Green start-ups from the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, Norway and Sweden, the countries with a Postcode Lottery.

This international sustainability competition has grown to become one of the largest of its kind in the world. There is a total of €1 million in combined prize money for the five best start-ups, of which €500,000 plus coaching, is awarded to the winner. With this international competition, the Postcode Lotteries help start-ups market their innovations for a more sustainable world.

As part of its mission to contribute to a green world, the Postcode Lotteries are organising this international competition for the 14th time this year.

Margriet Schreuders, Head of Charity at the Dutch Postcode Lottery: “This year we hope to be inundated once again with concrete plans from entrepreneurs to tackle the challenges facing our world. In the field of green energy, for instance, or strengthening biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, sustainable food and alternatives to plastic. It is inspiring to see entrepreneurs thinking in terms of solutions instead of problems, working on the solutions that our planet needs most today."

About the competition
Green entrepreneurs can submit their business plans between 1 March and 1 April 2020 12:00 CEST (noon). A preliminary jury makes a first selection from these entries. The start-ups selected will be informed in mid-April that they can flesh out their plans and continue to compete for a place in the final. The preliminary jury will announce the 25 nominees at the end of June. In early September, a shortlist of five entries will be made public and go on to the final on 30 September 2020 in Amsterdam. There, the start-ups will pitch their ideas to an international jury. In the final, the jury will decide who wins the first prize of €500,000 and which start-up will be runner-up, winning €200,000. The other three finalists will receive €100,000 each. In addition to the prize money, all finalists will also receive some six months of expert coaching to optimise their business opportunities.

Last year, the Swedish start-up Swedish Algae Factory won first prize. It grows a special type of algae that is used to make solar panels more efficient and can also be used as a natural ingredient for care products.