The search for Africa’s next generation of changemakers has taken a decisive step forward. After a rigorous and highly competitive process, a new cohort of Malawian enterprises has been selected to advance in the Empowering Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Africa (ESEA) Acceleration Programme, an initiative co-delivered by Village Capital and Emerge Livelihoods, with support from Norad.
The programme is more than a business pipeline. It is a bet on Africa’s future, one where local entrepreneurs harness renewable energy, food systems, climate adaptation and the blue economy to build resilience and prosperity from the ground up.
A new class of innovators
The Malawian enterprises chosen reflect the breadth of entrepreneurial ambition across the country.
In renewable energy, ventures such as Ayaka Smart Energy Ventures, Community Energy Malawi, and Dzuwa Gleam are expanding access to clean power. Energy and Sanitation Engineering Eagle (ESEE) and Enviro Solutions 4 Progressive Innovations are among those blending technology with practical solutions for underserved communities. Village Solar, E-Nyasa Solar and Gas Ltd, KCHIKNA Private Limited and Sollys Energy Limited were also selected in this category.
In climate adaptation, companies including CAGE, Green 4 Africa, Emmtech Enterprise, Chifuno Changa Green Initiative, Chiweto LTD, Green Choice Ventures Limited, HPN Investments, inteWaste, Sam 7 King Eco-bags Ltd and Vegan Africa Waste Solutions are tackling environmental risks head-on, from waste management to eco-friendly products.
On the food security front, firms such as Agricare Chemicals and Seeds, Chikapu Farms and Glinks Agri-Engineering Investments are seeking to boost productivity and resilience across agricultural value chains. SeedBiz, Kayimibiri Growers Exporters Association, Peasant Valley Farm and Small Farm Cities Africa are pioneering models to help farmers scale sustainably. Agricenter, Agrimec Limited, Chikapu Farms, DERU Investment, Integrated Water And Energy Technologies Limited, Lavend Investment, ZeniBee Enterprise Limited were also selected for their sustainable innovative solutions.
Meanwhile, in the blue economy, Sharick Agriculture and Fisheries LTD is exploring opportunities to diversify livelihoods and strengthen Malawi’s aquaculture sector.
This curated mix of enterprises shows the diversity of local innovation and the determination of Malawian founders to solve pressing challenges with practical, scalable business models.
Building ecosystems, not just businesses
For Emerge Livelihoods, which co-leads the programme, supporting entrepreneurs goes hand in hand with strengthening the wider ecosystem. Since its founding, the organisation has pursued a holistic approach to development, combining leadership training, entrepreneurship support, financing, innovation hubs and gender empowerment under one umbrella.
The results speak volumes. In just seven years, Emerge has:
- Reached more than 19,000 people.
- Engaged over 15,840 youth and children.
- Trained 2,040 young people in digital skills.
- Worked with 850 entrepreneurs.
- Channelled over $145,000 in seed capital funding.
This integrated model, known as the transformative graduation approach, equips people not only with tools to survive but pathways to grow, transitioning families and communities out of poverty.
A summit to shape the future
Momentum for entrepreneurship was on full display at the recent Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods Summit (SELS 2025), hosted by Emerge Livelihoods through its Emerge Ventures platform. Themed “Strengthening the MSME ecosystem in Malawi and beyond”, the summit convened more than 100 delegates from across sectors.
Discussions cut across agriculture, food security, climate financing, renewable energy, social entrepreneurship in higher education, gender equality and digital solutions for social impact. Sessions ranged from plenaries to masterclasses, offering practical insights and new models of collaboration.
Partnerships for scale
For Wangiwe Joanna Kambuzi, founder and managing director of Emerge Livelihoods, partnerships are critical.
“We believe in ecosystems, not silos,” she noted. “It is only through collaboration between governments, development agencies, and local organisations that we can unlock the potential of entrepreneurship to drive inclusive, sustainable growth.”
She expressed gratitude to partners including Village Capital, Norad – the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and highlighted the participation of Nakami W., Village Capital’s Regional Director for Africa, whose presence underscored the initiative’s regional ambition.
The unveiling of these 30 Malawian enterprises marks more than a milestone for a single country. It reflects a continental shift towards self-reliance, innovation and inclusive growth. By backing African entrepreneurs where they are, initiatives like ESEA are helping to turn ingenuity into investment and ideas into jobs.
For Malawi and for Africa, the message is that sustainable entrepreneurship is no longer a side story. It is the main stage where the continent’s economic future is being written.
