ClimateLaunchpad

ClimateLaunchPad (CLP) is a global green business ideas competition. Its mission is to address the negative impacts of climate change through innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship.

The competition supports aspiring and promising cleantech entrepreneurs by providing them with training, coaching, and networking opportunities. Founded in 2014, it operates in more than 50 countries across five continents.

CLP is part of the entrepreneurship offerings of EIT Climate-KIC, the European Union’s innovation programme for climate change.
The lead organisations responsible for CLP South Africa are Indalo Inclusive, Water Financial, and Behold SA.

How does the competition work?
Green entrepreneurs submit their ideas or innovations addressing the challenges posed by climate change to CLP South Africa. The CLP programme supports selected entrepreneurs to fast-track these ideas or innovations into business models and guide participants to avoid or manage possible pitfalls along the way. Entrepreneurs learn how to get their business models funded and launched.

Competition criteria:
• have not started a business yet or started a business less than a year before entry;
• have no substantial revenue yet;
• have not attracted more than €200,000 in investment to date; and
• have not yet sold products, solutions, or prototypes on commercial terms.

Once selected, contestants will attend a boot camp and coaching sessions where their ideas will be developed into workable business models.