DAWERR Innovation Challenge 2023
Revolutionize Waste Management: Turn Your Eco-Innovation into a Game-Changing Solution for a Greener Tomorrow
Seize the opportunity to reshape the future of solid waste management in Lebanon’s rural communities with your innovative solutions. Collaborate with fellow eco-entrepreneurs, gain expert insights, attend eye-opening workshops, and refine your business idea to scale and create a sustainable impact. Apply now and be the catalyst for change!
Applications are currently closed.
About the DAWERR Innovation challenge 2023
Under the Diverting Waste by Encouraging Reuse and Recycling (DAWERR) Activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Berytech is organizing the DAWERR Innovation Challenge 2023 (IC23) to support selected participants grow their business in the fields of Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Lebanon.
Held over two consecutive days, the DAWERR IC23 is an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups, working on innovative solid waste management solutions solving real problems/challenges in rural communities in Lebanon to enhance their solutions to scale up and grow in the market.
Over two days, teams will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, receive support to validate their business solutions through workshops and 1-1 sessions with experts, and then to pitch their solutions to a panel of judges.
The startup or SME will have to:
- Be working on solving challenges in the Solid Waste Management sector across Lebanon particularly in rural areas,
- Have a Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
Workshops
Get all the information you need to enhance your solution.
Clinics
Receive support from mentors and experts.
Pitching
Pitch your solution to the jury and receive expert feedback to enhance your idea.
The Grants
6 winners
UP TO $25,750*
+ INCUBATION
* Six winning startups or SMEs of the DAWERR IC23 will be incubated for 12 weeks at Berytech. Each venture will receive financial assistance as in-kind grants of up to $750 to validate their solutions, further develop their MVPs, and out of the six short-listed ventures, DAWERR will select up to three startups or SMEs to move on to the second phase of the incubation program and provide them with in-kind grants of up to $5,000 each to be spent on further developing and scaling their solutions.
Upon graduation of the second phase of the DAWERR IC23 incubation program, registered entities will have the opportunity to receive a grant of up to $20,000 from DAWERR to pilot and scale their innovative solutions. This funding will enable these entities to accelerate their business operations and market penetration, driving growth along the recycling value chain.
WHO CAN APPLY
You are encouraged to apply if you have a team working on solving challenges in the solid waste management sector. DAWERR strongly encourages female participation in the IC23.
Your startup or SME needs to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Registered or non-registered entities with at least an MVP addressing (one or more) challenges;
- Team members residing in Lebanon with at least two co-founders per team;
- Team should include multidisciplinary experts; and
- The EOI must propose a solution to solve one or both of the DAWERR challenge statements.
The process:
- Submit any questions before May 28, 2023, at 5:00pm
- Submit your application before June 4, 2023, at 5:00pm
- If selected, attend the DAWERR IC 23 held over two days
- Pitch your idea/solution in front of a jury and get the chance to win the grant
The 2-day
Schedule
2:00 PM Registration
2:30 PM Introduction and Challenges Presentation
2:45 PM Elevator Pitches
3:30 PM Coffee Break – Speed Networking with Alumni
4:30 PM One-on-One Tailored Business feedback sessions
6:00 PM Crafting a Winning Pitch Deck
7:00 PM End of Day
8:00 AM Breakfast and Registration
9:00 AM Mastering Your Pitch Deck: Essential Elements of Your Go-to-Market Strategy
10:30 AM How to Measure and Maximize Your Environmental & Sustainability Impact
12:00 PM One-on-One Clinics with experts to finalize pitch decks and rehearse
1:30 PM Lunch Break
2:30 PM Group activity to refine pitch delivery
3:30 PM Pitch Deck Submission and Group Activity
5:00 PM Pitching in front of Jury
7:00 PM End of Day
SELECTION CRITERIA
By the end of the DAWERR IC23, all startups will have to present a 3-minute pitch introducing their proposed solution to the specific challenges in the form of sustainable business model to a jury of experts followed by a 10-minute Q&A.
