Partnership Platform for the Amazon Announces finalists
On 11th of October 2018, the Partnership Platform for the Amazon (PPA) announced the 15 finalists of its first Call for Business Proposals. The selected initiatives will compete for a chance to receive direct investment in their enterprises, cash prizes, and to participate in the PPA Acceleration and Incubation Program. The successful entrants will present at the inaugural Forum of Impact Investment and Sustainable Business in the Amazon in November.
More established entities will make business pitches to investors during a “shark-tank” style competition for up to R$600,000 to expand and scale their operations. These start-ups will present their business plans, market differentiation, and expected return on investment live during the Forum.
The other finalists will compete for the 2018 PPA Entrepreneur Prize. During the event, the entrepreneurs will pitch their business to a selection panel, who will award cash prizes of up to R$20,000 to the best initiatives.
The results surpassed the expectations of senior researcher and PPA coordinator, Mariano Cenamo.
“The applicants were excellent with a range of models being used to generate results, including support and technical assistance for farmers in rural communities, production of inputs using new technologies, and commercialization platforms for such products,” said Cenamo.
Most of the enterprises deal in green technology, promote sustainable farming practices, forest management, or add value to Amazonian socio-biodiversity products. Other enterprises enable social finance and citizenship, or combat animal trafficking and illegal logging. The PPA also received project proposals for climate change mitigation and adaptation.