Envolve, the global entrepreneurship support organization, invites startup businesses in Greece to participate in the 7th Envolve Award Greece
The latest round of submissions launches today and offers wide-ranging support to startup and early stage new businesses
Following the successful completion of six award cycles, Envolve Entrepreneurship (www.envolveglobal.org) today announces the launch of its Envolve Award Greece 2019 cycle, and is inviting startup teams and businesses to submit their applications for the award.
Each Envolve Award Greece (formerly Hellenic Entrepreneurship Award) winner selected by the Panel of Judges will be offered wide-ranging business support, which includes interest-free funding, along with mentoring and business support services provided by Envolve’s wide network of Supporters.
Following its successful introduction last year there will again be a separate #GetEnvolved Award cash prize in which members of the public vote for their favourite finalist via Envolve’s social media channels (www.facebook.com/envolveGR and www.instagram.com/envolveGR). This year, Envolve will increase the prize value and will add one more winner to the #GetEnvolved Award. The three winners will receive €3,000, €2,000 and €1,000 respectively, regardless of the main Envolve Award Greece results.
Also, Envolve announced that it will start allocating part of its available funding towards investment in selected prior Envolve Award Greece Winners in an effort to further increase its impact and be in place to support even more innovative business ideas and startups.
The online application portal will remain open until October 1st, 2019 and any Greek startup or early stage business can apply at envolveglobal.org/envolve-awards.
Commenting on the launch of Envolve Award Greece 2019 competition, Jimmy Athanasopoulos, Chairman of Envolve Entrepreneurship, stated:
“Launching this year’s contest, we hope to attract even more innovative and inspiring Greek businesses. We are looking forward to assessing Envolve Award Greece 2019 submissions and encourage all Greek developing businesses to participate in the entrepreneurial ‘ecosystem’ that Envolve has created.”
Since its establishment by the social responsibility division of global conglomerate, the Libra Group, which has committed 10 million Euros to the award programme, Envolve in Greece has received applications from more than 5,500 teams and has declared 27 winners. These businesses are active in 17 business sectors, have created over 1,600 jobs, have attracted investments of €40 million and their aggregate value exceeds €140 million. Contributing to the cultivation of entrepreneurial spirit in Greece, the organization continues to increase its impact on job creation while alleviating the country’s brain drain.
The creation of Envolve Entrepreneurship last year marked an evolution beyond award programmes to the creation of a global business support source for all entrepreneurs. Through its Education and Resources pillars Envolve is striving to provide support in a more holistic way towards startups and business owners, regardless of their field, stage of business idea implementation or experience.
Within the online Education pillar, Envolve has recently added “Good Reads” and “Word of the Week” sections. Good Reads is a collection of articles on entrepreneurship that aim to inform and inspire existing and budding entrepreneurs. Word of the Week aims to become a useful glossary of entrepreneurship terms.
In addition to its online Business Plan Generator tool, Envolve’s Resources zone now features free downloadable tools that serve as templates for essential business documents.
Aiming to consolidate its business ecosystem, Envolve has also been expanding its Mentors Network by continually adding new mentors for its winners. New participants include Coaching2Perform, Prisma Consulting, Veltio and 1BusinessWorld who are providing mentoring, consulting services and guidance to Envolve Award Greece winners.
Alexandros Nousias, Country Director of Envolve Entrepreneurship, commented:
“Throughout our 7-year journey, our team has witnessed first-hand the dramatic transformation of the Greek startup ecosystem leading to economic growth and much-needed job creation in our country. We are proud contributors to this ecosystem through our Award program’s vital support to startups. To amplify our impact, we have extended our support to more Greek startups, by sharing educational material and resources.”