Green & Social Entrepreneurship Incubator

Program Description

The Green and Social Entrepreneurship Incubator is a training and consultancy program, especially designed for social & green entrepreneurship initiatives, with the aim to help them build capacity in strategic planning, establishing the organization, commencing operations and, ideally, attracting their first funding.

The Green and Social Entrepreneurship Incubator aims to attract innovative ideas that have a positive social and/or environmental impact while at the same time create the conditions for entrepreneurial activity which will support their financial sustainability and growth.

This program is implemented in cooperation with the NBG Business Seeds – Program for Entrepreneurial Support, of the National Bank.

The program is directed to non-profits that:

  • Are in the process of being established and operating as well as acquiring legal status
  • Have acquired legal status in the past 2 years and have commenced operations
  • Need a reboot, even if they have been operating for more than 2 years
  • Aiming to create a social and/or environmental impact
  • Have an economic sustainability model and a business plan for the creation of sustainable enterprises

Program characteristics and benefits:

Cost: There is no cost, the program is offered free of charge
Duration: 12 months
Commencement: November of each year
Bootcamp: Compulsory intensive four-week training (2 weeks in the first semester and two weeks in the second one), covering topics related to strategic planning, development of entrepreneurial activity, attracting investment, stakeholders communication, Pitch Deck and Business Model Canvas creation.
Workshops: free choice from an extensive list of specialized training seminars tailored to the needs of Greek initiatives/groups
Advisory: one to one meetings with the HIGGS Internal & External Team of Experts, regarding every aspect of their operations. Indicatively: Legal, Accounting, Marketing & Communications, Social Media, Volunteers Management

Participation of selected organisations in the NBG Business Seeds Bootcamp

Networking: with major Greek & international non-profits, funders & media
Free use of the HIGGS premises to develop their activities
Sponsorship for the non-profits wishing to have their offices at HIGGS premises: percent of the rent for the first 12 months in the program

The Green and Social Entrepreneurship Incubator program will be held mainly online.

To meet our Team and get additional information, please send an email to [email protected]. We are looking forward to welcoming you at HIGGS!

Main Dates

Application Period: Friday 29 September, at 23:59

Commencement  of new cycle: Monday, 06 November 2023

Bootcamp

All participants in the Green and Social Entrepreneurship Incubator program have to attend the Bootcamp, the exclusive training seminar provided by HIGGS, which takes place in 2 phases within the Green and Social Entrepreneurship Incubator program for a period of 4 weeks:

a) Strategic planning (2 weeks)
b) Marketing & fundraising plan (2 weeks)

This 60-hour training program has been specifically designed for the Non-profit Organizations operating in Greece and covers 16 thematic areas. Its aim is to provide the appropriate skills and necessary knowledge that will add value to the NPOs’ establishment, operation and sustainability.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bootcamp will be held mainly online.

The Courses

The thematic areas of the training courses include:

  • Funding Sources
  • Funding from International DonorsEuropean Funds
  • Project Life Cycle 
  • Designing a Project 
  • Project Team Management
  • Volunteer Management
  • Networking
  • Logical Framework
  • Timeplan & WPs Sequencing
  • Budgeting
  • Proposal Writing 
  • Project Implementation 
  • Project Monitoring Techniques 
  • Project Evaluation 
  • Μarketing Techniques 
  • Legal issues 
  • Business Plan
  • Strategic Plan
  • Fundraising Plan
  • Sustainability Plan

Course Hours

Courses are held during morning hours from 10:00 to 16:00.

Examinations

Upon completion of the 1st phase of the program (first 2 weeks), participants have to take an examination which aims to evaluate whether they have acquired a comprehensive knowledge of what they have been taught.

Following your successful passing of the exam, you receive a certificate of attendance which can be included in your personal resume as well as in your organization’s credentials.

Submission Instructions

Please note that currently the trainings, advisory & services are conducted in Greek. If you choose to fill the application in English, you will need to have a fluent Greek-speaker, in order to be able to attend the program.

Application Criteria 

  • Individuals interested in creating an NPO, newly established NPOs (up to 2 years of
    operation), or NPOs aiming to relaunch strategically and operationally.
  • Legal Entities: AMKE, Somateio (Association), Integration Koin.S.Ep (Integration Social
    Enterprise)
  • The registered office and headquarters of the Nonprofit Organization need to be in Greece.
  • Deadline for submission of applications: September each year

Selection Criteria

Team (Composition, skills, resilience)

20%

Innovation and positive impact on local development (the initiative actively involves local community through the exchange of knowledge and information, the inclusion of different lines of work, supply and distribution, while also the creation of other collaborations. The initiative reinforces local economy through the creation of new jobs, and demand for new services)

20%

A positive Social and/or Environmental Impact.It contributes to a positive social change in the community. Promotes and contributes to a better understanding of sustainable development. Has the potential to increase its impact on the community by scaling up or creating linkages with similar businesses. Contributes to reducing negative environmental impacts and/or promotes environmental protection. Sustainable use of local sources and businesses in the supply chain is environmentally friendly)

30%

Economic sustainability and business plan (Existence of a visible demand in the market for this product/service. Existence of a business plan while also of a well-organized implementation plan. It should be profitable and able to compete with existing and/or larger businesses. Long-term competitiveness has to have been taken into account/been looked into and be possible)

30%

Evaluation Process Timeline

  • Deadline for submission of applications: August – September
  • Interviews: Every October
  • Results Announcement: Every October
  • Cycle Commencement: Each November

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Green & Social Entrepreneurship Incubator program will be held mainly online.

Application Form

The application period has concluded.