Changelabs has officially introduced a new cohort of climate-focused startups for the Strategic Corporate-Startup Partnerships (SCSP) Programme. Operating in collaboration with GIZ and adelphi, the initiative is specifically designed to foster industrial climate solutions. Participating founders are embarking on a nine-month journey to gain direct access to leading corporates, pilot opportunities, 1:1 mentorship, investor connections, and R&D funding of up to EGP 250,000.
Powering Partnerships For Real Change
The SCSP Programme bridges the gap between climate innovation and industry implementation by powering partnerships that drive real change. Beyond its primary implementers, the program operates with the support of German cooperation (Deutsche Zusammenarbeit), the Developmental Projects Unit (DPU), and the Ministry of Industry. Through this extensive network, the selected startups will develop pathways to long-term strategic partnerships that embed sustainability into the broader industrial sector.
The Climate Innovation Cohort
The cohort features a diverse array of innovators spanning agritech, clean energy, waste management, and advanced manufacturing:
-
Valify: Valify provides a localized digital identity suite. This suite features biometric verification, document scanning, digital contracts, and mobile KYC to digitize buyer journeys and deploy biometric access control.
-
NoorNation: NoorNation is a developer and manufacturer of tech-driven clean energy and safe water decentralized solutions. The startup utilizes solar-powered systems to serve off-grid agriculture, rural communities, and industrial sites lacking infrastructure.
-
Mrkoon: Mrkoon operates a digital platform that simplifies waste management and scrap trading. It actively connects businesses with traders to improve recycling efficiency and support a circular economy.
-
Egrobots: Egrobots is an Egyptian DeepTech startup building Physical AI. The company offers a universal, modular robotics platform that automates labor-intensive operations across agriculture, smart cities, and industrial sectors.
-
plstka: plstka is the first AI-powered waste management SaaS in the MENA region. It features a gamified loyalty app letting consumers exchange solid waste for discounts, alongside an AI-driven B2B ERP platform for waste supply chain optimization, $CO_{2}$ emission calculation, and value recovery.
-
Bekya Pay: Bekya Pay is a tech startup transforming waste management in Egypt through sustainable practices. It connects businesses, individuals, collectors, and recyclers to an efficient recycling network using an asset-light model. Its mission is to promote sustainability, reduce landfill waste, and create a cleaner environment through smart technology.
-
Takhzin: Takhzin is a decentralized warehouse and logistics network. The startup offers inventory management, fleet and order management, route optimization, and distribution.
-
Mezatech: Mezatech is a platform extending the lifecycle of tech devices and EV batteries through retail, repair, refurbishment, and recycling. The company integrates every stage of the tech lifecycle to drive a circular economy across Africa and MENA while minimizing e-waste.
-
Texula: Texula is Egypt and the Middle East’s first startup upcycling banana tree agricultural waste into high-performance bio-based textile fibers. Its proprietary, revenue-generating technology integrates seamlessly into existing textile production lines to enable sustainable, locally-sourced fiber alternatives.
-
Smart Pyramids: Smart Pyramids is an Egyptian IoT and smart building company. Having delivered over 30 projects, it manufactures connected devices featuring an AWS-powered dashboard for energy monitoring, automated controls, alerts, and reporting.
-
Photonex: Photonex is a multidisciplinary R&D center delivering engineering services across the full innovation cycle from research to production. It provides validated, high-performance solutions combining advanced technologies, user research, and globally recognized standards.
-
Origin: Origin is an industrial climate-tech company automating energy monitoring, carbon footprint tracking, and predictive maintenance for manufacturers. By integrating AI and IoT with legacy hardware, it reduces energy consumption by up to 30% and ensures compliance with EU CBAM 2026.
-
Nivert Gulf: Nivert Gulf is a sustainability-driven company transforming agricultural and organic waste into biogas, RDF, and wood pellets for energy-intensive industries. It designs and constructs biogas units and enables market access for organic fertilizers via an e-commerce platform.
-
MicroFert: MicroFert is an agricultural biotech company developing eco-friendly bio-fertilizers. These products increase crop yields, improve soil fertility, enhance plant drought resistance, maintain soil biodiversity, and support carbon sequestration while reducing chemical fertilizer dependency.
-
DRE: DRE is a clean energy and mobility startup developing solar-powered EV charging solutions. Operating fixed and mobile stations in off-grid areas, it combines smart energy management, fintech-enabled payments, and fleet solutions for scalable EV infrastructure.
-
Greenlizer: Greenlizer is an agritech startup tackling contaminated air and water that threaten agricultural and environmental health. It provides sustainable solutions to reduce bacteria, pollutants, and pathogens in irrigation and food processing water.
-
Agrona: Agrona converts agricultural residues into certified, 100% bio-based wood panels using a patented low-energy process. It is compliant with green building standards, offering lower-carbon interior and structural finishes that support LEED certification.
-
ANF: ANF is the first and only spunlace nonwoven fabrics manufacturer in the Middle East and Africa. Utilizing advanced manufacturing with proven industrial execution, it delivers sustainable, high-quality nonwoven solutions that reduce import dependence.
About The Strategic Corporate-Startup Partnerships Programme
The Strategic Corporate-Startup Partnerships (SCSP) Programme is an ecosystem accelerator dedicated to advancing Industrial Climate Solutions. Implemented by adelphi and Changelabs in partnership with GIZ Egypt on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the Private Sector Innovation Project (PSI), the program leverages strategic collaboration to commercialize sustainable innovation. By integrating the Developmental Projects Unit and the Ministry of Industry, the SCSP Programme ensures that scalable climate tech is deployed efficiently within established industrial frameworks.
Source: Changelabs
