Chivas Venture, a $1 million global startup competition looking for social startups that blend profit and purpose has launched applications for its 2020 competition.
The 6th edition of Chivas venture is targeting entrepreneurs who are using business to change the world for the better. Like the previous editions, startups stand a chance to win training, funding, and exposure on a global scale.
In a statement, Jean-Christophe Coutures, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, parent company of Chivas, said: “As we kick off the sixth year of the competition, it is incredibly uplifting to know that so many entrepreneurs across the world are continuing to use business to tackle a whole host of social and environmental issues that threaten our future on this planet.”
To date, Chivas Venture finalists have provided over 34 million litres of safe drinking water, recycled over 1,300 tonnes of waste and provided 75,000 days of education for women and girls.
Sanivation represented Kenya in the 2017 Chivas The Venture global final in Los Angeles competing with 29 other finalists from across six continents for a chance to win a share of a $1 million fund.
“That’s why, through the Chivas Venture, we want to continue to harness the power of the world’s purpose-driven innovators, and help accelerate their impact,” added Coutures.
Ahead of the Chivas Venture Global Final the winning finalist from each participating country will take part in an initial round of public voting for a share of the funding. The finalists will then battle it out at the Global Final for the remainder of the $1m fund.
In 2019, Mexico’s Xilinat received the largest share of the fund, with founder Javier Larragoiti receiving $310,000 towards his business that aims to change the sugar industry. Change Please was the Chivas Venture 2018 winner and was founded by Cemal Ezel.