Deadline: March 7, 2025
Proposals are invited for the 5th UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum Elevator Pitches. The 5th UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum 2025 offers young entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to showcase their innovative energy and climate solutions to a distinguished audience of investors, industry leaders, and policymakers.
The Elevator Pitches for Young Entrepreneurs session is a dynamic component within the UfM Energy & Climate Business Forum, designed to foster and give spotlight to youth-led innovation and entrepreneurship. This initiative gives young entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to present their start-ups and projects to a distinguished audience of investors, industry stakeholders, and business leaders. It is designed to nurture a vibrant ecosystem of innovation, with a particular focus on green energy and climate resilience.
Through short, impactful pitches, young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to demonstrate the value added of their projects to a diverse audience, including investors, business leaders, technical experts, and decision-makers. The emphasis is on fostering the entrepreneurial drive, providing an incentive to creativity, building business acumen, and enabling partnerships that contribute to regional growth and sustainable development priorities.
As part of the UfM’s commitment to fostering sustainable development, innovation, and regional collaboration, this Call for Proposals emphasizes the critical importance of aligning such projects with just energy transition and climate priorities. Applicants are encouraged to present initiatives that contribute to addressing the Mediterranean region’s energy and climate challenges through innovative and actionable solutions.
Program Components
- Pitch Presentations: Entrepreneurs will deliver concise, 2–3-minute pitches to a panel of international experts, followed by a brief Q&A session to provide constructive feedback and insights.
- Capacity Building: Participants will receive mentorship to refine their pitches and strengthen their business models.
- Networking Opportunities: The program facilitates interactions with potential investors, business leaders, representatives from regional organizations, and peer entrepreneurs from both the Mediterranean and the Gulf region, fostering collaboration and partnership-building.
Eligibility
The CfP is open to:
- Young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 years who are citizens of UfM member countries.
- Projects or start-ups that align with UfM’s strategic priorities, focusing on energy transition, climate action, sustainability, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.
- Young entrepreneurs from the 43 UfM member countries are eligible to participate in the initiative: Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey.
Application
Submissions must be made through the designated online platform, ensuring all sections of the proposal are complete and comply with the program’s guidelines. Proposals should be clear, concise, and aligned with the objectives of the Elevator Pitches for Young Entrepreneurs Program. Late submissions or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
For more information, visit 5th UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum.
