The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, one of the largest sustainable enterprise competitions in the world, has announced the five startups still in the running for a cash prize of €500,000. Finalists include innovators from France, Rwanda, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Launched in 2007 by the Dutch Postcode Lottery, the Green Challenge is an international competition that rewards products, services and technologies that successfully combine sustainability, entrepreneurship and creativity. Startups’s business plans and products are weighed against factors such as their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to contribute to a sustainable lifestyle, as well as their convenience, quality and design. Ideas should also be developed enough to be executed and brought to market within two years.
This year’s finalists include innovations for renewable energy, low-carbon transport and alternative materials.
ARED
Lightyear
Glowee
EarthEnable
“Being among the last five out of 515 entries is already a great achievement and honor,” said Gayatri Datar, co-founder of EarthEnable. “With the prize money, we plan to scale within Rwanda and likely in three other countries. The prize money gives us the opportunity to test different scaling models to find a viable scale strategy to improve the health and lives of millions of people who are still living on dirt floors.”
Pond
The winner of the Challenge will be announced during the final on September 14th, where each team will pitch its business plan to an international jury. €500,000 will be awarded to the top startup to bring its business to market. A prize of €200,000 will go to the Challenge runner-up.
Get the latest insights, trends, and innovations to help position yourself at the forefront of sustainable business leadership—delivered straight to your inbox.
Published Aug 22, 2017 9am EDT / 6am PDT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST