Renewables in Africa (RiA)

What Renewables in Africa (RiA) does

Renewables in Africa (RiA) is a privately held UK company founded in 2017 and headquartered in Brentwood, Essex, with a secondary contact office in Kenya. The company operates as a virtual media platform dedicated to raising awareness about renewable energy in Africa and adjacent markets, built around the R.I.A Podcast ("Renewables in Action") hosted by CEO and Editor-in-Chief Tony Tiyou, a former automotive engineer turned clean energy entrepreneur. Content is distributed through YouTube, Buzzsprout, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, reaching a reported 22,027+ social followers and covering seven top renewable energy sectors across ten countries.

Beyond media, RiA sells three categories of paid services. First, a Media Awareness Programme that delivers brand visibility for developers, EPCs, investors, banks, suppliers, service providers, and policymakers, monetized through event media partnerships with Africa Energy Forum, Carbon Markets Africa Summit, Bio360 Africa, and WAPECC. Second, Market Insights and Project Development Services provided as fee-based consultancy to enterprise and institutional clients including Google, REN21, and Wetility. Third, structured training through the paid Solar Masterclass for Green Entrepreneurs course, which teaches participants how to develop a bankable solar project within 30 days. Pricing for the masterclass is not publicly disclosed; media partnerships and advisory engagements are bespoke.

The business is small — 1-10 employees with two named leaders (CEO Tony Tiyou and Sales Manager Brian Kolek) — and operates without disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional investors. The company previously traded as IRecco and has stated an aspirational target of reaching $15 million in business size within five years. Revenue mechanics are split between advertising/sponsorship from event media partnerships, professional services fees, and course sales, with no disclosed recurring SaaS or subscription contracts.

Name

Renewables in Africa (RiA)

Legal name

Renewables In Africa

Website

https://renewablesinafrica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Renewables in Africa (RiA) is a UK-based virtual media platform and advisory firm that produces the R.I.A Podcast, editorial content, and the Solar Masterclass course to serve renewable energy developers, investors, policymakers, and green entrepreneurs across Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brentwood, Essex

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Media Awareness Services: RiA operates as a virtual media platform raising awareness about renewable energy in Africa through editorial content, podcast, and social media. Revenue is generated through media partnerships, sponsorships, and content collaboration with industry events.
2. Project Development Services: Provides project development services to developers, EPCs, investors, banks, and other stakeholders in the renewable energy sector. Includes market insights and consultancy services.
3. Training and Education: Offers masterclasses, workshops, and seminars including the Solar Masterclass for Green Entrepreneurs. Revenue generated through course sales and training program fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

RiA is a virtual media platform that raises awareness about renewable energy in Africa through editorial content, the R.I.A Podcast, and social media. It sells three categories of offerings: paid training (Solar Masterclass for Green Entrepreneurs), bespoke media awareness and market-insight services for B2B clients (developers, EPCs, investors, banks, suppliers, policymakers), and project development support. Customers access content via the website, Buzzsprout, YouTube, and conferences where RiA acts as media partner.

Product overview

Renewables in Africa (RiA) is a UK-based renewable energy media and professional services company operating as a unified offering that combines content creation with advisory services. The core portfolio consists of the R.I.A Podcast and Renewables in Action video series for industry insights, complemented by the Solar Masterclass training course and webinars for professional development. The company also provides fee-based services including Media Awareness Programme, Market Insights, and Project Development Services. Together, these products position RiA as a comprehensive resource and service provider for renewable energy stakeholders across Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Renewables in Action: Podcast hosted by Tony Tiyou providing comprehensive insights into renewable energy trends, business models, and industry insights

