Photo from seedgreen.org
Authors: Nicole Sciberras Debono & Bastien Debiève
Youth and young adults are those who can guarantee a successful green transition ahead.
The need for innovation to accelerate carbon neutral development is rapidly emerging and has become more evident. However, one of the main problems which green start-ups face, is obtaining finance to fund their project. Junior Chamber International Malta together with the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning (‘MECP’), supported by Malta Enterprise, has launched a validator and accelerator five-month programme, called SeedGreen, as part of the MECP’s national #ClimateOn campaign.
Seedgreen will help young entrepreneurs with green ideas turn their ideas into real business opportunities. The call is broad, allowing many start-ups to participate: the main point is to propose a solution that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to invite startup participants to execute a tangible proof-of-concept project based on an early-stage prototypes. Projects in sectors such as agriculture, architecture, manufacturing, energy, retail, transport, and waste, are particularly welcomed.
Seedgreen is broken down into two stages: the Validator Stage and the Accelerator Stage.
Participants may submit an Expression of Interest application. The Validator Stage will run from June till mid-July 2021 and participants will benefit from interactive sessions on business, technology, and sustainability with skilled tutors. The six most promising teams, as determined by an independent committee made up of the MECP, Junior Chamber International (‘JCI’) Malta, Malta Enterprise, and third-party experts, will then succeed to the Accelerator Stage, which will run from the beginning of August till mid-September 2021. During this stage, participants will with the help of the mentors of JCI Malta and Malta Enterprise, will establish a roadmap for where they want to take their idea and plan how they intend to implement it.
The top three green solutions will receive pre-seed funding – winners will get €12,000 (first place), €10,000 (second place) and €8,000 (third place).Winners may also benefit from:
- Potential incubation services through Malta Enterprise’s already available start-up business schemes (such as BStart); and
- Possible allocation of operating space through Kordin Business Incubation Centre’s services.
Even though we are one of the smallest island nations worldwide, we can still offer new business models that get us from the practices we currently rely on to a set of innovations that are good enough to stop producing GHG emissions. The Seedgreen programme is part of the government’s offer to support companies and startups towards sustainable development and climate neutrality. The importance of providing early support to ensure that promising ideas turn into green solutions is evident. Thus, Sustainable low-carbon startups are the future – if you have any ideas on what kind of planet our children and grandchildren should benefit, and that could also benefit from this call, submit your expression of interest before the 28 of May. For more information, check out Seedgreen’s guidelines here!