Under the DAWERR activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and based on the success of DAWERR Ideathon 2021, and DAWERR Ideathon 2022, Berytech is launching a third edition rebranded under DAWERR Innovation Challenge 2023 (IC23) to attract startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs).
Held over 2 days, on June 16, and 17, 2023, DAWERR Innovation Challenge 2023 is an exciting opportunity, allowing registered and non-registered startups and SMEs to develop their innovative and sustainable solid waste solutions around two key solid waste management challenges in Lebanon: sorting at source by communities and businesses, and selective collection of pre-sorted organic waste by the municipality or private sector.
THE INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2023
DAWERR IC23 is offering business, technical, and financial assistance for six winning startups or SMEs to grow further, validate their solutions, and further develop their MVPs. The program provides equal opportunity for all the selected entities to validate their business and pursue their operations with a more compelling product/service.
Under the three-month incubation program (Phase 1), DAWERR will provide business and technical assistance for the six winning startups or SMEs for them to grow further, validate their solutions and further develop their MVP, along with financial assistance as in-kind grants of up to $750 for each entity.
Out of the six short-listed entities, 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.
DAWERR identified two key challenges for IC23, including sorting at source by community members and businesses, and selective collection of pre-sorted waste, with a focus on organic waste, by the municipality/private sector operator. These two challenges increase the burden on municipalities to properly collect and treat the different solid waste streams in their areas.
Applicants to DAWERR IC23 must have solutions and existing MVPs to address one or both challenges.
“We are thrilled to launch the DAWERR Innovation Challenge 2023,” said Jad Sakr, DAWERR Chief of Party “This program will support startups and SMEs with innovative solutions to tackle solid waste management challenges in Lebanon.”
WHO CAN APPLY
You are encouraged to apply if you have a team working on solving challenges in the solid waste management sector.
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 more of the DAWERR challenge statements.
Learn more and Apply Here.
Deadline to apply is June 4, 2023.
About DAWERR
DAWERR: Diverting Waste By Encouraging Reuse And Recycling is a five-year activity funded by the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) that aims to improve the social, environmental, and economic well-being of Lebanese citizens by establishing sustainable solid waste recovery and diversion programs in collaboration with municipalities throughout rural areas in Lebanon.
DAWERR is implemented by ECODIT in partnership with Berytech, Compost Baladi, and ECODIT Liban.
