In the serene hills of Embu County, far from the bustling city, young innovators gathered for an intensive week-long bootcamp from 21st April – 26th April 2025, run by JLA’s green entrepreneurship incubation programme, greenlabs. Held at the University of Embu, this bootcamp saw startups led by youth from across 10 counties in Kenya, come together to sharpen their entrepreneurial and leadership acumen to turn ideas into actual startups that generate income, create jobs, and advance Africa’s green transition.
The University of Embu graciously hosted the greenlabs team, offering its scenic, spacious campus as the perfect setting for deep, focused learning. The location was intentionally selected to remove distractions and allow for full immersion in the learning process. Each day began with early morning workouts to build mental and physical discipline, followed by blended learning experiences running late into the evening—a holistic approach to shaping not just businesses, but the entrepreneurial leaders behind them.
From Innovation Challenge to Business-Building
The youth participating in the bootcamp were selected from a competitive hackathon-style Innovation Challenge held in January 2025 that was focused on solving two pressing issues on the continent: sustainable food systems and energy access. The Embu bootcamp represented a new milestone, with the incubatees gaining the skills to effectively take ideas from theory to practice.
The entrepreneurs who participated in the greenlabs bootcamp in Embu are not those that are distant from the realities of typical Kenyan communities and the challenges they face. They are brilliant young Kenyan minds, grounded in their communities, driven by a clear sense of purpose, are armed with innovative ideas, have a deep understanding of the challenges they seek to solve, are full of gumption, technical insight, and a problem-solving instinct. What they need is not just inspiration, but investment and structured support; the kind provided by greenlabs through tailored mentorship, market-focused training, and practical tools to build scalable businesses. With the right backing, these innovators would not only be ready to thrive locally, but to compete boldly across Africa and on the global stage.
As they troubleshot, brainstormed, and grew together, a new breed of African entrepreneurs emerged; ones rooted in community, shaped by shared experience, and united by purpose. As these startups progress from bootcamp to building, they represent a powerful promise that African youth are not just dreaming of a greener future, they are building it too.
greenlabs is a cornerstone of JLA’s mission to activate 30 million green jobs in Africa by 2033. It addresses a pressing need of transforming Africa’s youth bulge into a productive, innovative force, driving climate resilience and economic inclusion.
Are you ready to champion youth-led climate innovation or explore how entrepreneurship can drive Africa’s green transition?
Let’s take the conversation further. Reach out to us at greenlabs@jacobsladder.africa and be part of the movement building Africa’s next generation of green entrepreneurs.