Products and services

• R.I.A Podcast (Renewables in Action) A podcast and video series (also branded "Renewables in Action") hosted by Tony Tiyou, providing comprehensive insights into renewable energy trends, business models, and industry developments in Africa. It is distributed via Buzzsprout and YouTube and serves developers, EPCs, investors, banks, and policymakers.
• Solar Masterclass for Green Entrepreneurs An online paid training course that teaches aspiring renewable-energy entrepreneurs how to develop a solar project and reach a bankable state in 30 days without large upfront capital expenditure. Sold via the company website to individual learners.
• Media Awareness Programme A paid B2B service providing brand awareness, media visibility, event coverage, and editorial promotion for developers, EPCs, investors, banks, suppliers, service providers, and policymakers in the renewable energy sector. Delivered through RiA's podcast, blog, social channels, and event media partnerships.
• Market Insights A paid B2B research and advisory service providing data-driven insights, industry analysis, and market intelligence on the African renewable energy market for developers, investors, banks, and other stakeholders.
• Project Development Services A paid B2B consultancy engaging project developers, EPCs, and investors to support the development of renewable energy projects from concept to execution, including market insights, bespoke workshops, and seminars that enhance clients' understanding of the sector.
• Webinars (Educational Webinars) Educational webinar sessions on renewable energy topics such as wind energy site management, solar development, and broader industry issues, offered to industry professionals as standalone educational events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 22,027+ social media followers across platforms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS) 2026coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 October 2026RiA is a media partner for CMAS 2026, taking place October 13-15, 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda. The summit brings together Africa's carbon market ecosystem including project developers, investors, carbon buyers, and policymakers. RiA provides event coverage and industry insights.
• Bio360 Africa 2026minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 June 2026RiA is a media supporter for Bio360 Africa 2026, Africa's premier conference and exhibition for bioenergy and bioeconomy, taking place June 17-18, 2026 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Africa Energy Forum (AEF) 2026coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 June 2026RiA is an official media partner of Africa Energy Forum 2026, returning to Cape Town, South Africa from June 16-19, 2026. RiA provides exclusive event coverage, interviews, industry insights, and updates throughout the forum.
• Government of Rwanda (Ministry of Environment)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026, partnering with AfDB, UNDP, DBSA and AUDA-NEPAD to accelerate African carbon market development.
• AfDB (African Development Bank)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AfDB for Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026, supporting Africa's carbon market ecosystem development.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UNDP for Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026, supporting climate finance flows across Africa.
• DBSA (Development Bank of Southern Africa)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with DBSA for Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026, supporting Africa's carbon market ecosystem.
• AUDA-NEPADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AUDA-NEPAD for Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2026, supporting Africa's development agenda through carbon markets.
• Government of Benin / Ministry of Energy, Water and MinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAPECC-Cotonou25 is held under auspices of Government of Benin and Ministry of Energy, Water and Mines, supported by APUA and ECOWAS Energy Commission.
• Venture Konect UK LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganising partner for 3rd edition of West Africa Power and Energy Cooperation Conference (WAPECC25) taking place December 03-05, 2025 in Cotonou, Benin.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GreenBiz: GreenBiz is a media and events company covering clean energy, sustainability, and corporate ESG, comparable to RiA's blend of editorial content, events, and advisory for energy-sector stakeholders.
• CleanTechnica: CleanTechnica is one of the largest independent clean-energy news and analysis publications, covering solar, wind, EVs, and policy — overlapping strongly with RiA's editorial content across renewables and e-mobility.
• Renewables Now: Renewables Now is an online news and market intelligence service covering global renewable energy markets, comparable to RiA's editorial coverage of project pipelines, investment flows, and policy developments.
• Solar Media / PV Tech: Solar Media (publisher of PV Tech) is a specialist media and events business focused on the solar PV industry, directly comparable to RiA's solar-focused editorial, masterclass, and event-coverage activity.
• African Energy: African Energy is an intelligence and news service focused on the African power and energy sector, including renewables, and competes directly with RiA for the attention of investors, developers, and policymakers active on the continent.
• ESI Africa: ESI Africa is a long-standing energy-sector media platform covering generation, transmission, and renewables across Africa, closely mirroring RiA's editorial and event-coverage focus on the African energy transition.
• Climate Action (Informa): Climate Action is a media, events, and community platform focused on climate and sustainable development, overlapping with RiA's editorial, podcasting, and event-media partnership approach to the climate/renewables space.

Broad incumbents

• Greentech Media (Wood Mackenzie): Greentech Media was a leading renewable energy media and research outlet before being absorbed into Wood Mackenzie; together they serve as a much larger, well-resourced incumbent producing deep research and news on the same renewables themes RiA covers.
• BloombergNEF: BloombergNEF is the dominant global provider of energy transition research and data, covering renewables, policy, and project finance — a much larger, well-capitalized incumbent competing for the same enterprise audience RiA targets.

Regional players

• Energy Voice: Energy Voice is a leading energy-sector media outlet covering oil, gas, and renewables with a primarily UK/North Sea audience; comparable as a peer publication format and revenue model, though focused on a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Renewablesafri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RenewablesinAfricaChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/RenewablesinAfrica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/renewables-in-africa
• Instagraminstagram.com/renewablesinafrica
• TikToktiktok.com/@renewables_in_africa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Renewables in Africa (RiA)