UNIDO launches Jordan’s first accelerator for natural cosmetics, fashion, and phytopharmaceutical SMEs in partnership with Changelabs.
Amman –
Jordan 27 June 2021: UNIDO and a coalition of
public and private partners, including Changelabs, announce the launch of
Jordan’s first accelerator targeting natural cosmetics, fashion, and
phytopharmaceutical startups and SMEs.
The one-of-a-kind program will admit 50
startups and SMEs founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs, allowing access to
digital markets, seed funding, and partnerships with e-commerce players in the
target countries. The program also provides extensive mentorship and
operational support, with a chance to travel to Europe and learn from industry
immersion experiences.
Amman, ** June 2021 - A partnership led
by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced the
launch of its leading LevelUp Accelerator, to support the creation and growth
of sustainable and inclusive businesses in Jordan. At its core, the LevelUp
Accelerator brings together public and private partners to accelerate
entrepreneurship in Jordan by supporting the development of competitive small
and medium-sized enterprises to bolster entrepreneurship and provide employment
opportunities, especially for youth and women. It targets top Jordanian
startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) that focus on natural
cosmetics, fashion, and phytopharmaceuticals. The program will facilitate
access to funding and markets for businesses that promote sustainability,
integrate circular economy principles, and employ a digital-solutions driven,
design thinking approach to create human-centered products, services, and
experiences.
The accelerator will offer startups and
more mature SMEs an unparalleled access to resources required for scaling up,
learning and training opportunities with leading entrepreneurial actors, and a
gateway to global markets by pitching their business plans to world class
venture capitalists and investors.
"UNIDO’s work in the MENA region supports
entrepreneurs, innovators, SMEs, start-ups and organizations to build
game-changing and successful business models to enter global markets. We
promote a community of motivated young women and men who see an inclusive and
sustainable digital transition as the starting point to enter the global
markets.” – Bashir Conde, Project Manager
at the Department of Agribusiness, UNIDO
The accelerator is part of the larger LevelUp - Advancing Jordanian Industriesmulti-component project aimed at creating decent job opportunities for women
and youth. It is delivered in partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Industry,
Trade and Supply and local partners, including Changelabs, Jordan Exports,
JEDCO and Business and Professional Women Amman (BPWA). The project runs in
line with Jordan’s 2025 Economic Development Plan and brings together public
and private sectors to create game-changing opportunities for Jordanian
entrepreneurs and helps establish long term partnerships with national and
international stakeholders. The project is funded by the Italian Agency for
Development Cooperation, and is powered by UNIDO's flagship program, Promoting women empowerment for Inclusive
and Sustainable Industrial Development in the MENA region.
"Changelabs believes that Jordan has a
competitive advantage in local, regional, and global markets across the natural
cosmetics, organic food supplements, and ethical fashion markets - in
partnership with UNIDO, we've designed a 7 months’ learning and acceleration
program to help Jordanian entrepreneurs build world class businesses that will
create jobs and contribute to the diversification of the Jordanian economy”
shared Karim Samra, founder and CEO at Changelabs.
The LevelUp Accelerator is being launched
through a call for applications special event and two open days featuring
interventions from development agencies, experts, and influencers from across
Jordan. The Accelerator provides an unparalleled opportunity to enter a
comprehensive digital learning program for 50 startups and SMEs, to eventually
10 Champions of Digital Change. Startups and scale ups in the targeted
industries (natural cosmetics, fashion, and phytopharmaceuticals) across Jordan
are now invited to apply to the program through Level Up and Changelabs’
websites (http://www.levelupjordan.org and changelabsme.org) and to join the
upcoming two open days on June 30th and Jul 8th to learn more about
E-marketing, digital thinking,circular economy, and export consortia
Please register HERE for June 30th, and HERE for Jul 8th
About UNIDO:
The United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the
United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction,
inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO is to promote and accelerate
inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The
Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities:
creating shared prosperity; advancing economic competitiveness; safeguarding
the environment; and strengthening knowledge and institutions.
Website: https://www.unido.org
About Changelabs:
Over the last 3 years, Changelabs has
been turning impactful ideas into startups and helping existing companies scale
up with the support of major European development banks, governments, and
regional private sector partners. With financial headquarters in Cyprus and
operating programs in Amman, Cairo, and Beirut, the firm has trained over 10,000
youth, launched over 40 startups, and provided more than 400 job opportunities
thus far. Changelabs’ mission is to give impact entrepreneurs the tools they
need to succeed while delivering lasting impact on the MENA region.
Website: https://www.changelabsme.org/