As many as 15 European start-ups have been selected to be a part of the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator programme where they will be mentored and funded to scale up their sustainability efforts. These start-ups will engage with Amazon’s Sustainability, Climate Pledge Fund and Climate Pledge Friendly teams, attend workshops, and receive mentorship and £10,000 worth of AWS Activate Credits.
They have been selected from varied fields including circular economy where the startups are creating solutions to extend the lifetime of their products, energy in buildings where start-ups are helping buildings decarbonize using cutting-edge technology and environment friendly materials, and the packaging industry where the businesses are working towards reusable and sustainable packaging.
The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator started in 2022 and this year it has partnered with EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s leading climate innovation agency, and innovation strategy consultants Founders Intelligence, part of Accenture.
The start-ups will enter a four-week programme of expert-led workshops, specialized mentorship, and a tailored curriculum, with access to a network of entrepreneurs in the sustainability sector also being made available. Experts in Amazon’s Sustainability, Climate Pledge Fund, and Climate Pledge Friendly teams will work with the participants, who will also receive £10,000 (approx. $12,700) worth of AWS Activate Credits.
Depending on the scope and duration of the trial, Amazon will provide these trials with funding between £50,000 (approx. $60,600) and £2 million (approx. $2.5 million).
Later-stage start-ups have progressed from prototype testing and working towards generating initial revenue and growing operations.
“I’m so excited to welcome 15 ambitious start-ups to join the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator this year, including our first ever Climate Tech Pilot,” said Zak Watts, Amazon’s international director of Sustainability. “The scope of businesses involved means we can support even more entrepreneurs to reach their potential.
He added, “Not to mention the one-of-a-kind opportunity to test their technology directly with parts of Amazon’s business. It is our mission for the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator to be the best programme of its kind in the world for entrepreneurs to pioneer and scale cutting-edge sustainable solutions.”