Overview of the Competition
The effects of climate change can no longer be denied. However, for Small Island Developing Countries (SIDS) such as Jamaica, the best route available to managing this impending crisis is to implement wide-scale climate change adaptation through sustainable technology and techniques.
The JN Foundation Climate Innovation Challenge is a call-to-action for entrepreneurs and budding entrepreneurs within our growing green economy whose businesses will take us closer to the goal of water adaptation and resilience especially but not exclusively in relation to the development and strengthening of our housing stock.
The challenge will see elected teams participating in an intense two-day boot camp designed to equip them with the skills and tools to shift from ideation to execution within new and existing sustainable businesses.
The two-day experience culminates in an exciting pitch competition that will award:
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- Over $3 million in development grants
- Climate Change Innovation Centre accelerator placements
- Mentorship
The Climate Innovation Challenge is hosted by the JN Foundation through its Water Adaptation project in conjunction with its funding partner Inter-American Development Bank and implementing partners including JN Bank, The IDB LAB, Climate Investment Funds and the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPRC). The Climate Change Innovation Center is a key partner for the hosting of the Bootcamp.
About the JN Foundation
The JN Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mandate of contributing to the development needs of Jamaica. It works with internal and external partners to identify, develop and provide technical and financial support to projects and programmes that focus on issues related to sustainable development including (but not limited to) housing and the environment. As an implementing agency of the IDB funded project, “Financing Water Adaptation in Jamaica’s New Urban Housing Sector“, the Foundation aims to enhance Jamaica’s climate resilience through the use of water adaptation technology.
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant is a budding entrepreneur, founder, co-founder, leader of an early-stage green business with at least a working prototype or demo
- The team is willing to be held accountable to monthly programme goals, receptive to feedback, and willing to implement recommendations
- Team demonstrates skills required for implementation
- Team demonstrates a willingness to join and participate in a 6-12 incubation programme.
- The application is submitted in full on or before the advertised deadline.
- The business is or will be operating in Jamaica
- The product/service is environmentally friendly
- The product or service is an innovation
- The proposed product or service demonstrates a reduction in cost or improvement in the quality of life for the customer
- The applicant is entering the competition with another team member. The applicant can have up to 3 team members participating in the competition.
Selection Criteria
- Venture addresses climate change concerns through the delivery of responsive, scalable tools and technologies designed
for increased adaptation and resilience. - Venture solves an identifiable climate change problem for which potential customers are willing and able to pay
- Potential for solving the problem at a scale
- Potential for an earned revenue stream leading to sustainability within the next three – five years
- Sound strategy or plan for product/service development and delivery
- Demonstration of commitment to the venture
- Abilities and expertise of team members
- Practical skills including problem-solving, strategic and organizational abilities