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Where can I find funding or fellowships to scale a greenhouse prototype in Zimbabwe/Southern Africa?

I've built a greenhouse prototype that has already worked successfully at small scale. My immediate need is capital to move into industrial-scale implementation and testing, including testing with real farmers in the field. Alongside this, I'm also focused on growing and scaling client work for my company, GLUCO, and expanding our overall capacity.

My primary focus right now is Zimbabwe and the surrounding Southern Africa region, but I'm open to exploring international funders and networks if there's a strong fit with what we're building.

Any programs, fellowships, or expert connections you can point me to would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

*Note: This is an anonymous question submitted

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Johnson’s Answer

1. Africa-Focused Climate & Ag Fellowships
Since you're working on a greenhouse prototype, these fellowships could be perfect. They focus on climate-smart farming:

- Acumen Africa Fellows: Ideal for leaders aiming to expand social-impact businesses in Africa.
- Echoing Green: Supports early-stage founders in food systems and rural development.
- Obama Foundation Africa Leaders Program: Offers great networking opportunities that often lead to investors.

2. Grants for Testing and Innovation
You need funds for large-scale testing with farmers. These organizations fund "proof of concept" projects:

- USAID DIV: Supports prototypes with some progress that need scaling.
- UNDP / FAO Grants: Offer climate-smart agriculture grants, varying by country.
- African Development Bank (AfDB): Focuses on food security and improving farmers' livelihoods.

3. Options in Zimbabwe
For your work in Zimbabwe, consider these options:

- ZAGP: EU-funded, supports innovative agricultural methods.
- SIRDC: Helps with local prototypes and industrial testing.
- Local Universities & Agri-tech Hubs: Often partner with startups for field trials and farmer connections.

4. Global Climate Funds
If you're open to international funding:

- Global Innovation Fund (GIF): Seeks scalable projects with social impact.
- GSBI / Miller Center: Assists climate-tech startups in going global.
- Doen Foundation: Focuses on sustainable farming and the circular economy.

5. Corporate & Philanthropic Partnerships
To scale GLUCO and expand quickly, consider partnerships:

- Collaborate with big agri-tech companies needing pilot sites.
- Connect with food distributors wanting resilient supply chains.
- Explore partnerships with major foundations like Gates or Rockefeller, which prioritize food security.
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