Fifteen new initiatives selected for the PPA Acceleration Program
Selected among 201 applicants, 15 initiatives that will join the Program in 2020 will be competing for investments of up to R$ 800,000 during a business round in December this year.
The businesses selected to participate in the Acceleration Program run by the Partnership Platform for the Amazon (PPA) in 2020 are: Academia Amazônia Ensina; Cacauway; Coex Carajás; CODAEMJ; Instituto Ouro Verde; ManejeBem; Na Floresta; NavegAM; Nossa Fruits; Oka; ONF Brasil; Prátika Engenharia; Serras Guerreiras de Tapuruquara; Taberna da Amazônia; and Tucum. All these businesses propose solutions for sustainable agriculture and cattle farming; forest management and production; environmental products and services; environmental conservation education; climate change mitigation and adaptation, among others.
Six out of these 15 initiatives are based in the state of Amazonas; four in Pará; two in Mato Grosso; two in Rio de Janeiro; and one in Santa Catarina. For the first time ever, the Call for Business Proposals has made companies headquartered in other parts of Brazil eligible to participate, as long as they are willing to start operating in the North six months after program initiation.
“The Acceleration Program is a very important model for the Amazon because it prepares entrepreneurs and social businesses for sustainable growth while producing results, involving communities and preserving the forest. In order to replace illegal or unsustainable economic models, we need to support businesses, start-ups and ideas that move in that direction. And this is what this program is all about," says Ted Gehr, Director of USAID Brazil, a PPA strategic partner.
In addition to being part of the Acceleration Program in 2020, the selected companies will participate in a business round with investors in December this year. This will give them an opportunity to attract financial inputs to their specific demands – up to R$ 800,000 per business.
The PPA 2019 Call for Business was organized by the Partnership Platform for the Amazon and coordinated by Idesam. Its strategic partners and financial supporters are USAID, CIAT, the Instituto Humanize and the Fundo Vale. Other partners include Pipe Social, Centro de Empreendedorismo da Amazônia, Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV), Fundação CERTI, Fundação Rede Amazônica, FIIMP, Sitawi, ICE, NESsT and Conexsus. In addition, the following companies and organizations have also offered their support: Natura, the Peabiru Institute, the Amazon Conservation Team (ECAM), Bemol, DD&L, Whirpool, Ambev Brewery, Beraca, Agropalma, Abrapalma, Althelia Funds and the Amazon Network Group.
