When it comes to giving birth to workable climate-friendly business ideas, a Cape Town start-up has come out tops.

SeaH4, which is developing a net zero, algae-based replacement for fossil fuels, snagged the EUR10 000 first prize in the finale of the annual ClimateLaunchpad competition, beating more than 2 700 ideas and 500 participating teams, according to Engineering News.

The initiative – which is run by European climate innovation agency Climate KIC and supported by the Bank of America and Irish Aid – helps early-stage climate innovators turn ideas into viable businesses.

SeaH4 will also receive tailored support, access to investors and greater visibility in the global cleantech sphere.

The company creates biofuels, using seaweed farmed in ponds along desert shores as feedstock, as well as green hydrogen. The fuel is targeted at hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and shipping, but can be adapted for any combustion engine, according to Disrupt Africa. SeaH4 was also a winner in the 2024 OceanLove Innovation Awards, with MyBroadband reporting that it is planning to start producing the biofuel at scale in 2028.

Founder Johannes Bochdalofsky told MyBroadband that SeaH4 was planning to have its revenue-generating pilot plant in Namibia up and running towards the end of this year.

Tanzania-based Chaja came in second at the ClimateLaunchpad event, with its battery-as-a-service offering to power electric motorcycles affordably.

11 November 2025
Image: Unsplash