100+ Accelerator selects Ugandan startup Yo-Waste to pilot glass recycling at Nile Breweries

April 18, 2024 in Business, Companies, Land & Agriculture by Editor

Yo-Waste Co-founder Martin Tumusiime (first right), and Nile Breweries Corporate Affairs Manager Clare Asiimwe (third right); join other 100+ Accelerator Leads during the kick-off ceremony in Leuven, Belgium. The 100+ Accelerator, spearheaded by NBL parent company AB InBev, in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, and Unilever, is an innovation platform that aims to propel the growth of sustainability

Ugandan startup Yo-Waste has been selected to pilot a glass waste collection and recycling programme from beer maker, as part of Cohort 5 of the 100+ Accelerator. Securing the pilot contract aside, Yo-Waste will gain access to an array of resources, dedicated mentorship from global experts and seed funding toward pilot execution.

The investment is expected to support Yo-Waste’s expansion efforts and enhance its capacity to foster zero-waste communities in Uganda while contributing to one of the 100+ Accelerator’s defined challenges of creating a circular global economy.

Using its innovative mobile app-driven solution, Yo-Waste will initiate a glass waste collection and recycling program from the Nile Breweries outlets and depots, thereby promoting circular packaging and reducing environmental impact of the waste.

During the inaugural ceremony held in Leuven, Belgium, Martin Tumusiime, Co-founder of Yo-Waste, emphasized that the funding will be directed to capacity building and venturing into the collection, packaging, and recycling of glass waste, thereby reducing its accumulation in landfills.

“Yo-Waste’s participation in the 100+ Accelerator marks a significant milestone in our journey toward making a lasting impact on waste management and environmental sustainability in Uganda,” Tumusiime noted.

The 100+ Accelerator, funded by AB InBev, the parent company of NBL, in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, Colgate-Palmolive, and Unilever, is an innovation platform that seeks to support the development and growth of sustainability-focused startups. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this program provides its partners an opportunity to collaborate with startups to accelerate the world’s progress toward sustainable solutions, even as each company continues to strive for their independent sustainability goals.

According to Clare Asiimwe, the Corporate Affairs Manager at Nile Breweries, the 100+ Accelerator identifies and empowers startups addressing critical sustainability challenges encountered by major corporations.

“The 100+ Accelerator plays a pivotal role in fostering a more sustainable future. By backing innovative startups like Yo-Waste, the program accelerates progress towards waste reduction and a healthier environment,” Clare says.

The competition sought applications from entrepreneurs across the world whose business ideas provide innovative solutions to eight challenge areas, including climate action, inclusive growth, smart agriculture, biodiversity, the circular economy, water stewardship, health, and wellness.

Cohort 5 attracted applications from over 1,000 start-ups globally, with 400 originating from Africa with 21pc of them from Uganda.

“This win is a testament to the dedication of our team and the potential of our solution to drive positive change. With this opportunity, we are eager to broaden our efforts in addressing the challenge of glass waste,” said Tumusiime.

Previous winners with Sustainable Agriculture solutions in Uganda include Oko Finance, BanQu and AgriFriend.