Sir Richard Branson is chairing the jury of this year’s Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. The seventh edition of the annual competition for green business plans opens today to sustainable startups all over the world. The winner will receive € 500.000,- to carry out his or her plan. An additional € 200.000,- will go to one or two runners-up. Entrants can submit their business plans at www.greenchallenge.info through July 17th. The jury will announce the winner on September 16th at the final in Amsterdam.
Branson has been involved in the competition since the beginning. After serving on the jury in 2007, he returns this year as chair. “The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge calls on entrepreneurs to find solutions to climate change, one of the most urgent issues we face today,” Branson said. “I encourage everybody around the world with a great green idea to enter this prestigious contest. One smart, creative idea can make a huge difference.”
Selection
To be eligible for the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, a product or service must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be capable of being brought to market within two years. Each entrant sends in a detailed business plan, and an expert preliminary jury evaluates its viability. After the deadline, the preliminary jury will choose between five and seven finalists. On Monday, September 16th, the finalists will present their ideas in Amsterdam before an international jury of experts led by Branson. The competition is an effort by the Dutch Postcode Lottery to bring to the mass market brilliant, innovative green products and services that might otherwise never see the light of day, thereby helping to fight climate change.
Article appearing courtesy Celsias.