Product Innovation
- The MVP employs innovative technological or business model components which are unique to the project, feasible and not easily replicable
Validation
- Problem Validation – The team has a clearly identified problem that is valid and needs a solution
- Solution Validation – The startup has a solution addressing the problem identified
- Market Validation – The startup has proven to attract real customers or have garnered significant interest and/or order pipelines awaiting fulfillment
Business Model
- Scalability – The business model is efficiently scalable to other markets and segments
- Stickiness – The model is designed to encourage repeat transactions/orders
- Financial Model – The startup has a clear path to profitability and sustainability
Team
- The team composition demonstrates the ability to execute and are committed to the project.
- The team members’ background is clear, fitting with the roles and responsibilities needed to take the idea forward.
- The team has the skills required to succeed
Start your application
Applications are currently closed.
Deadline To Apply: June 4, 2023 at 5:00 pm (Beirut Time)
Discover the Challenges
The DAWERR IC23 will challenge participants to solve one of the problems municipalities face in managing solid waste from the point of generation to final disposal.
The aim is to introduce financially sustainable solutions that increase the reuse, push for recycling, and monetize solid waste ultimately reducing the amount of solid waste that goes to landfills.
Accordingly, applicants to DAWERR IC23 must have solutions and existing MVPs to address one or both challenges, including challenge statements.
- Address sorting practices, behaviour change and/or scalability challenges. In most areas, solutions should be able to encourage people to start sorting at source and separate their waste into organic waste, recyclables, and rejects. For new and existing sorters, this solution should also aim at facilitating practices by the waste generator to either (1) set out the pre-sorted waste into three (3) bins for selective collection or (2) drop off the pre-sorted recyclables and organic waste at designated drop-off or community composting kiosks;
- Change a fundamental aspect of SWM which is people’s behaviour. The solution should enable more effective Social Behaviour Change (SBC) campaigns -I.e., facilitate more impact and a greater reach for every dollar spent on SBC campaigns. In other words, when the solution is implemented, areas and communities targeted by SBC campaigns would register an increase in the percentage of people who sort their waste at the source and have changed their behaviours as compared to the pre-solution situation; and/or
- Scale up an existing successful SBC model to new areas or possibly into a national level model. Solutions must show results from existing markets, and ease of adaptability, and where applicable, an in-depth understanding of the new targeted area(s).
- Amend and optimize existing solid wase collection operations to make them more cost and resources efficient. Solutions should adjust, upgrade, change, innovate or automate any or all aspects of the operations in a way that lowers risks and the impact of negative change. Solutions must clearly demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness by optimizing resources utility, lowering costs, or delivering more results;
- Mobilize communities where people adopt a drop off approach. Solutions must enable people to have options where they can drop off their pre-sorted solid waste at certain designated fixed or mobile locations. This should complement or replace existing collection schemes and routes. Where applicable, solutions must also guarantee that the required changes in existing collection methods to accept source separated waste; and/or
- Reduce the adverse impacts of the informal sector, also known as scavengers, in SWM especially for recyclables. Solutions should propose approaches by local authorities to regulate or integrate scavengers in the proposed SWM system while maintaining acceptable profits for all stakeholders.
The DAWERR Innovation Challenge 2023 is organized by Berytech for the Diverting Waste By Encouraging Reuse and Recycling (DAWERR) Activity funded by USAID.
FAQ
The event will be held physically at Berytech. You will receive all the needed information once you are selected among the teams.
As a team, you are expected to present a pitch deck about your suggested business model for your solution in a 3-minute pitch.
To participate you need to be a team of at least 2 people. We recommend having 3 members in your team with different backgrounds.
Only registered or non-registered entities with at least an MVP can apply.
Yes. You will have plenty of free time to work on your solution, you just need to make sure to attend all the workshops and be ready for check-in so that the team doesn’t get dismissed from the competition.
For the full RFA, you can view and download the document from this link.
If you have any questions or need information, feel free to email us at grants@dawerr.org before May 28, 2023
THE SDGS
As a member of the Global Compact Network Lebanon, Berytech enacts the 10 principles of the UNGC and the DAWERR program falls under Berytech’s mission to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.
The DAWERR Innovation Challenge 2023 is organized by Berytech for the Diverting Waste By Encouraging Reuse and Recycling (DAWERR) Activity funded by USAID.