Berytech, the Lebanese partner of the EU-funded under the ENI CBC MED framework GIMED project, has opened a call for applications to select 40 green early-stage startups working on eco-innovative products or services, providing them with the support they need to grow their businesses, develop green strategies and regional business connections and gain better access to finance and market opportunities within the Mediterranean. 

Eco-innovators, especially women and youth, running early-stage businesses will get the chance to develop and strengthen their capacities in order to secure investment and business opportunities, enhance their environmental and social value creation, improve their sustainability, support product and service development in the green and circular market in the region.

During this Support Program for Green Start-ups, participants will benefit from tailored  business support to ventures’ needs, grants and funding opportunities  and access to potential market growth opportunities.  Start-ups will also access to GIMED’s Mediterranean network of green partners and investors and Berytech’s network of entrepreneurs, professionals, media, funding companies, allowing participants to access to international and regional B2B meetings and trade deals.

Innovation, solving environmental and social challenges and providing products, services or technologies leading to environmental improvements and sustainability in Lebanon  are the key criteria in selecting projects . This program comprises 7 phases:

• Outreach & Selection of 40 green early-stage businesses (July – September 2021)
• Green Capacity Building (October – December 2021)
• Jury Day | Selection of 10 Projects (December 2021)
• Green Coaching Support (January – March 2022)
• Pitch & Network Event with Investors (March 2022)
• Green Incubation Support (April – June 2022)
• Cross Border B2B Meetings (April – June 2022)

The Green Capacity Building Phase

The Green Capacity Building is a 3-month capacity building program tailored to support the selected businesses in developing their green business plan, measuring their environmental, social and economic impact, reducing their overall environmental impact, improving their sustainability, assessing their financial need, offering better access to finance and funding opportunities, and developing their branding, marketing and communication strategies.

In December 2021, only 20 entrepreneurs will continue in the next coaching phase after pitching in front of a selected jury.

The Green Coaching Support & Pitching Events

In this phase, 20 selected early-stage businesses will go through one-on-one coaching sessions tailored to their needs to access finance and market opportunities and group coaching sessions where they will benefit from peer learning and targeted workshops.

Besides, Pitching & Network Events With Investors will be held at this stage. Among 20 participants that will finish their coaching support phase , 4 of them will be selected to win grant prizes receive a grant of  7,500€ to be spent on technical and business support and 3-month incubation support during which the participants will benefit from linkages with experts, investors, and professionals ,

Applications are now open. Apply before 5 September 2021 in the following link. If you have any questions about the GIMED Project, please email tala.saleh@berytech.org.