Innovative African startups and entrepreneurs offering green solutions to the continent’s energy problems and with a sustainable business plan that contributes to an eco-friendly lifestyle and cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions can now apply for the 2017 Postcode Lottery Green challenge which will see the winner rewarded with US$530,000 to expand their services and business.
After the applications close in June, 25 startups will be selected for the semi-final stage of the competition which is in it 11th edition, with 5 eventually making it to the finals. The selected finalists will go to the final in Amsterdam, Netherlands in September to pitch their business plan in the presence of a selected audience and an international panel of experts.
Participation
- The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is open to any individual from any country from the age of 18 years and to companies, businesses, institutions and all other organisations.
- The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is not open to:
- employees of the Dutch Postcode Lottery;
- anyone who has been involved in or will this year be involved in judging the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge;
- immediate family members and/or household members of the individuals mentioned under (a) and (b) of this article; and
- Parties in which DOEN Foundation directly participates are excluded from entering the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge
- Parties who currently receive subsidies from DOEN Foundation can enter the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, but if they win any prize money DOEN Foundation and the Dutch Postcode Lottery have the right, at their discretion, to reduce the subsidies.
- To enter the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, each participant must submit − via the entry form on the website www.greenchallenge.info, which form is hosted by YouNoodle, Inc. − a business plan for a product or service as described under article 6.1 and all other documents and information as specified on the entry form (“Entry”) in time.
- The closing date and time for receipt of Entries is 1 June 2017, 11:59 pm CEST (midnight, Amsterdam time). New Entries or amendments in Entries received after the closing date shall not be considered. Also, incomplete Entries that were completed after the closing date shall not be considered.
- All Entries must be in English. Entries in any other language shall not be considered.
- Incomplete, illegible and/or unintelligible Entries shall not be considered.
- The Dutch Postcode Lottery reserves the right to exclude anyone and any Entry from the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge at any time, for any reason and without prior notice.
- Submitted Entries, including any material related there to, such as sample products, designs and drawings, shall become the sole property of Dutch Postcode Lottery and shall not be returned. As regards intellectual property rights concerned, reference is made to article 3.
Your plan
- Should have the potential to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by an amount you can roughly estimate
- Should be developed enough to execute
- Should be realisable as a usable product or service within the next two years
- Should preferably have integrated Cradle2Cradle principles in the designs
Again, the winner will get US$530,000 and receive professional coaching and assistance in expanding their reach and market within two years. The runner-up will get US$212,510 (€200,000).
You can apply here by 1 June 2017. Semi-finalists will be announced in mid-July and the finalists mid-August.
