Nura Global Innovation Lab Challenge 2025

Pears Challenge 2025: ClimateTech is a prestigious program for early-stage ventures addressing climate challenges in emerging markets. Test your venture idea in East Africa, gain access to invaluable market insights and mentorship, and make lasting impact where it matters most!

Expedite your validation & establish a foothold in the market

East Africa demonstrates an urgent demand for innovative technologies that can foster resilience and economic growth where prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and frequent flooding threaten livelihoods and economic stability. East Africa boasts a booming innovation scene, attracting the most startup funding on the continent for the second consecutive year of which 39% went to ClimateTech.

Join a distinguished cohort of ClimateTech entrepreneurs passionate about creating scalable impact where it's needed the most. Develop your innovative solution to foster sustainable livelihoods for millions in East Africa.

As a Pears Challenge: ClimateTech Founder you get access to:

Network of local partners

Startup grants

Validation trip to East Africa

Mentorship from experts

Feedback for fast iteration from the field

Post program support and fundraising opportunities

Access to R&D in the Negev

About the Program

Selection

During the selection process, we identify exceptional early stage ventures and ClimateTech startup ideas looking to validate their concept in East Africa.

APPLICANT CRITERIA:

Ideal candidates, individuals or teams, have an existing venture idea (ranging from concept to early-product) that targets emerging markets and has a strong impact potential. We are looking for venture ideas backed by personal expertise, professional background or deep research.

We look for open-minded, purpose-driven, and experienced professionals who are ready to learn the East African context, validate their idea and take it to the next level.

We seek out equal gender representation and diversity in our cohorts and encourage applications from people of all ages, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds.

This is your chance to:

Tackle Climate Challenges & Unlock Market Potential

Bring Israel’s cutting-edge innovation to address climate threats in East Africa while tapping into one of the world’s fastest-growing ClimateTech markets.

Collaborate with Local Partners & Experts

Learn from industry leaders, local innovators, and mentors to refine your solution and build a venture that aligns with real-world needs.

Gain Invaluable Market Insights

Understand East Africa’s ClimateTech landscape and uncover opportunities for scalable impact and business growth.

Travel to East Africa for market validation

Test your assumptions on the ground, engage with key stakeholders, and validate your solution where climate challenges create urgent demand for innovation.

Apply Now

Building Scalable, Financially Viable ClimateTech Solutions to Tackle Climate Challenges in East Africa

We are looking for solutions in a range of climate related areas such as:

Despite having a minimal contribution to global emissions, East Africa is one of the world's most vulnerable regions to climate change. The region faces rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and frequent flooding, which threaten food security, water access, and economic stability. Sectors like agriculture, which form the backbone of East Africa’s economy, are particularly at risk, impacting millions of livelihoods.

At the same time, the region is undergoing a ClimateTech transformation. Governments, private sector players, and impact-driven investors are rallying behind scalable solutions in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water management, and carbon markets. With 39% of all startup funding in East Africa flowing into climate-related ventures, there is a strong appetite for new technologies that can drive resilience and economic growth.

Pears Challenge 2025: ClimateTech is your gateway to this dynamic landscape—an opportunity to validate your early stage ClimateTech venture in a market where demand for innovation is rapidly growing. By tackling some of the world’s most urgent climate challenges, you can build a scalable business while making a lasting impact on millions of people.

Sustainable Agriculture

Water Sustainability

Supply Chain Efficiency

Nature-Based and Carbon Solutions

Blue Economy and Aquaculture

Supply Chain Efficiency

We are looking for extraordinary innovations and inspiring venture ideas. Here are some of the innovation areas we’re looking at:

How might we develop climate-smart solutions that improve food security and agriculture resilience in East Africa?

How can we leverage technology to enhance crop resilience, optimize resource use, and reduce post-harvest losses?

How might we improve agricultural supply chains in East Africa through digitization, agri-finance, and market linkages?

How might we improve water access, management, and conservation in regions facing increasing droughts and water scarcity?

