” said Joyce Cacho, Board Chairman of Sistema.bio. “Together, we are scaling impactful technologies that benefit both people and the planet.”
Sistema.bio’s recent acquisition of Inclusive Energy has further enhanced its operations, adding advanced digital monitoring and verification (MRV) capabilities. This integration allows for remote diagnostics, usage analytics for carbon reporting, and predictive maintenance, ensuring farmers receive reliable service while enabling accurate tracking of environmental benefits.
Novastar Ventures Co-founder Steve Beck remarked, “Sistema.bio empowers family farmers to transform waste into renewable energy and fertilizer, unlocking productivity and resilience while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We’re excited to partner at this growth stage and contribute to their carbon market initiatives.”
This collaboration underscores Africa’s pivotal role in global climate action. By fostering innovation in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy, Novastar Ventures and Sistema.bio are driving transformative change, improving energy access, and building climate resilience across the continent.
Source: Techpoint
Featured Image: Credit: Sistema.bio
