Sage Impact Entrepreneurship Program: Scaling Solutions for People and the Planet 2026 – YOA

Deadline: January 5, 2026

Applications are open for the Sage Impact Entrepreneurship Program: Scaling Solutions for People and the Planet 2026. Now in its second 12 months, this multi-12 months initiative helps 165 entrepreneurs throughout Europe and the US who’re making a constructive environmental, social, and financial influence of their communities. The program focuses on fostering a group of visionary leaders who can drive systemic change by innovation and collaboration.   

In partnership with Sage Foundation, this 12 months’s program will help 12 early-stage and underneath-resourced startups based mostly in Europe (UK, France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain) by its Annual Core Cohort providing tailor-made mentoring, Sage’s product help, grants, and strategic coaching. 

An extra 15 startups will be a part of the Community Cohort and have entry to numerous sources, together with a curated digital platform, asynchronous instruments, and visibility by Village Capital’s web site and social channels. All taking part startups will obtain two years of submit-program help to strengthen their influence and scale their options.

Benefits

• An invitation to take part in mock board conferences with representatives from related establishments, firms, and traders that may assist scale their options and startups.
• Four interactive workshops tailor-made to assist their startup determine early milestones and put together them for the subsequent spherical of capital (if related).
• Access to 1-to-one teaching with an funding analyst centered on constructing a monetary mannequin, figuring out unit economics, and utilizing monetary metrics to drive their enterprise and investor diligence.
• All startups from the Core Cohort will obtain USD 10K in grant capital for milestone help. At the finish of the program, two peer-chosen startups from the Core Cohort will obtain extra grant capital of USD 50K for the prime-ranked startup and USD 25K for the second highest-ranked startup.
• Ability to fulfill with and obtain mentorship from potential strategic companions, clients, and different founders, in addition to mentors and founders inside the local weather and sustainability area.
• Ability to community and obtain mentorship from outstanding US traders and enterprise leaders.
• Receive a stipend to cowl journey-associated bills for one workforce member related to the Program Summit in London, UK.
• Join a group of help and a set of funding-readiness sources, together with a curated digital platform, asynchronous instruments, and visibility by Village Capital’s web site and social channels.
• The Core and Community cohorts will profit from publicity to Village Capital’s program web site and different communications collateral.
• All taking part startups will obtain two years of submit-program help to boost their influence and scale their options.

Eligibility

Eligible startups should have:

• Legal incorporation as a for-profit entity, together with,  however not restricted to, B Corp-certified firms.
• Headquartered or working in France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, or the UK, with a choice for firms situated close to Sage’s workplaces in Newcastle, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Barcelona, or Lisbon.
• Market-based options that straight deal with the following verticals:
  • Clean Energy Transition
  • Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions
  • Smart Mobility and Sustainable Infrastructure
  • Sustainable Supply Chain and Manufacturing
  • Circular Resource Solutions
  • Climate-Resilient Health and Wellness
  • Disaster-Resilient Housing and Community Planning
  • Climate Finance and Insurance Innovation
  • Environmental Justice and Social Equity
  • Data Analytics and Climate Intelligence
  • Green and Inclusive Economy and Job Growth
  • Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems 
• A minimal viable product (MVP) and have raised lower than USD 1.5M in fairness.
• At least one full-time founder based mostly in France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, or the UK. Meaningful buyer or enterprise validation (this will embody income, profitable pilot research, person numbers, and/or strategic partnerships).

Application

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to Sage Impact Entrepreneurship Program.