Award is open for sustainable and inclusive European startups
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For the first time, more than 40 impact ecosystem players from all over Europe, including incubators, accelerators, investors and networking organisations, are rallying behind the same cause.
Impact Shaker, organisers of the Impact Shakers Awards, wanted to create a space where impact-driven startups can grow stronger and scale their business idea to bridge the gap between social, environmental impact and profit.
Startups and scaleups from all over Europe can apply until May 7th for the awards inspired by the doughnut economics model that maps human prosperity according to a social foundation and an ecological ceiling.
An international expert jury will pick winners in twelve categories: Energy, Water, Food, Health, Education, Income & Work, Peace & Justice, Political Voice, Social Equity, Gender Equality, Housing & Networks.
Yonca Braeckman, CEO of Impact Shakers lead organiser and co-founder of the awards, said:
“Impact should be a logical part of every business model.
With Impact Shakers, we want to bring about a systemic shift that fosters more diverse entrepreneurship and success.
In 2019, 200 of the CEOs of the top Fortune 500 issued a statement declaring that delivering shareholder value was no longer the chief focus and that value needed to extend to the employees, suppliers and environment.”
The public can also cast their vote over a month-long period, and winners will be announced on June 21st during an online Awards Show.
“One advantage of the awards show is the spotlight it shines on businesses that work in harmony with society and the environment.
By recognising inclusive and sustainable businesses, people can better visualise meaningful alternatives to profit-only enterprises that overuse resources and undervalue segments of the population.
It’s not that profit isn’t important, but it is no longer the only important factor,” says Braeckman.
On top of the Awards, there will be additional supports to help selected startups embrace their idea.
The winners in each category will get to participate in a unique Masterclass to help them 'Raise Alternative Funding', and as part of the program they will get to interact with the top founders in their region and learn from experts as well as peers.
At the same time, other prizes include impact service design offered by Quest, tickets to the EVPA (European Venture Philanthropy Association) Annual Conference, UpEffect scholarship for crowdfunding, free upgrade on the SeedTribe platform to o be exposed to a global network of over 250,000 investors from around the world, and more.
Braeckman adds: “We’re launching a warm call for accelerators, investors and all those who care about sustainability, social impact and inclusivity, to encourage startups to apply and be a part of an impactful positive future.”
The Impact Shakers, who is the driving force behind the awards, tackles complex societal challenges through inclusive entrepreneurship and aims to expand opportunities and capacity further to grow.
Together with partners, they created the Impact Shakers Lab to create experimental entrepreneurship programmes.
Here they work with underserved communities and explore new educational methods to help more diverse audiences start using entrepreneurship as a problem-solving method.
They will be launching their own micro-investment fund and accelerator later in 2021.
“We believe in people — especially when they have succeeded against all odds.
If you can get through tough times, break through barriers, then you can also build a company.
Resilience and problem-solving capabilities are ideal breeding grounds for entrepreneurship.
We work to bring out the potential from all walks of life and to incorporate inclusion in every detail,” explains Braeckman.
Headline image: Impact Shakers Awards
