Blossom
The Impact Accelerator for businesses that regenerate the planet
Access to Be the Earth’s £1M Blossom Investment Pot
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Applications open until May 15th 2022
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4-month programme online & in person, launching July 5th 2022
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Please apply if your business is:
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Early-stage
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Purpose-led
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Focused on changing the food system
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UK-based
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Post Revenue
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Below £1m turnover in 2021
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Seeking to raise £50k - £2m within the next 12 months
Why Apply?
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Access to capital - Be The Earth typically invests £100k - £500k in each portfolio company
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Join a live pitch day with expert judges and a room of top investors
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No fee, no equity (a fully philanthropically funded programme)
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£15k guaranteed cash prize for winners on Pitch Day
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Build a regenerative community of CEOs & Founders
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Learn about alternative funding models
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Guidance on improving you and your team’s wellbeing
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Connect with leading experts in the field
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Take part in an immersive retreat at 42 Acres in Somerset
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Join Be the Earth, The Do and Bertha Foundation’s global networks
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Monthly peer coaching
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Monthly mentorship
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Pitch training
What makes Blossom unique?
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Targeted towards impact-first ventures
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We don’t believe in a one size fits all funding model. We offer all types of finance.
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We believe in stewardship over ownership
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We support human-beings as well as human-doings
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We love businesses with a collaborative mindset
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We support decentralised ownership and will encourage you to not sell out!
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We want to explore new economic systems and models (capitalism is broken)
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We aren’t just looking for solutions to unique problems, we are looking for creative solutions that work within larger systems
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Innovation includes looking back as well as forward
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We operate within a large ecosystem of aligned individuals and businesses who have a shared vision for the future
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We believe human wellbeing is just as important as planetary wellbeing and the two are inextricably linked
Application Process
Stage 1: Qualifying round (do you meet the APPLICATION CRITERIA?)
Stage 2: Application (questions, financials & short video)
Stage 3: Online interview (up to 30 mins)
March 21
Stage 1: Qualification Round opens
Stage 1 of the application process is visible on our website. All Stage 1 Applicants who meet our Application Criteria, will be requested to enter Stage 2.
April 20
Stage 2: Application sent out (rolling)
All Qualifiers of Stage 1 will be sent the Stage 2 Application by email. You will have 3 weeks to complete the Stage 2 Application.
May 1
Applications close. No more new entries.
Only those who have already Qualified prior to May 1 will be invited to complete the Stage 2 Application.
May 11 - 30
Stage 3: Online interviews
30 minute one to one interviews.
June 14
2022 Blossom Impact Accelerator Cohort is confirmed and announced
July 5 - 7th
In-person launch and gathering at 42 Acres, in Somerset
Programme
In-person:
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Launch Event: 2-day immersive retreat in Somerset
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Midway Retreat: in-person touch point in London
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Pitch Event: pitch & networking in London
Online:
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Peer Coaching (4): small groups
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Coaching (3): 1:1 mentoring
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Online Sessions (6): immersive learning
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Open Sessions (3): open to the public & optional (but recommend) for the cohort
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Dry Run / Q&A: Prep for the live pitch!
Dates
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Launch Retreat: July 5-7 (full day)
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Peer Coaching: July 12 (2.30pm-5pm GMT)
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Online Session: July 19 (2.30pm-5pm GMT)
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Coaching: w/c July 26 (flexible timing)
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Online Session: August 2(2.30pm-5pm GMT)
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Open Session: August 9 (TBD)
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Peer Coaching: August 16 (flexible with group)
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Online Session: August 23 (2.30pm-5pm GMT)
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Coaching: w/c August 30 (flexible timing)
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Midway Retreat: September 9 (full day)
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Online Session: September 13(2.30pm-5pm GMT)
Peer Coaching: September 20 (flexible with group) -
Online Session: September 27 (2.30pm-5pm GMT)
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Open Session: October 4 (TBC)
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Coaching: October 11, (flexible timing)
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Online Session: October 18 (2.30pm-5pm GMT)
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Peer Coaching: October 25 (flexible with group)
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Open Session: November 1 (TBC)
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Dry Run / Q&A: November 15 (2.30pm-5pm GMT)
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Pitch Event: November 29 (5pm-9pm)
Note: dates are subject to change
What to expect?
