This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
On August 14, 2019, Seedstars, together with the DOEN Foundation, a Dutch fund supporting green initiatives, launched the DOEN Land Restoration Prize to find and award startups in the land restoration and land degradation space.
According to Saskia Werther, Program Manager at the DOEN Foundation, “Landscape restoration is a vital part of this regenerative economy and social entrepreneurs play an important role to establish innovative business models to counter land degradation and deforestation. Through this challenge, DOEN wants to highlight the work of early stage restoration enterprises and inspire other frontrunners to follow suit.”
The DOEN Land Restoration Prize aims to address the urgent issue of land degradation, which has severe consequences on the environment and human societies. Startups in this sector will look for solutions to restore forests and landscapes by reversing the degradation of soils, agricultural areas, forests, and watersheds to regain their ecological functionality.
According to the World Resources Institute, for every $1 invested in land restoration, it can yield $7-$30 in benefits. The winner of the challenge will be awarded 9 months access to the Seedstars Investment Readiness Program and a $10,000 grant.
Applications for the DOEN Land Restoration Prize are open until October 15th. Startups should be less than 4 years of existence, have a Minimum Viable Product, and be scalable, showing clear environmental and social impact.
The competition is open to technology startups, tech-enabled startups, and businesses that can show a clear innovation component. Ventures in planning, management, agricultural education, conservation, agroforestry, and clean energy solutions are also eligible to participate.
