PROGRAM Partners
The Sustainable forest trade Incubation Program
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and Bridge for Billions, joined forces to create an incubation program that will support up to 50 early-stage enterprises from Thailand with the potential to promote sustainable timber trade in the region.
The Sustainable forest trade Incubation Program has been created to support the emergence of commercially-viable, community-inclusive and climate-resilient businesses that support the emergence of commercially-viable, community-inclusive, and climate-resilient businesses focused on sustainable forest trade. The program seeks to attract projects that show robust revenue generation perspectives and ambition to reach a critical mass. We aim to build a diverse and attractive cohort demonstrating commercial potential and wide adoption of nature-positive business models.
This program is part of the UN-REDD Lower Mekong Initiative on Sustainable Forest Trade.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR EARLY-STAGE ENTERPRISES IN Thailand PUTTING SUSTAINABLE WOOD TRADE AT THE HEART OF THEIR BUSINESS MODEL AND OPERATIONS
Why join as an entrepreneur?
Step-by-step learning and development
Our program follows a step-by-step methodology, which allows you to work directly on your business and make the most important decisions, as well as visualize your financial projections or your growth and impact plan for the next few years.
Personalized mentoring
You’ll be partnered with a professional to personally guide you, with whom you will have weekly video call sessions. This way, you can have an external point of view while you validate your project and advance in key aspects to define your business and its potential.
Global entrepreneurship community
Become a part of a supportive global community of founders that share resources and harness challenges together.
Final Pitch Competition
Once the incubation phase has finished, participate in the Final Pitch Competition where you will be able to present your business in front of different stakeholders.
ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
Our program is 100% online and allows you to have a flexible schedule. Work from anywhere at any time through our online platform. No barriers, limits, or excuses: just an internet connection.
Build your own executive summary
The platform offers a learn-by-doing approach inspired by the most recent entrepreneurship methodologies. You will get to generate your own Executive Summary in PDF format, a document you can share with potential investors, co-founders, etc.
This program is perfect for you if:
- You have a business-driven approach to your venture and are open to outside mentorship and guidance.
- You have a business idea with a validated MVP (Minimum Viable Product), or you have a young business and you haven't yet found a sustainable model for it (despite already having some sales).
- Your business core activities belong to the sustainable timber value chain or within a key sector/subsector within sustainable forest trade (e.g. furniture, rubber, chips, processing, equipment, trade, etc).
- Your business already has a sustainable practice and you are hoping to scale or you are developing a new area of your business that positively impacts the forest sector.
- You can commit to the whole duration of the program (7-8h/week for 4 months).
- You have a reliable internet connection and access to a computer/laptop that you can use regularly.
Send your application before
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DEADLINE: March 31st, 2023
Timeline
Apply to the program
Tell us more about you, your team and your venture by submitting your application below. Our team will evaluate all applications from entrepreneurs who apply to the program.
Keep in mind! Only one of the team members should apply. Later on, once accepted, you will be able to add the rest of the members so you can collaborate together in the platform.
After the application process we will review all of them and we will send you an email, letting you know more details about your participation.
Participate in the welcome session
We will invite you to participate in an information session to welcome you to the incubation program. In this session we will cover the role of program participants, the role of your mentor, the use of incubation platform that will help you work on your business, and much more!
Meet your mentor
Take part in our matching process! You will have the opportunity to meet online with volunteer mentors, both local and international.
Once you have met several of them, both you and the mentors will submit your rankings in order to let us know who you think will be the best fit for your project's needs. Based on the rankings, we will make the best mentor-mentee pairs.
The incubation program begins!
Welcome! Now you are ready to begin a 4-month incubation period to continue developing your business.
- Follow an online curriculum with 8 modules to build a robust value proposition and business strategy for your venture.
- Meet weekly with your personal mentor on one-to-one online sessions to get a fresh perspective and make sure you're in the right direction.
- Attend the monthly online group meetings to meet fellow founders and work on the soft and business skills needed to grow as an entrepreneur.
- Once the incubation phase has finished, participate in the Final Pitch Competition where you will be able to present your business in front of stakeholders.
Questions about the program?
What does the program offer?
The Sustainable Forest Trade Incubation Program is a mentoring and business incubation support program that assists entrepreneurs and businesses in developing enticing and attractive business models that are focused on restoration of landscapes and ecosystems.
The program offers a 4-month curriculum blending online content and in-person check-ins.
An online platform takes participants through an 8-module program covering market differentiation and business planning in order to maximize the commercial viability of ventures.
An assigned mentor helps participants (on a weekly basis, through 1.5 hour video calls or in-person meetings) to test their business assumptions and gather feedback to further their online curriculum progression.
What is the time commitment to the program?
The whole program takes 4 months and requires a minimum of 8 hours of work per week from you. The more time you’re able to put in, the better the results. A typical week you’ll spend:
• Around 3hrs working on the online modules
• At least 1h in a mentorship call with your personal mentor.
• At least 2hrs doing field work to validate your assumptions, getting to know your customers and market, etc.
If you have a business partner, you can divide the work. If you can’t commit to at least 7/8 hours per week for 4 months, this may not be the program for you.
What technology will I need for the program?
We advise you to have a laptop or desktop computer and preferably one of these browsers: Google Chrome, Safari or Mozilla Firefox. However, our platform is also suitable for cell phones and tablets.
Also, we expect you to have a stable and reliable internet connection both for your work on the platform as well as to participate in the calls with your mentor via video call.
What does the program ask in return of my participation?
Motivation and time commitment are paramount to the success of your participation: this is an intensive 4-month curriculum blending tested methodologies and formats to maximize tangible progress toward commercial viability of existing ventures.
In contrast to other incubation and/or acceleration programs, there is no partial ownership for equity schemes nor prize money.
However, we offer a program completely free of charge that allows you to gain industry knowledge and guidance from mentors in the field or business experts.
What is the role of a mentor?
Your mentor is your guide throughout the program — someone who understands the intricacies of your business. Week after week, your mentor will help you validate your strategy and design your growth plan. Mentors support you through your work on the platform and meet with you once a week to review the work done (typically using video calls).
Can my teammate work with me on the project?
Yes! You and your business partners can all participate in the program. Only one representative from your team should apply, but if selected you can easily invite your teammates in the beginning of the incubation stage.
I’m concerned about my intellectual property if I apply. Should I be worried about this?
I’m concerned about my intellectual property if I apply. Should I be worried about this?
Protecting your intellectual property is extremely important to us. Your application and program data are confidential.
Besides, both you and your intellectual property are protected by our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Your mentor will also sign a Mentorship Agreement that includes a confidentiality clause.
What does the program offer to its graduates?
The aim of the program is to support its participants in achieving commercial viability as a pre-condition to investment.
Can’t find your question here?
Connect with our program managers
Alexandra Martins
Bridge for Billions Program Manager for the Sustainable Forest Trade Incubation Program.
The Institute of Agro-Based Industries
The Thailand Forest Certification Council (TFCC) is an institution under The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) that promotes and supports entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector to connect to the industry covering the whole country.
