Biomimicry Institute Ray of Hope Accelerator 2025 ($15,000 in non-dilutive funding)

The Biomimicry Institute’s Ray of Hope Accelerator is a 6-month program to accelerate the growth of nature-inspired startups to scale systemic solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Every year, they support a cohort of ten high-impact nature-inspired startups from around the world, spanning Pre-Seed to Series A stages and across industry verticals. Each selected startup receives $15,000 in non-dilutive funding and over $50,000 worth of in-kind services, including expert mentorship, science-based storytelling support, and connections to corporate leaders and mission-aligned investors. It also includes an in-person Nature Retreat, where founders will deepen their leadership skills, foster community, and cultivate a nature-inspired ethos.

Benefits of Hope Accelerator

• Each participating startup receives $15,000 in non-dilutive capital and $50,000 of in-kind services to support their entrepreneurial journey.

Check : Young Impact Associates in Agri-Food Systems Fellowship 2025 (Stipend available)

Eligibility for Hope Accelerator

• They welcome applicants from all over the world.
• They are seeking early-stage startups that are:
  • Nature-inspired: Drawing inspiration from biological processes, materials, chemistry, or systems to drive innovation
  • Impact-driven: Focused on tackling climate and environmental challenges with scalable solutions
  • Early-stage: Ranging from Pre-Seed to Series A

Selection Criteria

When the internal team and external Advisory Committee members review your application, they will be evaluating your entry on the following criteria:

• Problem & Market Potential: Is the problem you are tackling worth solving? Is the potential market size large enough for sustained business growth, and aligned with the expectations of possible funding sources? What traction have you been able to gain with your solution?
• Solution & Technology: Is the technology potentially disruptive? Does your solution demonstrate the potential for a sustainable competitive advantage (uniqueness, economically)?
• Nature Inspiration: Is your solution based upon or modeled after a strategy found in nature? Do you clearly communicate the science behind your inspiration and technology?
• Environmental & Social Impact: What are the environmental and social implications of your solution? How does your startup make the world a better place? How does your company align with the UN SDGs?
• Team: Does your team have the key people, diversity, and core capabilities you need to get to the next key milestones?

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