KEY POINTS
- Five Kenyan clean cooking firms are seeking a combined Sh5.6 billion from international investors.
- BURN Manufacturing leads the fundraising push, targeting Sh1.3 billion in fresh capital this year.
- Kenyan startups raised Sh126 billion in 2025, outperforming Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria combined.
Five Kenyan clean cooking companies are in the market for a combined Sh5.6 billion from international investors, a push that reflects both growing consumer demand and the deepening appetite for climate-focused ventures in East Africa.
BURN Manufacturing is leading the charge, targeting Sh1.3 billion, equivalent to $10 million. Ignis Innovation and Faith Engineering are each seeking Sh1.95 billion, or $15 million. Feion is aiming for Sh260 million and Eco Bora is targeting Sh130 million, the smallest ask in the group.
The fundraising effort arrives as cleaner alternatives to charcoal and firewood gain ground across Kenyan households. Environmental concerns, tightening policy frameworks and growing public awareness have all pushed demand for improved cookstoves and alternative energy solutions.
Kenya’s investor appeal
Kenya continues to punch well above its weight as a startup destination. Local companies raised Sh126 billion, equivalent to $984 million, in 2025 according to Africa: The Big Deal. That figure outpaced Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria, cementing Kenya’s position at the top of Africa’s startup funding table.
Energy-focused firms drove much of that performance. BURN, d.light, Sun King, M-KOPA and PowerGen all attracted significant investor capital last year, reinforcing the case that off-grid energy and climate ventures resonate strongly with international funders looking at East Africa.
The gap in the numbers
The headline figures, however, mask a more complicated picture. While total funding held up, large deals declined. Only 75 Kenyan startups raised at least $100,000 in 2025, a 23% drop year on year. It was the weakest performance among Africa’s leading startup markets and a signal that capital is concentrating in fewer, later-stage bets rather than spreading across early-stage companies.
Kenya’s structural advantages remain intact. High mobile penetration, a supportive regulatory environment and a track record of energy access innovation continue to attract foreign capital. The five clean cooking companies now in the market are betting that those fundamentals, combined with climate urgency, are enough to close their rounds in a tighter funding environment.
