The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator opens for applications from Europe’s leading startups today. Now in its third year, this year’s Accelerator will be run in partnership with EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s leading climate innovation agency, and innovation strategy consultants Founders Intelligence, part of Accenture. The expanded Accelerator is welcoming applications from climate-tech startups who are focused on building businesses in one of four categories: Consumer Products, Circular Economy, Energy in Buildings, and Packaging – a reflection of the growing sustainable startup ecosystem.
The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator equips entrepreneurs with the skills and opportunities to grow their business and positively impact the environment. Since launching in 2022, the Accelerator has supported more than 25 startups across the UK and Europe, provided over US $1 million in grants and credits, and helped those businesses increase sales by 700% and raise over £16 million to date.
Suri, UK based sustainable toothbrush company, is aiming to tackle plastic pollution with over 4 billion toothbrushes thrown away each year. The startup was still in the concept stage when joining the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator allowing them to “increase our gross revenue to over £10 million in the last 12 months and provided us with unparalleled access to resources and expertise” according to Mark Rushmore, Co-Founder.
Grub Club, a startup selling high protein insect-based pet food in the UK, has seen year-on-year growth of 290%, since joining the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator in 2022, driving forward their ambition to reduce CO2 emissions through their sustainable pet food. Co-Founder, Alessandro di Trapani said “We currently still share office space with 4 other startups from our cohort too, which is testament to the amazing network that we’ve gained from the accelerator.”
Newly-Expanded Amazon Sustainability Accelerator
Startups in this year’s Accelerator will work with experts in Amazon’s Sustainability, Climate Pledge Fund and Climate Pledge Friendly teams, attend workshops, receive mentorship, and benefit from a bespoke programme, designed to help founders navigate the challenges of starting and scaling a sustainable business. Amazon and EIT Climate-KIC will work in collaboration to guide Accelerator participants through a Climate Impact Assessment where they will learn how to self-assess their business’ climate impact, and develop strategies to improve their environmental footprint. Participants will also receive a grant and Amazon Web Services (AWS) credits.
New for 2024, the ClimateTech Pilot Challenge will welcome startups who have moved beyond prototype testing and are working towards generating initial revenue and growing operations (Tech Readiness Level 6 and above). These businesses will participate in a shorter, intense four-week version of the Accelerator, and pitch for the chance to work on a pilot project directly with parts of Amazon’s business. A typical pilot for emerging technologies could earn them from $50,000 to $2 million, depending on duration and scope.
Our aim is for the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator to be the best place in the world for entrepreneurs to create cutting-edge sustainable products and technologies, and we want to help them reach their dream of building a business with unicorn potential. I’m so excited we’re able to expand this year’s Accelerator into new categories and verticals, welcoming later stage startups into the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator program, to help supercharge their growth, and realise the potential of a more sustainable economy.
– Zak Watts, Amazon‘s Director of Sustainability, Europe
This year’s Accelerator broadens its scope to encompass startups dedicated to decarbonisation, circularity, and resilient value chains. This expansion reflects the need to accelerate a fundamental shift in sustainable business practices and in lifestyles that use less energy, resources and materials, reaffirming our commitment to fostering impact-driven entrepreneurship for a just, climate-resilient, beautiful future for all.
– Kirsten Dunlop, Chief Executive Officer, EIT Climate-KIC
Pioneering climate and sustainability entrepreneurs have a critical role to play in decarbonising the economy, but scale and access to markets remain big challenges. The valuable role major industry players like Amazon can have in overcoming these hurdles as partners and buyers of their emerging technologies and services is often overlooked. That is why Founders Intelligence is really excited to support in delivering an ambitious new Pilot Challenge with top founders ready to scale their businesses and impact alongside Amazon.
– Ezra Konvitz, Director & Head of Accelerators, Founders Intelligence
The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is open to the following:
- Consumer Products: Early-stage startups developing sustainable and innovative physical consumer products that have recently launched or are on the cusp of go-to-market.
- Circular Economy: Startups who are buildingsolutions that extend the lifetime of products through reverse logistics, repair capabilities accessible to end users, and more.
- Energy in Buildings: Startups focused on helping buildings to decarbonise through AI and cutting-edge materials.
- Packaging: Startups creating innovative packaging materials, closed-loop reusable systems technology and more.
