Platform-Based Clean Cooking Solution

The Challenge

Across Africa, over 200,000 biogas plants are non-functional due to a lack of maintenance, and remain unused. As a result, millions of households are forced to revert to using wood and charcoal for cooking - methods that lead to severe health impacts, including an estimated number of 750,000 annual deaths caused by smoke inhalation.

Although biogas stands as a clean and viable alternative, its promise remains largely unrealized due to systemic issues, particularly the absence of dependable maintenance and repair services. Spotting this critical market failure, our client—an experienced entrepreneur with over 15 years immersed in Africa’s biogas landscape—sought to turn the tide.

Her vision was ambitious: to spark a continental shift by creating a scalable and profitable biogas ecosystem built on existing, underused infrastructure. To bring this bold idea to life and attract investment, she needed a partner to shape the concept into a concrete and fundable business proposition.

Our Approach

Venture Design, Ecosystem Architecture & Investor Readiness

We teamed up with the client to help convert her mission into a structured, market-ready venture that could secure investment and deliver measurable impact.

Refining the Model Through Market Insight & Validation

Backed by 15+ years of firsthand knowledge and a deep understanding of user behaviour, our client had a valuable starting point. We collaborated to test her assumptions and challenge them with real-world feedback from prospective ecosystem participants.

Through detailed market research and hypothesis testing, we refined the business logic, translated insights into clear operational milestones, and built a robust financial framework to ensure that value creation was sustainable across all levels of the system.

Building the Ecosystem: Platform-Driven Innovation

Inspired by proven platform business models, we co-created a dual-platform solution purpose-built for the biogas sector:

• A Sharing Economy Platform: Think of it as the “Airbnb for Biogas,” where biogas plant owners can rent idle facilities or sell surplus gas and organic fertilizer—turning dormant assets into income-generating opportunities.

• A Service Network Platform: Mirroring the logic of “Uber for Biogas,” this second platform connects plant owners with certified technicians for ongoing servicing and repairs—delivering fair pay and long-term plant operability without depending on external aid agencies.

Embedding Profitability & Circular Impact

We introduced monetization mechanisms including the sale of CO₂ credits, energy, and organic fertilizer. By ensuring each player in the ecosystem could generate income, the model fosters economic self-reliance and reinforces long-term adoption and plant functionality.

Business Case Development & Investor Preparation

We tested the model through realistic business cases and validated the concept with market feedback. We then supported the client in preparing for investment outreach by sharpening her pitch, fine-tuning her story, and opening doors to relevant investors via our network.

Piloting for Proof & Scale

As a next step, we’re helping implement a series of focused pilot initiatives designed to demonstrate the model’s viability in action and lay the foundation for a broader rollout.

The Outcome & Outlook

Through this collaboration, a promising, scalable solution for clean cooking in Africa is emerging. Our structured, market-aligned approach has helped position the client’s initiative as a powerful response to both environmental and health challenges—one that creates real economic opportunity for stakeholders across the biogas value chain.

Supported by BAFA vouchers, the venture is now in its implementation phase, with pilot programs underway. With a strong foundation and clear path to scale, the initiative is on track to reactivate thousands of biogas systems and reshape energy access across the continent, delivering long-term benefits for health, climate, and economic resilience.