Applications Invited for 2025 Ray of Hope Accelerator

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About the Organization

The Biomimicry Institute is embarking towards a ten-year vision to dramatically scale the impact that biomimicry is having on some of the biggest challenges facing the world today. Since our founding 20 years ago, we have worked to spread the practice of looking to the solutions developed by living organisms over billions of years to provide insight and inspiration for effective, efficient, and sustainable innovations and approaches to addressing our own challenges. Now-and with a plan for the next five years-we will systematically work across sectors and disciplines so that the brilliance of our natural world and all living systems is actionable knowledge.

We believe that the large-scale application of lessons from nature’s genius can have an outsized impact on three main areas:

• The combined challenge of Climate Change & Biodiversity Loss
• Our Disconnection from Nature
• The harmful impacts of the “take, make, waste” approach

To ensure that the practice of biomimicry draws from the fullness of human knowledge, the Biomimicry Institute will work over the next five years to partner ethically and equitably with individuals and groups informed by both traditional Indigenous knowledge and academic sciences. Through thoughtful urgency and collaboration, we will reconnect humans with the rest of nature and drive action and change for a sustainable future through innovative, nature-inspired solutions.

About the Fellowship

We accelerate the growth of nature-inspired startups to scale systemic solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Every year, we support a cohort of 10 high-impact nature-inspired startups, spanning from Pre-seed to Series A stages and representing various sectors and regions. Each selected startup receives $15,000 in non-dilutive funding and over $50,000 worth of in-kind services. This includes tailored coaching, investor introductions, a four-day Nature Retreat, and comprehensive training materials covering topics such as Impact and Sustainability Business Training, Innovation Storytelling & Amplification, DEI, and Founder Mental Health.

We’re not your typical accelerator. We prioritize your growth as an individual, startup founder, and visionary leader, we emphasize relationship-building, and we foster a vibrant community of innovative startups inspired by nature to drive positive impact. With a proven track record of over 40 thriving companies in our portfolio, we’re ready to support your entrepreneurial journey.

Value-add & Benefits:

6-Month Accelerator: A unique program designed for early stage nature-inspired startups that includes $15,000 non-dilutive capital and $50,000 in-kind services. Weekly remote programming (~4hrs), with live expert sessions and workshops via a curriculum tailored to serve your purposes.

Nature-Inspired Solutions Demo Day: Refine your pitch with 1:1 coaching sessions, and present your innovation in an online event to investors, potential partners, customers, and network with key stakeholders.

Climate Week NYC & Nature Retreat: Spend a week with us starting at Climate Week NYC with a networking reception to connect with investors, corporates and supporters of nature-inspired startups, followed by a four-day Nature Retreat, to reconnect with yourself and your mission, and to build a supportive peer community.

Storytelling & Sustainable Business Training: Enhance storytelling skills, visibility, and reach through communications support and content creation. Delve into your impact journey with expert workshops on green chemistry, supply chain sustainability, life-cycle analysis, and more.

Investor Connect: Meet experienced, mission-aligned climate impact investors, they will provide insights into sustainable growth and scalability. From unit economic metrics, fundraising strategies, due diligence, to the climate capital stack beyond the lab scale, these sessions will equip you with the strategies needed to succeed.

Vibrant Ecosystem: Gain access to an unparalleled network of nature-inspired enthusiasts, mentors, investors, corporates, and entrepreneurs, with personalized mentorship, matchmaking and opportunities to connect with potential corporate partners to scale and develop proof of concept or pilot projects.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you need to meet a certain number of requirements:

Nature-Inspired Solution & Technology: Nature-inspired solutions are a broad classification of innovation that encompasses a great number of technology categories. At our accelerator, a nature-inspired solution draws inspiration from the natural world, often adapting biological principles and properties, ecological relationships or other aspects of nature’s strategies to address humanity’s greatest environmental challenges.

Your Nature-Inspired Solution(s) may be:

• Grounded in deep scientific research – like ReteinOpens in new window
• Evolved from an understanding of biological systems – like MycocycleOpens in new window
• Enabling bio-inspired solutions – like Fusion Bionic

Development Stage: We support early-stage startups at the Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A stages. Most startups entering our program have a working prototype (i.e.: achieved a Technology Readiness Level of 4) and secured between $250,000 and $5M in funding (friends and family, grants, private investor, VC). There are exceptions, however, and we encourage you to apply as we will evaluate your fit within the program holistically.

Geography: As a global accelerator program, we welcome applicants from all over the world.

Legal Entity: Your startup must be established with a legal entity before entering the accelerator program and receiving the allocated non-dilutive funding. Historically startups we have supported have two or more full time team members.

Participation & In-person events: At least one founder/executive team member must actively engage with the accelerator by participating in the program, submitting deliverables and attending the mandatory in-person week (including a 4 day Nature Retreat).

How to Apply

Calling all nature-inspired startups! Join a diverse cohort of high-impact visionary leaders. Receive personalized support, access to funding, attend a Nature Retreat and more. Apply today and be part of a community driving positive change!

Accepting applications until 11:59pm EST, April 25th, 2025.

Apply today

For more information please check the Link

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Tags Entrepreneurship Environment and Sustainability Innovations and Technology Others