GrowUp Incubator: Circular Impact Cohort – Sustainable Tourism & Mobility

How can we assure that the development of local tourism and mobility is challenged in a way that these sectors flourish while conserving the natural environment and improving local livelihoods? Which circular and impactful environmental practices would contribute to solving issues like pollution, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, inequality, poverty, and youth unemployment? If your social business provides an answer to these or other questions regarding sustainable tourism and mobility, we encourage you to apply for the Circular Impact cohort.

The program aims to support early-stage entrepreneurs within the tourism and mobility sectors in the identification and implementation of potential ways for the circular economy to facilitate their growth as well as in assessing the impact of their green social businesses.

Program benefits

During the 6-month program the entrepreneurs will receive:

• Trainings on implementing circular solutions and assessing their impact
• On-demand sessions to guide the implementation of circular strategies
• Interactive capacity-building bootcamp
• Networking opportunities with local and international partners
• Peer-to-peer support

Eligibility criteria

To apply for the circular impact cohort, social businesses should:

• Be located in one of our target countries in East Africa.
• Solve a challenge within one or more thematic areas related to sustainable tourism and mobility such as mobility services, travel organization & booking; accommodation incl. food & beverage on-premises; recreation, excursions, local culture; maintenance, restoration of local tourism assets; public transport.
• Be beyond the experimentation stage.
• Have their product/service on the market for 6 months – 3 years.
• Be legally registered.
• Be able to demonstrate substantial environmental and social impact in the tourism or mobility sectors.
• Be able to demonstrate the capacity to integrate and/or enhance circularity and impact measurement across business operations.
• Be in pre-seed investment but the post-revenue stage.
• Have accumulated sales to date of ~10,000 – 25,000 USD (not necessarily profitable yet).
• Have 2-3 people from the team who will participate in the program.
• Have regular access to stable internet to participate in the program.

Info session

We are inviting entrepreneurs interested in the incubation program to register for the upcoming info session on the 2nd of August at 10 am EAT to clarify any questions they might have. Please register for the info session here.