For startups around the world pursuing social causes Chivas, the Scotch whisky manufacturer, is inviting them to apply for the sixth edition of Chivas Venture, a global competition that gives away US$1 million in no-strings funding every year to social startups that blend profit and purpose.

“As we kick off the sixth year of the competition, it is incredibly uplifting to know that so many entrepreneurs across the world are continuing to use business to tackle a whole host of social and environmental issues that threaten our future on this planet,” said Jean-Christophe Coutures, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Chivas Brothers, parent company of Chivas.

Here Is All You Need To Know

• Chivas also offers impact entrepreneurs training, funding and exposure on a global scale. 
• Winning finalists from each participating country will take part in an initial round of public voting for a share of the funding ahead of the Chivas Venture Global Final, where they will battle it out for the remaining cash.

“To date, Chivas Venture finalists have provided over 34 million litres of safe drinking water, recycled over 1,300 tonnes of waste and provided 75,000 days of education for women and girls – to mention just a handful of their many accomplishments. That’s why, through the Chivas Venture, we want to continue to harness the power of the world’s purpose-driven innovators, and help accelerate their impact.”

What Chivas Venture Is Looking For

Chivas is looking for entrepreneurs on a mission to solve the world’s biggest social and environmental issues. The venture is looking for businesses created to create to drive positive change. 

In 2019, Mexican startup Xilinat was crowned the winner of the 2019 Chivas Venture. The startup received $310K in no-strings-attached funding to enable it scale and go global. Xilinat is a startup creating a biotechnological, natural and patented process to transform agricultural waste into a sugar substitute, to improve the economy, avoid the burning of waste and provide a healthy alternative that combats obesity and diabetes.

The four other finalists to receive significant funding this year included: Syntoil from Poland ($250,000) — which is solving the environmental problem of rubber waste from used tires; Portugal’s SPEAK ($110,000) — which breaks down cultural barriers by reducing the marginalization of immigrants and refugees through informal networking; Tykn from the Netherlands ($50,000) which leverages blockchain technology to protect immigrants and provide them with access to human aid; and Copia from the USA ($50,000) which tackles both hunger and food waste by creating a technological platform that helps businesses measure and donate their food surplus for financial compensation.

Chivas Venture, has previously awarded cash prizes to social startups, including African startups such as Lumkani and WeFarm.

How To Apply

• Applications are open here until October 31.

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based Lawyer with special focus on Business Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Entertainment and Technology Law. He is also an award-winning writer. Working for notable organizations so far has exposed him to some of industry best practices in business, finance strategies, law, dispute resolution, and data analytics both in Nigeria and across the world