Coordinated by Idesam, accelerator offers investment, mentoring and support to boost social and environmental impact; Fundo Vale is one of AMAZ’s founding funders
The Amazon Impact Accelerator (AMAZ), widely regarded as the best acceleration program in northern Brazil, has launched its 2025 call for business proposals. Created by the Amazon Conservation and Sustainable Development Institute (Idesam) with support from Fundo Vale and other funders, AMAZ aims to select startups and ventures that promote the conservation of the Amazon, the enhancement of biodiversity, and social and environmental development. With a focus on innovative and sustainable businesses, the initiative seeks to boost solutions that generate a positive impact for both the environment and local communities.
The selected businesses will have access to an acceleration journey that includes workshops, mentoring, legal and accounting advice, and investment capital of between R$200,000 and R$400,000. AMAZ also offers support for building business models, market strategies and attracting investment, with the aim of maximizing startups’ social and environmental impact and financial viability.
“This is a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to strengthen their businesses while preserving or restoring areas of forest and helping boost the region’s bioeconomy. Entrepreneurs in the Amazon still have many challenges to overcome, and programs like AMAZ are fundamental to strengthening the ecosystem. We wish the participating companies luck and success!” says Márcia Soares, Fundo Vale’s Amazon and partnerships manager and a member of AMAZ’s Management Board.
The call for proposals is aimed at entrepreneurs, startups and organizations that are already in operation, including in the early stages, and that operate in sectors such as sustainable crop farming and livestock raising, forest management, social and biological diversity products, reforestation and agroforestry production, sustainable and community-based tourism, food, cosmetics, handicrafts and sustainable fashion, logistics, financial services, technological solutions, marketing platforms, education, impact entrepreneurship, climate change mitigation and adaptation, carbon, and other social or environmental services.
AMAZ values diversity and inclusion, and so it is looking for businesses led by women, young people, indigenous people, black people and other underrepresented groups. In addition, the ventures must be located in the Amazon or mainly focused on this region. The accelerator also prioritizes projects with the potential for scale and replicability, which are capable of generating lasting positive transformations.
Applications for the 2025 call for proposals are now open and will be accepted until April 25, 2025. Submit your entry here. For additional details, visit the AMAZ website or email amaz@idesam.org.