Ten early-stage Nigerian ventures have been selected for funding under the TECA Heat Action Wave (THAW) programme, an initiative designed to support innovation addressing the growing impact of extreme heat on agriculture, health, and infrastructure.

The programme is backed by BFA Global, FSD Africa, ClimateWorks Foundation, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, with a focus on accelerating climate adaptation solutions in vulnerable communities.

Each of the selected startups will receive $56,000 in funding, alongside venture-building support that includes product development, user testing, business model refinement, and investor readiness training. Six of the ten ventures have female co-founders.

According to the programme organisers, the selected startups operate across Lagos, Kaduna, and Edo States, reflecting a growing spread of climate innovation across Nigeria.

The ventures are focused on addressing key heat-related challenges affecting daily life and economic activity. These include crop stress and reduced yields, livestock losses, food spoilage due to weak cold-chain systems, health risks for outdoor workers, and strain on essential infrastructure such as energy, water, and sanitation.

Programme officials said the cohort includes both early-stage ideas and minimum viable products, highlighting both the urgency of climate risks and the early development of scalable solutions in the sector.

TECA Director at BFA Global, Tyler Ferdinand, said extreme heat is becoming one of the most overlooked but serious risks to African economies, stressing the need for targeted investment in adaptation solutions.

He explained that the programme aims to support entrepreneurs building practical tools, services, and financial products that help individuals, businesses, and cities adapt to rising temperatures.

FSD Africa’s Director of Early Stage Finance, Juliet Munro, said scaling climate adaptation requires turning early innovation into investable, market-ready solutions that can attract broader funding.

ClimateWorks Foundation also noted that extreme heat already affects a significant share of global workers, adding that locally driven innovation is essential to building resilience across West Africa.

The UK government, through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, reaffirmed its support for Nigerian-led climate innovation, stating that the initiative aligns with efforts to promote green growth, job creation, and private-sector-driven solutions.

The THAW programme will run through 2026 and will culminate in demo days and investor engagements, with top-performing ventures expected to receive further support to scale their solutions.

 

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