From Kenya to East Africa: Break Into Africa’s ClimateTech hub

In recent years, Kenya has emerged as Africa’s leading hub for climate tech innovation, driven by openness to innovation, a dynamic startup ecosystem, and pressing environmental challenges. It has led the way in clean energy, sustainable agriculture, water management, and conservation, making it a prime testing ground for climate-smart solutions.

Pears Challenge is an initiative of Nura: Global Innovation Lab, generously funded by the Pears Foundation.

This year, we’re proud to have The DeserTech and Climate Innovation Center as our anchor partner, leveraging the assets of the Negev to tackle the challenges and needs in arid climates.

Pears Challenge Alumni

The last six cohorts of the Pears Challenge have created nearly 20 new companies and raised over $24M in grants, seed financing and contracts and piloted technologies in markets across five continents, affecting the lives of individuals and communities in Angola, Nigeria, South Africa Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, Ghana, Israel, India, Mexico, Taiwan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, USA, Canada, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Lithuania and Romania.

Meet our alumni

Browse Pears Challenge Alumni Ventures

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Design and R&D company specializing in solutions for people with disabilities

Cassit is moving into the Kenyan market with a line of affordable hand supports, enabling disabled Kenyans to use their hands for work, study and self care.

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the program for?

The program is for early stage ventures and ClimateTech startup ideas looking to validate their concept in East Africa. Ideal applicants have an existing venture idea ranging from theoretical concept to early-product that targets emerging markets and has a strong impact mission. We are looking for venture ideas backed by personal expertise, professional background, or deep research. We look for open-minded, impact-oriented, and experienced professionals/teams who are ready to validate their idea and take it to the next level. We seek out equal gender representation and diversity in our cohorts and encourage applications from people of all ages, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds.
When does the program run?

The program is a staged process taking place in a hybrid format over a period of 6 months, followed by a two-week field validation trip to East Africa. The Bootcamp runs from June 12- July 3, 2025 Field Preparation & Remote Validation sessions will take place in a hybrid format from September 4 until October 30, 2025 (excluding holidays) The Field Validation trip to East Africa will take place in November 2025 Most sessions will take place one full workday per week in Tel Aviv (some additional sessions will be online, a visit to the Negev will take place). A detailed program schedule will be sent during the application process. Participants are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of the sessions.
Is there a program fee associated with Pears Challenge?

A symbolic commitment fee of 1200 NIS is required for participation in Pears Challenge: ClimateTech 2025 Ventures that complete the Israel-based program, and endorsed by our partners in the field, are eligible for the field validation trip and will access: A sponsored validation trip to East Africa (The program will cover flight, accommodation, insurance, and transportation; participants will participate in some of the trip costs estimated at around 1500-2500 NIS, including meals and other small trip-related expenses). Access to a 25,000 NIS Mini Grant for further development (subject to an application process) Bespoke support from the Pears Challenge team for the year following the validation trip Continued access to Pears Challenge’s network of mentors, experts, partners, and investors
Can I still work while participating in Pears Challenge: ClimateTech?

Pears Challenge: ClimateTech is an immersive program designed for innovators who are dedicated to pursuing their venture idea and developing it into a successful startup. However, the program acknowledges that early-stage venture developers have other commitments and holds the flexibility to address that. Most sessions and workshops will take place one day per week, with some exceptions during the intensive learning bootcamp and the weeks before the validation trip to East Africa. We are looking for entrepreneurs who are looking to transition into working on their startup full-time as the program progresses.
Does the Pears Challenge take any equity in my venture?

No. Our support, mentorship, and connections you receive as a participant are provided with no prior requirement for equity in your start-up.
If I already have a venture idea or a working product, is the program right for me?

Pears Challenge: ClimateTech accepts a range of venture stages- from well-researched groundbreaking concepts all the way to a prototype, MVP or early working product stages. Whether you are looking to validate your assumptions, test your concept, or trial your product in real conditions, Pears Challenge is your opportunity to move to the next level. If you are passionate about creating a meaningful impact through innovative technology-driven business, contact us or fill in the application form below. Our team will be in touch with you to discuss the program and whether it is relevant to you. For more information, contact Info@NuraGlobal.org