ARE Investment Academy kicks off with enthusiastic cohort of 20 SMEs
The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) launched the latest editions of the ARE Investment Academy on 7 April 2025, in Kampala, Uganda, on the sidelines of the Energy Access Investment Forum (EAIF) 2025. Designed to boost investment readiness in Africa’s decentralised renewable energy (DRE) sector, the Academy offers tailored training in energy access finance and investor relations for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
This year marks the launch of two new editions: the flagship ARE Investment Academy 2025 and the country-specific ARE Investment Academy – Lesotho Edition. Together, they welcomed a motivated group of 20 high-potential SMEs, selected for their innovation and potential to scale in the DRE sector.
- Participants include: Equatorial Power, NOA Uganda, Neseltec, Green Energy Scene, Namuleri Energy, OneLamp, Owanga, Renewgen Burundi, BioFranca, Humanitarian Energy, Masontsika, and Switch Box Ltd.
- Participants of the Lesotho Edition include: Nalane Green Solutions, OnePower, MOSCET, Nala Paygo, Solar African Legacy, Mahlaseli Energy, Rexivista, and PUECO.
Operating through a hybrid model, the programme combines in-person and online sessions between April and October 2025. Virtual trainings will continue in the coming months, leading up to the next physical gatherings at SAM 2025 in Kenya and LEAD 2025 in Lesotho.
As part of their journey, selected companies will undergo intensive training across eight modules covering project development and access-to-finance topics. The curriculum emphasises practical skills through interactive learning, case studies, and guest lectures from industry experts, financiers, and experienced peers in the DRE sector.
Participants will also develop and present a detailed investment pitch deck during a final pitching session, where they will receive live feedback from financiers. The top project will be honoured during an awards ceremony. Upon completing the programme, all participants will receive a training certificate, marking their progress.
By equipping local entrepreneurs with critical knowledge of business metrics and investor expectations, the ARE Investment Academy is paving the way for more investment-ready, impactful clean energy businesses across the continent.
The ARE Investment Academy is supported by GET.invest, a European programme that mobilises investment in renewable energy in developing countries, supporting project developers and companies towards investment readiness, and linking them with financiers. GET.invest is funded by the European Union, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria.