SEED Awards

What are the SEED Awards?

The SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development is an annual awards scheme designed to find the most promising, innovative and locally led start-up eco-inclusive enterprises in countries with developing and emerging economies. The independent SEED International Jury of experts selects enterprises which have the potential to make real improvements in poverty eradication and environmental sustainability while contributing to a greener economy.

Is your enterprise small, locally driven and eco-inclusive with an ambitionto be in the vanguard of green and inclusive growth?
Does your enterprise make significant contributions to mitigating and/or adapting to climate change?
Does your enterprise need support in replicating business activities in another region or country? 

The Call for Applications for the 2018 SEED Low Carbon Awards are open until 03 April 2018.2018 

Who can apply?

For the 2018 SEED Low Carbon Awards, the call for application is open to enterprises within the focus countries: Colombia, India, Uganda, Tanzania, Thailand. 

Eligibility Criteria

SEED welcomes innovative ideas from any enterprise in a developing country or country in transition, which is working in partnership with others to generate economic, environmental and social benefits. SEED’s independent International Jury of experts selects Award Winners, those enterprises that have the greatest promise of making substantial improvements in poverty eradication and environmental sustainability while contributing to a greener economy. We request all potential proposals to carefully read our criteria before completing an application. Click on the points below for more information.Proposals which do not fulfil ALL the eligibility criteria below should not be submitted.

SEED Award Winners must:
a) demonstrate entrepreneurship and innovation
b) deliver economic, social and environmental benefits
c) have the intention and potential to become financially sustainable
d) be a partnership between different stakeholder groups
e) be locally-driven or locally-led
f) have potential for scale up or significant replication
g) be in the early stages of implementation
h) meet country-specific requirements

What do enterprises win?

No two enterprises are the same, either internally or as regards to their operating environment. SEED offers each SAG-SEED Award Winner a customised support package consisting of tools, capacity building, profiling and network building, all tailored to their individual needs. Details of the four components of the SEED Support are:

Capacity Building: tailored one-on-one advisory service that offers Winners assistance with their business and financial plan, including a 3-day Business Planning Workshop and three month support from a local expert advisor.

Tools: self-help tools that enable enterprises prioritise and address their most urgent needs, for example by assisting with market analysis, developing a funding strategy, mapping stakeholder relationships or measuring impact.

Profiling: SEED Winners are profiled nationally and regionally through a high-level Awards Ceremony as well as internationally through SEED marketing and promotional activities such as our website, blog and social media channels.

Network Building: SEED facilitates connections with valuable contacts to support organisations, such as with funders, policy-makers, and other enterprises such as SEED Alumni, and SEED Partners and Associates.

Financing: Financial contribution of USD 5,000 to cover the enterprise’s most pressing needs, as set out in a support plan agreed between the winner and SEED.