Eight Samoan Green Enterprises graduate from Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network Incubator program

PGEN Incubator Program Graduates. Photo: Samoa Business Hub

Apia, Samoa, 15th February 2023 - Eight Samoan green enterprises graduated from the Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator program, implemented in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute and the Samoa Business Hub.

The Graduation Ceremony showcased and celebrated the achievements and growth of the Samoan Incubator program participants, coaches, mentors and other parties involved in the program. The ceremony took place as a blended event, with Apia-based guests and participants attending in person at the Samoa Business Hub andattendees joining virtually.

The Incubator program is part of the Pacific Green Entrepreneurs Network (PGEN), a 3-year regional program funded by the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and implemented by GGGI and local partners. The 2022 Pacific Greenpreneurs Incubator program ran from September 2022 to December 2022, with eight early-stage green enterprises from Samoa participating in local workshops, regional training, mentoring, coaching, and networking.

Speakers at the event included Mr Vaitulia Alatina Ioelu - Chief Executive Officer of Samoa Business Hub, Ms Katerina Syngellakis – Pacific Regional Director of Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and Ms Luna-Rosa Lomitusi-Ape on behalf of the graduates.

GGGI Pacific Regional Director, Ms Katerina Syngellakis, acknowledged the partnership with Samoa Business Hub and the shared vision of supporting budding young green entrepreneurs in Samoa to thrive and make a positive change in the world. She also thanked the participants of the program saying “Our Greenpreneurs have shown their passion, dedication and commitment to learning, sharing and growing their businesses. We appreciate it as it is often not easy to balance this effort with busy lives.”

Speaking on behalf of the graduating Greenpreneurs, Ms Luna-Rosa Lomitusi-Ape thanked GGGI, QFFD and the Samoa Business Hub, saying the program “supported us with the knowledge and information on how to run a sustainable business that factors in our environment, and most importantly how to make it profitable.”

All the graduating enterprises represent a variety of sectors including circular economy, manufacturing, textiles, eco-tourism, energy and organic farming; namely Alesia Coffee, Eco Artisan, Moenon Energy Consultants, New Purpose, Pollinate, Savanah Rose Boutique, Spice Lemon Ginger Tumeric and This N That Samoa.

The Incubator program culminated in a Business Plan Competition, with three winners announced at the event. Ms Precilla Betham-Tauaa of Aleisa Coffee, Ms Luna-Rossa Lomitusi Ape of Pollinate and Ms Agnes Fruean of This N That Samoa are being awarded USD 5,000 in seed grant funding each to invest in their business growth.

USD5000 Seed Grant Winners. L-R: Ms Luna-Rossa Lomitusi Ape of Pollinate, Ms Agnes Fruean of This N That Samoa and Ms Precilla Betham-Tauaa of Aleisa Coffee. Photo: Samoa Business Hub

The Samoan Greenpreneurs graduates are part of the regional Pacific Greenpreneurs alumni, comprised of early-stage green enterprises who have completed the program in Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Applications for the 2023 Incubator program will be open in the coming months. For more information on the program, visit www.pacificgreenpreneurs.com