This is the first time a global mapping of startups has been planned to focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, known as the SDGs. Because these startups have the potential to have a good social and environmental impact as well as financial gains, they are referred to as “SDGs: Global Impact Startups.”
This competition poses the following objectives:
Seek out the most innovative solutions to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals achievement regarding viability, scalability and impact. Gather and connect all actors of the global innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem; Member States and public organizations; startups; academia; corporations; incubators and accelerators; and investors and venture builders. Provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge, business models, successful business cases and general support among startups to foster disruption in their own strategy and in the economy as a whole.
Focus Areas
- Health and Well-being – Risk pooling, Remote patient monitoring, Telehealth, Advanced genomics, Detection of counterfeit drugs, Tobacco control, Weight management programs, Electronic medical records, Better maternal and child health, Better disease management, Healthcare training, Low cost surgery
- Cities – Affordable housing, Energy efficiency – buildings, Electric and hybrid vehicles, Public transport in urban areas, Car sharing, Road safety equipment, Autonomous vehicles, ICE vehicles fuel efficiency, Municipal water leakage, Cultural tourism, Building resilient cities, Smart metering, Water and sanitation infrastructure, Office sharing, Timber buildings, Durable and modular buildings
- Energy and Materials – Circular models-automotive, Expansion of renewables, Circular models-appliances, Circular models-electronics, Energy efficiency-nonenergy intensive, Energy storage systems, Resource recovery, End-use steel efficiency, Carbon capture and storage, Energy access, Energy efficiency- energy intensive industries, Green chemicals, Additive manufacturing, Local content in extractives, Shared infrastructure, Mine rehabilitation, Grid interconnection
- Food and Agriculture – Reducing foodwaste in value chain, Forrest ecosystem services, Low-income food markets, Reducing consumer food waste, Product reformulation, Technology in large-scale farms, Dietary switch, Sustainable aquaculture, Micro-irrigation, Restoring degraded land, Technology in smallholder farms, Reducing packaging waste, Cattle intensification, Urban agriculture
Startups from all walks of life, from all over the world and all economic sectors are invited to participate in meeting the following criteria:
- Be innovative in nature providing value-added solutions
- Be sustainability-driven
- Be scalable: to have the potential for international growth and potential to be applied in corporations and destinations (countries, regions)
- Be an Early Stage or Series A startup
- Having a minimum viable product (MVP), Initial Market Traction and business plan
- Have been accelerated before
- Have a full-time team
All ways of innovation are welcome: new methods, processes, governance models, social impact initiatives, and technologies.
Participating startups will be assessed according to their:
- Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
- Ease of value capture via collaboration with the startup
- Potential business impact
- Maturity of the product/technology
- Maturity of the team and the organization
- Partnership readiness
Benefits for winning startups include but are not limited to:
- SDGs Global Impact Startups Finale winners stand the opportunity to win up to USD1,000,000 in equity investment and up to USD10,000 in cash prize money.
- Funding: Pitch your business to compete for up to US$10,000 cash prize and US$1,000,000 equity investment prize.
- Resources: Get empowered with corporate partnerships, networking events across our global network.
- Exposure: Gain international exposure in front of a selected audience of investors, media partners, and industry experts.
- Pitch at an SDGs Global Impact Startups Demo Day
- Access to technological support
- Access to top corporations and 20+ countries curated mentorship programmes from various universities, accelerators and more corporations
- Potential pilot project with private-sector collaborators and institutions
WHEN YOU ARE SELECTED TO THE PROGRAM, YOU WILL
- Be part of a global network that will support you as you work towards the SDGs and create your impact in the world
- Receive investment through our Venture Capital Network
- Receive mentorship from technology experts, governmental institutions, financial and technology experts, and global investors
- SDGs Global Impact Startups Finale winners stand the opportunity to win up to USD1,000,000 in equity investment (T&C Applied)
Selection process:
SDGs: Global Impact Startups Competition will select startups based on the following process:
Step 1: Apply to pitch in one of the local events (Virtual);
Step 2: Evaluation and pre-screening by the selection committee.
Step 3: Pitch at Local Startup Competition. Judges will select 1 champion per local event.
Step 4: Grand Finale on 15th March’2022. Each local champion will have the opportunity to compete in front of a prestigious investment committee composed of top investors, industry experts, CEOs, and tech entrepreneurs in the region.
