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Greenpreneurs Program 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas for developing countries’ green growth still have a lack of access to right technical training, network, mentorship, and seed capital. Business incubators are considered as growth engine, contributing to the national economy by generating revenue, job, and entrepreneurial culture (Mahmood et al., 2016). In 2018, GGGI launched a pilot Greenpreneurs Program designed to supercharge green growth startups particularly in/for developing countries.

The program is composed of global and national programs. The global Greenpreneurs program is a ten-week global competition open to youth between the ages of 18 and 35. Through a national program, GGGI explores to work with a national business incubator and/or university in our operating countries, to promote green growth among start-ups, e.g. creating a “green” window of the program.

Key features of the global program 2018 are:

  • web-based training modules (e.g. from customer segmentation to financial modelling) for applicants to reexamine their strategy
  • connecting them with mentors/subject matter experts, and
  • hosting business plan competition while giving them the resources and support (i.e. seed capital) needed to make them to take a next step – which is to demonstrate unique value proposition and be ready to pitch to raise capital.

The Greenpreneurs program focuses on specific sectors that GGGI prioritizes, including Sustainable Energy, Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Landscapes (Agriculture/Forest), and Green Cities (Waste/Transport). These reflect the urgent issues impeding growth in developing countries in the context of green growth, climate change, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

  • 349 applicants
  • Shortlisted 10 teams (Finalists)
  • Participated in the 10-week long module-based program, with exercises and networking
  • Received mentorship
  • Refined business model (with financial and impact modelling) and pitched for web-based final competition
  • Will award top winners during the GGGI Council/Assembly (Oct 31, 2018)

Greenpreneurs 2019: Next Steps

Long-term Vision

  • GGGI advises its Member governments on policies and incentives to stimulate green jobs/employment, catalyze green innovation, entrepreneurship, particularly for youth/young people/the next generation; and
  • GGGI helps mobilize green and climate funding to invest in green start-ups and companies.

Planned Activities in 2019

  • Greenpreneurs Global Program 2019
  • National Programs, expanded with local incubators, and universities
  • Pacific, the UAE, Viet Nam, The Philippines, Mexico, Rwanda

Visit the Greenpreneurs website: http://www.greenpreneurs.co

Blogs written by the finalists for the Greenpreneurs program

Q&A: Why Young and Smart Greenpreneurs are the Future of Sustainable Development

Use ICTs for Scaling up agroecology to achieve the SDGs: PREMIUM HORTUS, the African greentech for Agroecology in implementation in Morocco

Greenpreneurs: the experience.

The future is green and … microscopic!

BUMDEST: Providing Your Better Pesticide

Climate Action through commercialization of grass root waste to energy solutions

Land restoration and boosting agriculture through production of organic fertilizers

Kase Cooperative: Bringing “Power” to People

Cambodia Green Infrastructure (CGI)

PAVECO – It’s Time to Start Treating Waste As a Resource

Solar dehydrators fight food waste – MEWA, Pakistan

Youth, innovation, and entrepreneurship!

Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Director-General of GGGI kicked off a Greenpreneurs program to support young entrepreneurs.

Click here to listen to the webinar.

A 10-week virtual accelerator program was launched on July 30!

Read more here and here.