Is your start-up enterprise innovative, locally driven, and eco-inclusive? Is your enterprise making significant contributions to inclusive climate change mitigation and/or adaptation? Does your enterprise aim to replicate business activities in another region or country? If yes, then apply for the SEED Awards to take your enterprise to the next level.
The SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development is an annual awards scheme designed to identify the most innovative and promising locally led start-up eco-inclusive enterprises in developing and emerging economies.
Up to 66 prize packages will be awarded to locally-driven and early-stage enterprises, which leverage their innovative business solutions to solve social and environmental challenges across Africa and Asia. Each year, multiple award categories are offered, ranging from country- or region-specific awards to SEED Low Carbon Award Winners and SEED Gender Equality Award Winners.
SEED Award Winners and Finalists are eligible for participation in our Accelerator and Catalyser programmes, respectively. Our Catalyser and Accelerator support high-achieving enterprises to scale up and optimise their eco-inclusive impacts.
What does the SEED Award Prize offer?
As a SEED Award Winner, applicants will receive a customized SEED Support Package, which includes the tools and guidance required for their enterprise to emerge from the start-up stage and effectively scale-up the positive environmental, social and economic benefits which they deliver to their target markets. In addition, SEED Award Winners and Finalists will also receive the following:
- Grants: SEED will provide non-reimbursable grant funding for up to 50% of the total investment for the selected enterprises. The funding varies across award categories.
- Replication Support: For enterprises ready and willing to replicate their business activities in another region or country a dedicated replication support package will prepare them in getting ready for the next steps of replication.
- Tools: Self-help tools that enable enterprises to prioritize and address their most urgent needs, for example conducting market analysis, developing a funding strategy , mapping stakeholder relationships and measuring impact.
- Profiling: SEED Winners and Finalists are profiled nationally and regionally through a high-level Awards Ceremony as well as internationally through SEED marketing and promotional activities such as our website, blog, social media and on-ground events.
- Network Building: SEED facilitates connections with valuable contacts to support organisations, such as funders, policy-makers, SEED Alumni, other SMEs, as well as SEED Partners and Associates.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are eligible to apply for the SEED Awards 2019 if their enterprise:
- demonstrates entrepreneurship and innovation;
- delivers economic, social and environmental benefits;
- has the intention and potential to become financially sustainable;
- is a partnership between different stakeholder groups;
- is locally driven or locally led;
- has potential for scale-up;
- has potential for significant replication;
- is in the early stages of implementation; and
- meets the country specific requirements set out above.
How to Apply
Applicants can apply via given website.
For further information, please visit https://seed.uno/programmes/enterprise-support/awards.