Two Rwandan startups, ARED and EarthEnable, have made it to the finals of the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. ARED is a Rwandan start-up that developed a mobile solar kiosk, to bring low-cost connectivity and energy services to millions of Africans while EarthEnable is a company that offers a sustainable and affordable alternative for cement to replace dirt floors which are a major cause of disease, discomfort and indignity.
These two startups stand a chance to the first prize of €500,000 to further develop the product or service, and to bring it to market of the second prize of €200,000.
The other three finalists are:
- Lightyear (Netherlands) – A start-up that is working a fully solar-powered car and therefore isn’t relying on the infrastructure of charging stations to travel. This solution can be the breakthrough for electric driving worldwide.
- Glowee (France) – A start-up that created a biological source of light, using natural properties of marine micro-organisms. The company was founded after the French government prohibited the illumination of non-residential buildings at night.
- Pond. (Denmark) – A biotech company that specialises in transforming products into fully bio based and biodegradable solutions.
The five finalists will attend the final in Amsterdam on 14 September. Here they will pitch their business plans to an international jury, the press and the public.
The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is one of the world’s largest competitions in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship. Green start-ups from all over the world can submit their promising sustainable business plans.
The Dutch Postcode Lottery started the competition in 2007, after being inspired by president Clinton to look for those dedicated entrepreneurs with brilliant green business plans. Plans that are ready to speed up the transition towards a low carbon economy.
