8 Vanuatu Greenpreneurs graduated from the 2022 Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator Program
Port Vila, Vanuatu 22 February 2023 - Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in partnership with the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) delivered a 3-month Incubator program in Vanuatu, funded by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). The objective of the program is to support entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth develop their green and sustainable businesses or support entrepreneurship in the region to support ecosystem development through networking, knowledge-sharing events and more.
The incubator program targets existing innovative early-stage green micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with demonstrated growth potential that are still pursuing a scalable and repeatable business model through blended training, mentoring, in-person events, and networking opportunities. Successful entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to participate in a business competition to secure grant seed fund capital of USD$5,000.
There were 11 business entrepreneurs from across Vanuatu selected to be part of this program, while 8 successfully completed and graduated with 3 winners of the Business Plan Competition receiving USD 5,000 (119,381 Vatu) each in seed grant funding to expand their businesses.
The highlight of the event was the announcement of two Vanuatu winners of the 2022 Pacific Greenpreneurs Business Plan Competition, all women-led enterprises. Ms Jethry Yerta Robi of NJ3 Zero Waste Services, Ms Nadia Bani of HIA Raw Honey and Ms Nicola Wells of Jackies Bluehole each received USD 5,000 in seed grant funding to invest in growing their businesses. The winners shared their winning business pitches with the audience at the event.
NJ3 Zero Waste Service owner, Jethry Yerta Robi, could not believe she was one of the winners when her business name was announced as one of the winners for the Business Plan Competition during the graduation event that was held on the 22nd of Feb 2023. “The Pacific Greenpreneurs program helped me accomplish our main goal to minimize the risk of climate change and go green. Moreover, I believe this training uses updated technology that helped me organize and prepare for my business to another level. The coaching sessions will be great help personally and as well as in business. This is a great opportunity to help my country as a whole” says Jethry.
The second winner of the program is Nadia Bani of Hia Raw Honey and the third is, Nicola Wells of Jackie’s Bluehole. All three winners thanked GGGI for the opportunity to participate in the program and being seed grant funding recipients in Vanuatu which they strongly believe will help grow their businesses. They further extended their appreciation to their coaches because they believe it’s a great benefit to have individual coaching sessions during the program which made them think outside the box, helping them to develop their business model and see where their business stands.
Applications for the 2023 Incubator program will be open in the coming months. For more information on the program, visit www.pacificgreenpreneurs.com.