DOEN Foundation announces new competition for sustainable and social entrepreneurs
Amsterdam, 15th of October 2024 - Everything we all buy and use has a huge impact on people and the environment. The DOEN Foundation – the fund of the Nationale Postcode Loterij (Dutch Postcode Lottery) and VriendenLoterij (FriendsLottery – wants to encourage entrepreneurs working on sustainable and/or social consumer products and services. To that end, DOEN has launched the Fair Future Challenge. The new competition aims to boost Dutch startups and scale-ups and help them make a difference in the consumer market. Five winners will take home €100,000 cash prizes. Entrepreneurs have until 3 December to enter. The winners will be announced on 13 February 2025.
“The consumer market is full of opportunities to make DOEN’s ideals for a sustainable future happen,” says Idriss Nor, the foundation’s Executive Director of Impact Investments. “Entrepreneurs can reach consumers directly and tempt them to choose attractive sustainable and social alternatives. Changing buying behaviour can make a big difference in the transition to a sustainable society. I’m excited to see which consumer products and services we’ll discover through the Fair Future Challenge.”
Product Fair, presentations and awards ceremony
Entrepreneurs can enter online until 5pm CET on 3 December. In January, the jury will select 20 finalists. On 13 February, the finalists will introduce their goods and services at the Product Fair, taking place at the Amsterdam headquarters of the Dutch Postcode Lottery and the DOEN Foundation. They’ll also meet attendees who could prove valuable business contacts. Five finalists will be declared winners and take home €100,000 each.
Past competitions
The DOEN Foundation has previously supported entrepreneurs through competitions. For many years, it was involved in the Postcode Lotteries Green Challenge, one of the biggest international competitions for sustainable business plans. In 2022, DOEN organised the DOEN Textile Call, in which circular textile start-ups vied to win funding to develop their consumer brands.
For more information about the Fair Future Challenge (in Dutch only), visit www.fairfuturechallenge.nl.
