Chance for Startups to Receive $25K Grant at the KAITEKI Challenge 2021

Greentown Labs, the largest climate tech startup incubator in North America, and Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC), a global leader in chemicals and healthcare, are now accepting applications for the KAITEKI Challenge, the latest iteration of the Greentown Launch corporate partnership accelerator program. Greentown Labs and MCHC seek novel technologies in alternative proteins, waste plastics recycling, and the prevention of food loss and waste that will promote sustainable consumption in daily life. The KAITEKI Challenge will offer selected startups an opportunity to pursue paid proof of concept collaborations with MCHC and to explore long-term partnerships, licensing agreements, and investment from MCHC's corporate venture capital arm, Diamond Edge Ventures (DEV).

This corporate partnership accelerator program is rooted in MCHC's original management concept of "KAITEKI," which aims to achieve the sustainable well-being of people, society, and planet Earth. MCHC's businesses include bioplastics, plastic films and sheets, food ingredients, and healthcare, among many others. This challenge will prioritize innovations that enable circularity across proteins, plastics, and packaging value chains. 

Eligibility:

The KAITEKI Challenge is for startups in the alternative protein and waste recycling industries with solutions beyond proof of concept and a technology readiness level of three or above. For startups in the prevention of food loss and waste, the challenge is accepting applications for solutions with a technology readiness level of five or above and a product ready for sample testing.

Applicants may apply from anywhere in the world. Selected participants are expected to participate in all challenge events, either virtually or in-person at Greentown Labs' headquarters in Somerville, Mass., USA.

Benefits:

Benefits to startups selected for the KAITEKI Challenge include the following:

• Engagement with MCHC Group companies, which have deep market expertise and broad customer networks, and unique visibility to the MCHC top leadership team.
• Access to the mentor, corporate partner, and investor network of Greentown Labs.
• $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding to cover the cost of the proof of concept project; additional project funding will be available on a case-by-case basis.

Challenge Topics:

Through the KAITEKI Challenge, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation (MCHC) aims to form partnerships with startups developing validated technologies that provide solutions for addressing alternative proteins, waste plastic recycling, and preventing food loss and waste. Each of these areas has a clear and direct impact on the environment and the health and wellbeing of society. See below for more details on eligible technologies in each topic.

ALTERNATIVE PROTEINS

• Plant-based protein / fungi-based protein
• Cellular agriculture

WASTE PLASTIC RECYCLING

• Recycling technologies
• Design for recycling 
• Management systems

PREVENTING FOOD LOSS + WASTE

• Packaging
• Preservatives
• Processing

About Greentown Labs:

Greentown Labs is the largest climate tech incubator in North America. They provide the community, resources, and labs entrepreneurs need to solve the world's biggest climate and environmental challenges.

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