Waste to wealth

What does it really take to turn urban waste into an investable opportunity?

In Addis Ababa, a pioneering company is proving that waste to wealth is more than a slogan, it is a viable business model. Founded in 2021 by six entrepreneurs, Biruk, Selamawit and Friends Organic Fertiliser Manufacturing S.C. transforms organic waste from supermarkets, poultry farms, fruit markets, and households into high-quality controlled microbial compost and vermicompost.

What may appear to be a small enterprise is actually a powerful example of how Africa’s urban and climate challenges can fuel sustainable business growth.

Building a circular economy business in Africa

Across African cities, organic waste management is a growing challenge. Yet within this challenge lies a massive opportunity for circular economy ventures.

By converting waste into valuable agricultural inputs, the company simultaneously addresses:

Urban waste accumulation
Soil degradation
Climate resilience
Sustainable food production
Green job creation

This waste to wealth approach positions organic waste recycling as essential urban infrastructure, not a peripheral activity.

From production to positioning: The catalyzer effect

Through the BIC Ethiopia Catalyzer Programme, implemented by GrowthAfrica, the founders received support that went far beyond improving production capacity.

Scaling a circular business requires more than producing more compost. It demands building an organisation that investors trust.

The programme focused on:

Strengthening governance structures
Refining long-term strategy
Clarifying financial models
Developing bank- and donor-ready proposals
Designing funding strategies across debt and equity
Building investor engagement capacity

For many climate-focused SMEs in Africa, this is the critical missing link between impact and scale.

Why growth often stalls for high-impact SMEs

Across the continent, many businesses demonstrate strong demand and measurable impact. Yet growth stalls when operations remain informal and risks are not systematically managed.

Investment readiness is not simply about having a good idea, it is about becoming legible to capital providers.

The Catalyzer journey highlights three essential insights for scaling waste-to-wealth ventures:

✔️ Circular economy businesses are urban infrastructure. They should be treated as essential services, not side projects.

✔️ Investment readiness is relational. Capital flows where expertise, governance, and credibility align.

✔️ Peer learning accelerates resilience. Entrepreneurs grow faster when supported by networks rather than operating in isolation.

Preparing for scale: Mechanisation and market expansion

As Biruk, Selamawit and Friends prepare to mechanise production, their trajectory illustrates how strategic support can transform grassroots initiatives into investment-ready enterprises.

Their story raises an important question for policymakers, investors, and ecosystem builders:

How many similar ventures are just one structural shift away from transformation?

Unlocking large-scale waste-to-wealth solutions across Africa requires coordinated action, not just individual success stories.