Deadline: January 27, 2020
Applications are open for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge 2020. Through this challenge, the United Nations Environment Programme is looking for early stage start-ups that make sustainable goods and services more readily available.
From low carbon mobility options, to products that reduce plastic waste, to solutions that reduce the carbon footprints of our lifestyles – pitch your solution for the chance to win $10,000, training, production of your very own video, and business mentorship from industry experts, and lots more.
Categories
The Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge is seeking entrepreneurs/startups in one of the following categories:
- Low carbon energy: can you cut the amount of energy we use in our everyday lives? Can you help make the switch to cleaner source of energy? This category is for you.
- Low carbon mobility: electric vehicles, non-motorised transport, shared mobility – or surprise us with your ideas to help us get from A to B more sustainably.
- Plastic waste prevention: Reuse, sharing, upcycling, extended product lifespans, sustainable materials – the options to reduce plastic waste are endless!
Benefits
They want to support entrepreneurs with innovative solutions that make our lifestyles more sustainable. How do they do that?
- Grants: $10,000 to give you a little more runway. All entrepreneurs can use a little more cash – whether that helps you invest in prototyping, build up your marketing, keep your staff on board, or stock up on inventory to prepare for demand.
- Bootcamp: Meet your cohort and delve into topics that can help you scale. This year’s topics? Getting investment ready, digital marketing, sustainability.
- Video production: Grab attention online with a professional video that tells your story.
- Carbon footprinting: Can you quantify how sustainable your product is? Their science partners will data crunch with you.
- Partnerships: Industry mentors to help you develop your business strategy, network, and provide technical know-how. You will be invited to a demo day to pitch to investors, and a policy dialogue to share your experiences as an entrepreneur with policymakers.
Eligibility
- Applicants should be 40 years of age or less; and
- Citizens of one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kiribati, Lao, People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor- Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Cook Islands, Niue.
Judging Criteria
- Sustainable: Startups reduce the waste and/or carbon footprint of goods and services in one or more of the following fields: low carbon mobility, waste prevention, energy efficiency.
- Articulated clearly: Startups must have a clear question or problem they will address plus a reasonably specific solution.
- Realistic balance between aspiration and attainability: Startups should be able to generate results within 12 months, with a quick start element for the first 3 months.
- Led by a mission driven founder: Are startups led by someone with the passion, skills, expertise and network to feasibly execute the concept?
- Impact Business Model: A viable, sustainable business model should be positioned in a defined market.
- Measurable: Can the project develop baseline data and measure impact? Eg. energy, material use, kilometers.
- Sustainable beyond the grant period: The startup concept should indicate how it will have lasting impact beyond the implementation period.
- Scalable and replicable: Is this an idea that could be expanded on a large scale or replicated in another sector or country?
Application
For more information, visit UNEP.