Sessions, peer coaching, and mentoring
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Through weekly online sessions, entrepreneurs will gain skills and knowledge in key topics like catalytic storytelling and marketing, sustainable business models, financial roadmaps, pathways to scale, purposeful leadership and feminist principles, abundance mindset, and investment readiness. You will deepen relationships with like-minded founders through weekly peer coaching and get personalised support in monthly 1:1 mentoring sessions.
Pitch event
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The 4-month programme will culminate in a live pitch event on the evening of November 29, 2022, in London. There will be networking, food, and of course the pitch competition! The competition will be judged by 5 leading experts in the field (see below).
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There will be a cash prize of £15k for the winners (grant funding from Be the Earth), but the larger intention is to connect the businesses with a room full of investors.
Launch event
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All the selected candidates will be joining together in person for a full 2-day retreat in rural Somerset to celebrate the start of the programme. The retreat will take place at the beautiful 42 Acres, with all food and accommodation covered by Be the Earth. You will have a chance to connect in person with fellow Blossom participants, spend time in nature, and kick off the learning journey.
*Please note travel costs will be at your own expense
Investors
Judges
Jyoti
Fernandes
Farmer & Activist, Land Workers Alliance
Jyoti Fernandes
Ben
Arbib
Co-founder, Nature Brands & Rebel Kitchen
Ben Arbib
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Experts & Mentors
Andrew Myers
Director at Multiple (Finance)
Anne Rammi
Comms & Community at
Be the Earth (Storytelling)
Katherin Kirschenmann
Founder, The DO
Dr. Ulrich Becker
COO, The DO
Belinda Esterhammer
Managing Director, The DO Asia
Eva Vander Giessen
Entrepreneurship Program Lead, The DO
Achim Hensen
Co-founder at Purpose Economy (Steward Ownership)
Alex Weisberg
CFO & CSO at Moss Good Foods (Restaurant Management & Sustainable Business)
Eva Vander Giessen
Entrepreneurship Program Lead, The DO
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Do you take any equity or is there a fee to join?No equity is taken and there is no fee charged to participate in the programme! We measure the success of this programme by the impact your business has in the world. And if we make an investment following the programme, we will negotiate terms together.
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Am I guaranteed funding if I join the accelerator?Investment is not guaranteed as part of this programme. You will be introduced to a variety of investors - ranging from foundations, to VCs and specialised banks. They may come in as speakers, be your 1:1 mentor, or see your live pitch on the Pitch Day. There is a guaranteed prize for the top 3 pitches, which is a small amount of grant funding. One of the goals of the programme is to create a model for Be the Earth to meet inspiring new founders and create a more engaging way to carry out due diligence on their ventures. Therefore, Be the Earth will be choosing businesses to participate that they believe are a good fit for their investment portfolio. Regardless if you receive capital investment at the end of the programme or not, you will remain a part of the ecosystem and have support from Be the Earth.
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Will I have an opportunity to join if I’m outside the UK?For the first year of the programme, we will only be focusing on UK based businesses. This is because we want to provide opportunities for in-person connection. In the future, we are hoping to launch programmes in multiple different hubs and perhaps will create a global opportunity that is completely remote. Stay tuned for more on this soon.
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What costs do I have to cover?The programme itself is completely free! The in-person sessions are also covered by Be the Earth - this includes food and accommodation (for the kick-off retreat at 42 Acres). You will be responsible for finding your own way to the retreat in Somerset and the in-person days in London. If there is demand, Be the Earth will help coordinate ride sharing, including funding a taxi or two from the train station nearest to 42 Acres (Gillingham Dorset). All in person days in London will also have catering, but you are welcome to bring your own snacks etc.
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Am I more likely to be accepted if I apply early?Please have a look at the application timeline to understand the process and deadlines a bit more. We strongly advise you to apply early as if we get a lot of strong applicants, we will close applications earlier. The programme cohort is small, and we want to leave the application open long enough to attract a variety of businesses, but we don’t want to make our lives too difficult as we know the more applicants there are, the harder it will be too choose! Regardless, we expect to offer places on a rolling basis from June 1st.
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I’m an investor, can I join the pitch day?Absolutely! We will be hosting it in-person and live-streaming online. Please send us an email to get involved – the more the merrier.
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Have any additional questions?Please email tessa@betheearth.foundation
Please apply if your business is:
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Early-stage
-
Purpose-led
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Focused on changing the food system
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UK-based
-
Post Revenue
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Below £1m turnover in 2021
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Seeking to raise £50k - £2m within the next 12 months
Supported by
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