Deadline: January 5, 2026
Applications are open for the Sage Impact Entrepreneurship Program: Scaling Solutions for People and the Planet 2026. Now in its second year, this multi-year initiative supports 165 entrepreneurs across Europe and the US who are making a positive environmental, social, and economic impact in their communities. The program focuses on fostering a community of visionary leaders who can drive systemic change through innovation and collaboration.
In partnership with Sage Foundation, this year’s program will support 12 early-stage and under-resourced startups based in Europe (UK, France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain) through its Annual Core Cohort offering tailored mentoring, Sage’s product support, grants, and strategic training.
An additional 15 startups will join the Community Cohort and have access to various resources, including a curated digital platform, asynchronous tools, and visibility through Village Capital’s website and social channels. All participating startups will receive two years of post-program support to strengthen their impact and scale their solutions.
Benefits
- An invitation to participate in mock board meetings with representatives from relevant institutions, corporations, and investors that can help scale their solutions and startups.
- Four interactive workshops tailored to help their startup identify early milestones and prepare them for the next round of capital (if relevant).
- Access to one-to-one coaching with an investment analyst focused on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and using financial metrics to drive their business and investor diligence.
- All startups from the Core Cohort will receive USD 10K in grant capital for milestone support. At the end of the program, two peer-selected startups from the Core Cohort will receive additional grant capital of USD 50K for the top-ranked startup and USD 25K for the second highest-ranked startup.
- Ability to meet with and receive mentorship from potential strategic partners, customers, and other founders, as well as mentors and founders within the climate and sustainability space.
- Ability to network and receive mentorship from prominent US investors and business leaders.
- Receive a stipend to cover travel-related expenses for one team member associated with the Program Summit in London, UK.
- Join a community of support and a suite of investment-readiness resources, including a curated digital platform, asynchronous tools, and visibility through Village Capital’s website and social channels.
- The Core and Community cohorts will benefit from exposure to Village Capital’s program website and other communications collateral.
- All participating startups will receive two years of post-program support to enhance their impact and scale their solutions.
Eligibility
Eligible startups must have:
- Legal incorporation as a for-profit entity, including, but not limited to, B Corp-certified companies.
- Headquartered or operating in France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, or the UK, with a preference for companies located near Sage’s offices in Newcastle, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Barcelona, or Lisbon.
- Market-based solutions that directly tackle the following verticals:
- Clean Energy Transition
- Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions
- Smart Mobility and Sustainable Infrastructure
- Sustainable Supply Chain and Manufacturing
- Circular Resource Solutions
- Climate-Resilient Health and Wellness
- Disaster-Resilient Housing and Community Planning
- Climate Finance and Insurance Innovation
- Environmental Justice and Social Equity
- Data Analytics and Climate Intelligence
- Green and Inclusive Economy and Job Growth
- Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
- A minimum viable product (MVP) and have raised less than USD 1.5M in equity.
- At least one full-time founder based in France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, or the UK. Meaningful customer or business validation (this can include revenue, successful pilot studies, user numbers, and/or strategic partnerships).
Application
For more information, visit Sage Impact Entrepreneurship Program.
