The SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development: Apply Now!

Deadline: 22-Mar-21

The SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development has been launched to identify the most innovative and promising locally led start-up eco-inclusive enterprises in developing and emerging economies.

Each year, multiple award categories are offered, ranging from country- or region-specific topics. This year there are two (2) categories: SEED Low Carbon Awards and SEED Climate Adaptation Awards.

Award Categories & Prize Packages

SEED Low Carbon Awards: (Ghana, South Africa, Uganda, India, Indonesia & Thailand)

SEED Low Carbon Awards are open for eco-inclusive enterprises whose key activities, products and services contribute to a low carbon reality, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. The enterprises in the sectors of biodiversity, clean energy, green technologies, sustainable agriculture, waste management and resource efficiency as well as water, sanitation & health are all eligible in this Awards Scheme.

6 Winners – receive 1 year SEED Accelerator support & €10,000 matching grant each

24 Runners-up – receive 6 months SEED Catalyser support & €1,500 grant each

SEED Climate Adaptation Awards: (Botswana, Malawi & Zambia)

SEED Climate Adaptation Awards are open for eco-inclusive enterprises that prevent or minimize damages caused by global warming and fluctuating weather patterns. In other words, SEED Climate Change Adaptation Awards look for enterprises that provide solutions to respond to effects of climate change or prepare for future impacts.

3 Winners – receive 1 year SEED Accelerator support & €15,000 matching grant each

15 Runners-up – receive 6 months SEED Catalyser support & €1,500 matching grant each

Benefits

Winners receive a matching grant up to €15,000 and a 12-month support package;

As a SEED Award Winner or Runner-up will receive a customised SEED Support Package, which includes the tools and guidance required for enterprise to emerge from the start-up stage and effectively scale-up the positive environmental, social and economic benefits which applicant deliver to their target markets;

The SEED Support Package is delivered through our Accelerator programme (for Winners) and Catalyser programme (for Runners-Up).

Eligibility Criteria

The SEED Awards 2021 are open to eco-inclusive enterprises from Botswana, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malawi, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, and Zambia.
Enterprises which fulfil the following requirements are invited to apply to be a SEED Award recipient.
- Demonstrate entrepreneurship and innovation;
- Deliver economic, social and environmental benefits;
- Have potential to scale-up and/or be replicated in other contexts;
- Are at early stages of implementation;
- Have intention and potential to become financially stable;
- Are partnerships between different stakeholder groups;
- Are locally driven or locally led;
- Meet country and/or sector requirements.