OceanHub Africa and Coca-Cola Foundation Launch $120,000 Pan-African Plastic Circularity Venture Building Programme
OceanHub Africa, in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation, has unveiled a new Pan-African Call for Bold Ideas in Plastic Circularity designed to support innovators tackling plastic waste across Africa’s urban and coastal environments. The initiative combines up to $120,000 in catalytic funding with specialized venture-building support to help science-driven concepts transition into commercially viable solutions that address the continent’s escalating plastic pollution challenge.
Addressing Africa’s Plastic Waste Crisis
Plastic pollution remains one of the most pressing environmental issues in Africa, affecting ecosystems, public health, and livelihoods, particularly in coastal and urban regions. In response, OceanHub Africa and The Coca-Cola Foundation are co-sponsoring this programme to accelerate innovation in plastic circularity, solutions that reduce, reuse, recycle, or repurpose plastic.
OceanHub Africa, a leading venture-building platform focused on sustainability and ocean-impact entrepreneurship, brings its expertise in scaling early-stage projects. The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, has long supported environmental sustainability initiatives — including multiple plastic waste reduction and circular economy drives across Africa, and now joins with OceanHub to foster market-ready innovations.
Funding and Support Structure
The programme offers a tiered funding model that aligns financial resources with the development stages of participating ventures:
- CAPEX Support: Up to $20,000 for essential capital expenditures and infrastructure necessary for prototype development or pilot planning.
- Operations and Pilot Support: Up to $20,000 aimed at operational costs and validating solutions in real-world contexts.
- Commercialisation Funding: Up to $80,000 in a repayable grant to support scaling a validated plastic circularity solution into commercial markets.
In addition to funding, the programme provides technical mentorship, business model development support, pilot testing opportunities, and access to corporate partners, investors, and industry experts through bespoke coaching and networking engagements.
Who Can Apply
This initiative is open to African innovators, entrepreneurs, research teams, and early-stage ventures working on science-based ideas that meaningfully address plastic waste challenges. Eligible applicants can be individuals or teams proposing solutions related to:
- Plastic waste reduction
- Recycling and circular economy systems
- Re-use or repurposing strategies that reduce plastic leakage
- Innovative business models that enable plastic circularity in urban or coastal settings
To apply, candidates must prepare a written application and a 5-minute video pitch that outlines the problem being addressed, the innovation’s potential impact, and commercial viability.
Programme Timeline and Selection Process
- Call Opens: December 17, 2025
- Applications Close: February 15, 2026 at 23:59 SAST
- Evaluation of Submissions: February 2026
- Venture Building Phase: March to December 2026
- Acceleration Evaluations: April 2026 and ongoing throughout programme duration
The hybrid programme structure includes remote and in-person engagements, enabling participants to benefit from both mentorship and contextual field testing.
Why This Matters for Africa’s Circular Economy
The OceanHub Africa and Coca-Cola Foundation initiative aims to bridge the gap between novel research and practical application. Many promising science-driven innovations fail to advance beyond concept stage due to lack of funding, mentorship, and market access. By combining venture support with catalytic funding, the programme not only accelerates individual solutions, but also strengthens Africa’s broader circular economy ecosystem. Expected outcomes include:
- Reduction in plastic waste entering landfills and ecosystems, particularly in coastal areas.
- Creation of sustainable jobs in venture development, recycling, and waste management.
- Enhanced capacity for innovators to commercialize sustainable solutions with measurable environmental impact.
- Stronger linkages between innovators, corporates, and funders committed to sustainable and scalable circular economy transformation.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can visit the official OceanHub Africa application portal for full eligibility details and submission requirements. Proposals must include all supporting documentation and the required video pitch by the closing deadline of 15 February 2026.
