The State of Climate Tech in Africa | Keynote by Nijhad Jamal | AfricArena Nairobi Summit 2026

Africa’s climate tech ecosystem is entering a new phase — one shaped by shifting global capital flows, changing investor priorities, and growing pressure for sustainable, scalable businesses. In this keynote presentation, Nijhad Jamal unpacks the evolving state of climate tech in Africa, exploring how founders, investors, and fund managers are navigating an increasingly complex investment landscape. ⏰ Timestamps 00:08 - Introduction to the state of climate tech in Africa 00:39 - The rise of a multi-polar climate economy 02:01 - Why climate adaptation is gaining momentum globally 03:01 - The return of hardware and infrastructure investing 03:49 - The global rethink of venture capital models 05:12 - Climate tech funding trends and investment statistics in Africa 06:58 - Funding gaps across startup stages 08:04 - Long fundraising and exit timelines in African venture markets 09:22 - Ecosystem shifts shaping the years ahead 10:05 - Retreat of development finance and global VC pullback 11:28 - ESG backlash and changing climate investment narratives 12:45 - Opportunities emerging from global disruption 13:00 - From green premiums to green discounts 13:47 - Why physical business models matter again 14:15 - Scaling proven climate solutions in capital-scarce markets 14:54 - Turning economic disruption into opportunity 16:25 - The role of LPs in supporting climate ecosystems 17:50 - Challenges facing fund managers and investors 19:40 - What investors need from founders today 20:05 - Creative fundraising and blended capital strategies 21:19 - Why resilience and profitability matter more than ever 22:34 - Closing reflections on the future of climate tech in Africa #AfricArena #africarena #AfricaTech #ClimateFinance #AfricanStartups #VentureCapital #Sustainability #Innovation #EnergyTransition #Entrepreneurship #ClimateInnovation