ClimAccelerator 2024

More than a project, it’s an experience! It is based on Alterna’s Cultivation methodology, exclusively virtual. Selected businesses will participate in an in-depth analysis to identify areas of opportunity and business development. This process will be conducted through group and individual sessions, offering personalized support and using a dynamic methodology.

This analysis will allow businesses to develop a clear and effective action plan to increase sales, improve financial sustainability, and understand and maximize their socio-environmental impact.

The experience is divided into 3 key moments detailed below:

1. Business strengthening for financing access (Investment Readiness): Participants will review basic financial concepts and initiate a financial analysis to establish projections, key aspects in accessing investment.

With this service, entrepreneurs will develop the basic skills to project their financial statements for three years, reviewing accounting fundamentals and elementary finance concepts such as Free Cash Flow and Costing.

2. Strengthening with greater impact readiness (Impact Readiness): The goal of this component is to help companies identify their positive and negative impacts, mitigate the latter, while building a solid impact purpose. It integrates social and environmental impact as a key pillar in the company’s structure, developing an impact thesis, and establishing an appropriate management and measurement structure.

Through this service, entrepreneurs will develop the necessary skills to understand and apply the theory of change and social and environmental impact frameworks, in addition to integrating Climate Change variables into their business strategy.

During this Cultivation service, the main activities are developed along with 4 one-on-one sessions to review the progress of entrepreneurs’ work with the theory offered in group sessions.

We are looking for companies located in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, in sectors related to climate. Businesses with environmental impact, added value, differentiators, and innovative and sustainable models based on carbon reduction within the following sectors:

Both the investment readiness and impact readiness services contemplate a minimum of four one-hour individual sessions with each entrepreneur and guide, which may be subject to change and need for increase as the guide deems necessary to evaluate progress in each business model. These sessions will be used to work on the content discussed in the group session during the week, as well as what was reviewed on the learning platform.

During the project, five group activities will be conducted. Their objective is to discuss relevant topics with group interaction and a moderator to address generalities of each development module. This space involves all entrepreneurs to share their experiences and establish connections. The group experience activities are divided as follows:

• Session 1: Welcome event and networking.
• Session 2: Key variables before investment.
• Session 3: Challenge your projections as an investor.
• Session 4: Investment ecosystem in the region.
• Session 5: Internal pitch presentation.

After the pitch presentation and evaluation by the ClimAccelerator mentoring team, Alterna will select the best companies to access post-Cultivation services and/or catalytic capital:

• Impact Investment Connection:

Three (3) standout companies throughout the project will have the opportunity to participate in Founders & Funders (F&F), gain access to catalytic funding, and have full access to the Central America and Caribbean Impact Investment Forum, one of the region’s most relevant events. This dynamic and interactive event aims to catalyze regional development by bringing together hundreds of leaders from the entrepreneurship and impact investment ecosystem. The event will be held from November 5-7, 2024, in San José, Costa Rica.

The FLII CA&C provides a space for interaction, learning, and collaboration through various activities (conferences, panels, workshops, workspaces, and networking) and equips participants to design and find solutions to the region’s challenges. This benefit includes:

• Round-trip airfare from the country of origin.
• Round-trip ground transportation from the region of origin (for Costa Rican companies).
• Transfers to and from the airport.
• Accommodation with breakfast included (4 nights, November 4-7).
• Full access to the event (November 5-7).
• Meals during the event (lunch and snacks from November 5-7).
• Access to the closing cocktail (November 7).

*Dinners, additional activities, transfers, and any other expenses incurred outside the event are the responsibility of the company. *Complete event logistics information will be announced to the winners during the project.

• Individual Impact Forecast Coaching:

Selected companies will receive individual coaching sessions with the EIT Climate-KIC team to improve impact. The sessions will design and support optimizing conditions from the start to create the most desirable, sustainable, and regenerative future outcome.

• Market Evaluation:

Selected companies will collaborate with LUUM (Alterna’s partner company), a B Corp e-commerce accelerator for purpose-driven brands that create carefully designed, consciously sourced, and exceptionally innovative products. This space will create a market entry strategy based on tests to expand market reach and growth opportunities through the power of e-commerce and markets. This service will last 8-10 weeks (up to 3 months) in a digital format.

Selected companies must complete two steps to access the aforementioned benefits:

1. Sign a commitment letter.
2. Make a $30 USD donation.

Upon receiving the selection confirmation and signing the commitment letter, information will be provided to make the donation.

This fee includes all the benefits mentioned previously.

1. Advisory Services: Depending on the progress and growth needs, companies will have the opportunity to continue receiving group or individual advisory services, depending on the stage of their business and the call periods Alterna has available throughout the year. Each service has a competitive selection process.

2. Access to Funding: Alterna has the Devela Capital Fund, aimed at ventures and companies in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador that meet the following criteria: 

1. Minimum of 2 years of operation.
2. At least 6 months of sales (generating revenue).
3. Have a structured business model.
4. Strong intention for social/environmental impact.
5. Have developed a growth and/or expansion plan.

To receive funding, a selection and evaluation process must be completed, which can take 2-4 months. Only businesses that actively participate, are ready, present, and meet all the requirements will be selected for funding.

3. Alterna’s Network of Companies: As an organization that builds collaborative bridges between different sectors of society, upon completing the project, businesses become part of this community where various valuable connections are generated. Alterna organizes integration events with the ecosystem, such as webinars, conferences, meetings with experts or mentors, among others. These activities are carried out throughout the year by invitation through various means such as social media, emails, and through a newsletter and social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Twitter y LinkedIn.

• Call for Applications:

Fill out the online form available at this link. You can apply from June 20 to August 11, 2024.

• Selection:

20 companies will be selected, and the results will be announced between August 5 and 23, 2024.

• Cultivation Development:

The project will be conducted virtually for 8 weeks from September 2 to October 31, 2024.

Sessions will be held each week, so make sure to reserve the necessary hours and have a computer and stable internet connection. Additionally, there will be complementary events during the project where various activities such as expert sessions will be held.

In addition to the mentioned time, reserve a minimum of 6 hours per week to complete the tools and courses on our learning platform.

• Connection Process

Post-Cultivation activities will take place between November 2024 and March 2025. For these activities, Alterna will contact participants to invite them to related connection activities.

Each application will be reviewed, analyzed, and evaluated by the Selection Committee comprised of Alterna, who will assess the level of preparation, development, and potential of each application based on the following criteria:

• Creativity and Innovation: 

How the company contributes to societal change in an original and differentiating manner.

• Impact: 

The company generates value from forest resources sustainably.

• Financial Viability:

The company is operating, generating revenue, and has growth and/or scalability potential.

• Market Opportunity:

The company has a validated product/service in the market, knows its target market, and demonstrates market potential.

Alterna

Alterna is a social innovation platform that promotes the development of conscious ventures and companies as a route to a sustainable region. Over a decade, more than 2,300 companies and ventures have been cultivated, reporting a 77% business growth in sales after the Cultivation process and positively impacting the lives of more than 8 million people. Alterna contributes to the program by strengthening impact businesses in the forest business value chain, fostering a landscape of possibilities to drive systemic change in this key sector.

Climate-KIC

‌EIT Climate-KIC is Europe’s leading climate innovation agency and community, supporting cities, regions, countries, and industries in achieving their climate ambitions through systemic innovation and local transformations.

Together with its partners, it generates, implements, and integrates climate solutions by mobilizing financing, testing business models, and paving the way for institutional and behavioral change. It orchestrates large-scale demonstrations showing what is possible when innovation and learning cycles are deliberately designed to trigger exponential decarbonization and build resilient communities.