In a world racing to meet net-zero targets, innovation is no longer optional—it’s essential. Climate change is reshaping economies, communities, and ecosystems at an alarming rate. The challenge is immense, but so is the opportunity. The latest UNDP Egypt report, From Pitch to Impact: A Deep Dive into Climate Technology Startups, explores how some of the most promising solutions to our climate crisis are being led by nimble, bold, and passionate startups. Their stories are not only about technology—but about people, resilience, and the power of ideas to change lives.

From providing clean cooking energy in Africa, to extracting drinking water from air, to building a fairer, more efficient food system in Egypt—these startups are shaping a new climate economy, one innovation at a time.

Powerstove: Clean Energy, Real Impact

In Nigeria, cooking a family meal can be a health hazard. For millions relying on traditional stoves, exposure to indoor air pollution causes more deaths than HIV, AIDS, and tuberculosis combined. But Powerstove is flipping this narrative.

Founded in 2018 by Okey Esse, Powerstove began in a garage and has grown into Africa’s largest wood pellet factory. Their smart biomass stoves not only cook faster and cleaner, but also generate electricity, slash energy costs by 70%, and offer a new revenue stream through carbon credits. Women play a central role—as suppliers, beneficiaries, and entrepreneurs—backed by full health coverage and training through Powerstove Academy.

Behind the innovation is a vision for social equity: enabling families to save money, improve health, and access new opportunities. With over 217,000 monthly users and expansion plans across Africa, Powerstove is setting a gold standard—clean tech with human impact at its core.

Kumulus: Drinking Water, Reimagined

Imagine getting your drinking water from sunlight and air. That’s the promise of Kumulus, a Tunisian startup born from a simple desert camping trip and driven by a fundamental vision: that everyone, everywhere, should have access to clean water.

Their solar-powered device looks like something out of the future—but its impact is rooted in present-day urgency. With 2 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water, Kumulus is stepping in with a machine that pulls humidity from the air and turns it into 30–120 liters of clean water daily.

Kumulus doesn’t stop at innovation—they embed purpose into every step. Their business model blends profitability with social impact, partnering with hotels while donating units to underserved schools. Their journey hasn’t been without hurdles—from navigating complex certifications to scaling production—but through five international patents, global pilots, and community feedback loops, Kumulus is building the “water utility of the future.”

 Fresh Source: The Power of a Fairer Food Chain

In Egypt, food often travels a long and inefficient journey from farm to table—leading to nearly half of crops going to waste. Fresh Source, a female-led startup, is using tech and data to rewrite that story.

Co-founded by Farah Emara, Fresh Source connects producers directly with businesses, slashing waste to just 2% and delivering fair prices for farmers. In just five years, they’ve generated $700,000 in extra income for their partners, most of whom are women. Their digital platform is the first of its kind in the Arab States region, bringing transparency and efficiency to the agri-food supply chain.

But their work is more than operational—it’s transformational. By supporting women-led farms, providing financial access, and championing sustainable practices, Fresh Source is building a food system that’s just as smart as it is just.

Startups, Climate, and the Road Ahead

The stories of Powerstove, Kumulus, and Fresh Source show what’s possible when innovation meets impact. But they also highlight what’s needed: better access to financing, enabling policy environments, and stronger ecosystems that nurture early-stage ideas.

At UNDP, we believe that climate technology startups are not only problem-solvers—they’re future-shapers. By supporting them, we aren’t just backing products. We’re investing in people, communities, and a planet where sustainability is not just an aspiration, but a shared reality.

The road to climate resilience is complex. But as these startups show us, it can also be entrepreneurial, inclusive, and deeply hopeful.