The Amazon Global Startups Hub promoted by the CERTI Foundation, and the Amazon Investor Coalition selected the 33 purpose driven businesses that are making an impact in the Amazon Rainforest.
The Hub is a new network for innovative businesses that sustainably use products from Amazonian biodiversity or with the potential to generate competitiveness in sustainable economy chains through services and supporting technologies. The UK government supports the initiative through Partnerships for Forests (P4F) and NEXUS, a global network of new generation impact investors, philanthropists, and allies, Earth Innovation Institute (EII), and Giving Back Fund. The organizations work together to strengthen the Amazon Rainforest's potential as a global leader in bio-economy and decarbonization.
"By participating in the global network, these startups enter the radar of a series of benefits and opportunities to connect with large companies, accelerators, and ecosystem partners, gaining visibility and increasing their chances of leveraging their business," says Janice Maciel, coordinator of the initiative. At the CERTI Foundation. "We will put innovative businesses with a positive impact on the forest in contact with investors, philanthropists, and buyer companies interested in the Amazon. It's the opportunity to put the businesses in the spotlight on the international stage", comments Jonah Wittkamper, Co-founder and CEO of the Amazon Investor Coalition.
The businesses operate mainly in the sustainable agriculture, regenerative agroforestry, food, and beverage sectors. In addition, cosmetics, perfumes, and pigments also stood out. Most businesses are in the operational phase (34%) and traction (29%). Another relevant data is that 74% of the companies have at least one woman in a leadership position or the corporate board, and 39% have at least 50% of the team made up of women. This is one of the lenses present in the strategic initiatives of the Hub, which aims at gender equity, in addition to indigenous inclusion in the leadership of startups that are friendly to the Amazon rainforest.
CERTI Foundation, Amazon Investor Coalition, and Partnerships for Forests (P4F)
In a multilateral strategic partnership supported by the UK government through Partnerships for Forests (P4F), Fundação CERTI and the Amazon Investor Coalition launched in the first half of this year the Global Hub of Amazon Startups, an opportunity to catalyze the innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurship in the region, connected to a powerful global network of investors, companies, industries, and mentors.
In the first round of applications, startups were able to apply for a spot at the 1st Pitch Stand for investors that will take place during the Amazon Investor Coalition Summit in November and to participate in Sinergia.
Sinergia is a free program, primarily online and aimed at businesses in the acceleration stage, and is part of the Amazon Journey, promoted by the CERTI Foundation. In approximately four-month cycles, startups will go through a process of strengthening, visibility, and connection and can also be selected to participate in a face-to-face immersion in the innovation ecosystem of Florianópolis.