Adaptation SME Accelerator Project (ASAP): Africa and Asia

About the program

The United Nations estimates that the cost of adapting to climate change could rise to $300 billion per year by 2030, in developing countries alone. However, less than 5% of climate finance is currently spent on climate adaptation and resilience efforts.

Startups and SMEs can play a key role in scaling climate resilience and adaptation solutions – reducing our vulnerability to sea level rise, extreme weather, and food insecurity. This accelerator will support 16 startups and SMEs in Africa and Asia that are scaling market-based, contextualized solutions to critical climate adaptation and resilience challenges.

About the Adaptation SME Accelerator Project

The ASAP project, led by the Lightsmith Group, seeks to build a global ecosystem for small- to medium-sized companies in emerging markets that have technologies, products, and services that can be used to adapt and build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

During the ASAP accelerator program, the 16 companies will work with industry experts, investors, and ecosystem partners to develop the networks and tools they need to attract investment, grow their businesses, and increase their climate adaptation impacts.

Scaling adaptation and resilience

For this accelerator, we sought out startups at the intersection of impact (that is measurable, contextualized, with clear solutions to identified problems), inclusion (entrepreneurs that have deep experience with the problems they seek to address), and investability (sustainable, scalable startups that can drive positive financial and social return). We are focused on the following issue areas, based on the ASAP Adaptation Solutions Taxonomy:

• Agriculture

• Transportation, Logistics, Infrastructure

• Climate Risk Analytics and Risk Management

• Water

• Energy

• Health