The call for Let it Grow’s second Incubation Programme is now open and is accepting applications until 10 September 2017. Let it Grow believes in the value of plants and flowers to ensure happier and healthier city living. Let it Grow’s Incubation Programme is a five-month programme based in Amsterdam and is designed to accelerate entrepreneurial teams that work with flowers and plants in new ways. Successful applicants will receive €10,000 (no equity will be asked in return), a dedicated mentor, workshops/trainings and access to their extensive network of professionals. The first programme had a Net Promoter Score of +90. Apply now at letitgrow.org/apply
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Neeltje Pavicic,
Public Tech, Participation, Community Management
at Gemeente Amsterdam,
posted
Open call: 54 tech-for-good challenges with funding available for over 60 pilots
CommuniCity's third Open Call is now launched! 🚀
We are pleased to launch the final CommuniCity Open Call round. There will be over 60 pilots running across Europe, focusing on digital inclusion and wellbeing for marginalized communities. 7 challenges are focused on citizens of Amsterdam.
In addition to the partner cities of Helsinki, Porto, and Amsterdam, the Replicator Cities are also presenting their unique challenges. The Replicator Cities are Aarhus, Bruges, Brussels, Cuneo, London, Manchester, Matosinhos, Milazzo, Plock, Prague, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sarajevo, The Hague and Utrecht.
💡 Tech providers: Apply for grants of up to €12,500 to develop tech solutions and run real-life experiments in collaboration with the cities. The deadline for applications is October 31st, 5pm CET.
More information on the Open Call: https://lnkd.in/e-Z5EA5z
Let’s shape the future of our cities together! 💪
Mark Stoevelaar,
Project manager
at City of Amsterdam: Digitalization & Innovation,
posted
In Residence Open Events program 2025
Entrepreneurs test innovations during SAIL and Marathon
Public events like SAIL and the Marathon draw millions of visitors to Amsterdam. These events often take place in central locations where large crowds gather. As a result, various logistical arrangements need to be made, such as providing food and drinks, public toilets, and temporary modifications to streets. These situations pose sustainability and accessibility challenges for the city. However, they also make these events ideal testing grounds for innovations.
Testing with the city and event organizers
The In Residence program offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to test their innovations during public events. They work closely with event organizers, the City of Amsterdam, and an experienced mentor. Additionally, funding is available to support the pilot. If the innovation proves to benefit the city, the municipality may purchase it after the program.
Applications are open from October 1 to November 17. Selected entrepreneurs will prepare their pilot in early 2025, and most pilots will take place during the summer events, especially during SAIL 2025.
Apply via the website: https://innovatiepartners.nl/project/in-residence-open-evenementen-2025
Amsterdam 750th anniversary year
This is the second round of the In Residence Events program. During the 2024 event season, nine entrepreneurs tested their innovations, including at Pride Week, the Marathon, and the Dam tot Dam Run. If successful, innovations from both rounds of the program may be implemented during the events of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary celebrations.
Interested or any questions? You can get in touch with Mark Stoevelaar (mark.stoevelaar@amsterdam.nl)
Photo: Edwin van Eis
Gijs Gootjes,
Director Culture & Creativity
at EIT Culture & Creativity,
posted
Accelerator Programme Culture & Creativity
The European Innovation and Investment Agency for Culture and Creativity launches its first accelerator programme for 2024-2025.
It focuses especially SMEs and Scale-Up which want to grow in global markets.
Participants will benefit from an 8-week acceleration programme led by top European speakers, trainers, and mentors, valued at €20,000. This intensive programme will provide you with expert guidance, hands-on workshops, and invaluable connections within the industry. Also, an in person programme in our six regional innovation hubs in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bologna, Helsinki, Kosice and Vienna is possible.
Participation in the programme is free of charge!
The acceleration programme is also a route to joining the EIT CC partnership with purpose and to win at a later stage in EIT Culture & Creativity as strategic long term partner, investor and/or shareholder.
Application Deadline: 4 October.
How to apply?
Application information here: Accelerator Programme – EIT Culture & Creativity (eit-culture-creativity.eu)
Who Should Apply?
We’re looking for creative SMEs or scale-ups (minimum 3 years old) in industries such as:
– Fashion
– Architecture
– Cultural Heritage
– Audiovisual Media and Gaming
– Innovative businesses combining elements from these sectors, or leveraging the latest digital or circular technologies.
Key Requirements
– An innovative business idea with potential for global impact
– A strong drive to succeed combined with an openness to adopting new business models
– Demonstrable growth and turnover (with a minimum annual average of 5% sustained over the past 2 years
What’s in it for your company?
Your company will benefit from an 8-week acceleration programme led by top European speakers, trainers, and mentors, valued at €20,000. This intensive programme will provide you with expert guidance, hands-on workshops, and invaluable connections within the industry.
You’ll also build a strong network of peers and professionals while enhancing your business model. And you’ll also have the chance to be featured on our prestigious “100 to Watch” list!
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your interest in Let it Grow and our Incubation Programme! Our programme is definitely open to those who are using plants as part of their product offering. The most important thing we look at is how plants and/or flowers are integrated in that product offering and if we see this as adding value to urban areas. We look for innovation in the way green is integrated and applied.
Your company does use an interesting technique, and you are spot on when it comes to the amount of waste that is generated with billboards and signage.
I would recommend you to get in touch with the lead of the Incubation Programme. She's back from her holiday next week (June 14). She'll be catching up on a lot of work, but please do email her at irene[at]letitgrow.org. You might be able to connect with her about the options for you to apply to our programme.
I hope this helps! If you have any other questions, please do let me know. Here to answer any I can!
Best,
Shari (Community Builder Let it Grow)
Hi Shari,
What a great initiative! Quick question. Is this program open to start-ups that would like to use plants as part of their product offering? I work with Amsterdam to produce their urban communication using what is known as Natural-Media or green graffiti.
For years, I have been looking at developing living billboards and signage. Outdoor advertising in Amsterdam alone is responsible for producing 7000 to 9000 tons of greenhouse gases each year. In the EU each year the outdoor advertising industry consumes as much paper as a one meter wide piece of paper that wraps our planet 3.9 times. Average life cycle is 12 days and most of it is burned or down cycled. Using plants to create patterns has been done for centuries but rarely has this been used as a communication medium though plants are perfect for this.
However, this is just one technique of a portfolio of techniques that I use. You can check out my business at www.naturalmediaexperts.com
I am not sure I fit the bill but I certainly find this a valuable way to help develop the technique of using plants as a communication medium.
Thoughts?
Jim