REGISTRATION – NDFD Green Innovations Summit

The National Development Foundation of Dominica (NDFD) officially opened registration for the second edition of the NDFD – Green Innovations Summit (NGIS) which will be held later this year in early June.

The formal announcement was made on Tuesday 31st January at their conference room during a media press conference headed by its Executive Director Cletus Joseph and its Business and Entrepreneurial Development Manager Donald Bercasio.

All Green entrepreneurs and aspiring Green entrepreneurs, aged 16 to 45 years old, were encouraged to join the said competition that rewards winners with cash and in-kind prizes which include valuable business support services that last long after the event is over.

To register, interested persons should fill out the form provided on the institution’s social media platforms or submit a 250-word essay or a 2-3 minute video to the NDFD discussing the following points:
– Who are you?
– What environmental area are you addressing?
– What is the problem?
– What is the solution?

The environmental areas identified which the aspiring entrepreneurs should address are the following:

 Water management
 Waste management
 Solid Waste management
 Energy Efficiency
 Renewable Energy
 Recycling

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of business experts and a selection of the top twenty submissions will be made. The top twenty selected applicants will then be invited to a one-day boot camp called the “Idea Lab” where their submitted ideas are expected to be further polished and presented to a first group of judges. From that group, the top twelve applicants will be nominated to participate in the actual summit in June.

Staged every two years, the NGIS is a three-day event geared towards assisting aspiring Green entrepreneurs develop environment-friendly business ideas, learn the most important aspects of running a business, and acquire the most effective techniques in pitching their business ideas. It will also provide selected entrepreneurs with access to outstanding mentors, topnotch business development training, peer-to-peer learning, and community formation and bonding with like-minded individuals.

Participants are likewise expected to gain valuable knowledge from these experienced mentors who will coach them and provide them with the necessary information to better shape and pitch their business ideas at the end of the summit. Three winners will be declared by a final panel of judges. The winners will receive cash and in-kind prizes as a support package for the continued development and execution of their winning business ideas.

For this second edition, NDFD promises to host a bigger, more impactful, and more rewarding Green Innovations Summit as it intends to “practice what we preach” by introducing a number of innovations to this year’s edition. According to the NDFD, partnering with WePlanet App to enhance the registration process is just one of these innovations.

A document with registration details can be found on their social media or may be requested through email or WhatsApp. Registration closes on Tuesday 25 th April 2023.

The NDFD saw it necessary to host this 2 nd edition since it is their mission to provide assistance to our entrepreneurs in developing sustainable businesses and to also aid in the holistic development of our country through responsible entrepreneurship.

For more information, interested persons may contact NDFD via the whatsapp number 275-5251. They may also email [email protected].

Here are a few questions made by the media.

Q:  When registering, do I have to do both an essay and a video and the google form?

A:  No, you only have to submit one. You may prepare a video or you may prepare an essay or you may simply                 fill out the google form provided.

Q:  Where do I submit my information?
A:  We encourage interested participants to register via the WePlanet app. Simply
download the app and follow the easy instructions. You may submit your video, essay or
simply full out the form. You may also contact the NDFD and submit it directly to us.

Q: Will Earth Hour be celebrated this year and how can I participate?
A:  YES!, Earth hour will be celebrated on Saturday 25 th March and you may join the NDFD
to celebrate or have your own private event at home!  Contact us for more details.

Q: If I do not win the competition, am I still able to qualify for a loan?
A:  Sure, as long as you meet the requirements, we are willing to assist you.

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