The Botswana Innovation Fund (BIF), a government-backed innovation financing institution, has launched the Scalar Botswana Innovation Programme (SBIP), a 12-month venture programme to support 10 climate and digital technology startups. Founded by BIF in partnership with investment firm Scalar International, the SBIP seeks to accelerate the adoption of sustainable technologies that can improve energy access and strengthen regional resilience, and will support startups at the intersection of energy and digital infrastructure. Selected startups will go through a structured 12-month programme, taking them from ideation and prototype development to commercialisation and investor readiness. Participants will refine concepts, test prototypes, develop minimum viable products, and receive mentorship from industry experts, market intelligence, and guidance on regulatory compliance, financial modelling, and customer acquisition.The programme will focus on startups building renewable and distributed energy solutions such as micro-grids, alongside digital and data-driven technologies, including fintech, artificial intelligence, and other deep tech applications. It will also support innovations in energy efficiency, water management, regulatory compliance, and broader digital infrastructure.Startups demonstrating strong growth potential may access Scalar International’s Africa Decarbonisation Fund I, a US$150 million private equity fund that finances sustainable infrastructure projects across the SADC region.“This programme reflects a deliberate evolution in Botswana’s innovation strategy,” said Thulagano Merafe Segokgo, Botswana’s minister of communications and innovation. “We are positioning innovation as a central driver of economic transformation, aligned with our national priority plans and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme, to accelerate diversification, industrial competitiveness, and sustainable growth.”