The EDP Esperanza Fund Objectives Support and financial social entrepreneurs who are committed to ensuring that the energy transition is fair and inclusiveAnd leave no one behind. In collaboration with Ashoka and Bridge For billions, EDP Esperanza Fund offers a program for social entrepreneurs to develop scalability strategies for their solutions, as well as access to flexible loans.
During the program, social entrepreneurs will benefit from individual and group self -studies, followed by a step -step approach to create a clear, viable and ready scalability strategy to receive investments. This will enable them to increase their social impact and reach more people who need a fair energy transition. As the founder of the Esperanza Fund, Edp will The most promising solutions to invest in their expansion strategy, offering flexible financing. Every selected social entrepreneur can receive up to 500,000 euros in financing.
EDP: A background to move forward and innovate
Registration for the 2nd edition of the EDP Hope Fund, A Financing and incubation program aimed at organizations with innovative solutions Tackling social problems in the context of the energy transition and they are implemented in Spain, Portugal and Latin -American countries.
The program includes phases of Incubation, acceleration and financial support for social entrepreneursHelp them to improve and grow their innovative solutions. The mentor is also a phase of this program, with the support of specialized mentors who will work with some candidates to help them promote their projects. The projects will be evaluated and chosen on the basis of their innovation, impact, scalability and sustainability.
«In EDP we are committed to a fair transfer of energy and supporting projects that generate a positive impact on communities. The 2nd edition of the Esperanza Fund reflects this commitment and promotes innovative solutions that are tailored to our mission. The success of the first edition, in which we support initiatives, such as the distribution of electric kitchens to reduce the use of biomass and creating Professional opportunities in the renewable energy sector for young people who are at risk of social exclusionStrengthens the importance of such programs to promote the energy transition, “said Vera Pinto Pereira, member of the EDP Council of Directors.
In this edition, each of the finalists will have the opportunity to receive up to 500 thousand euros financing. Organizations interested in presenting their fund candidature can do this on the bridge for billions of platform, From this link, until March 30th.
Applicants must submit a solution that tackles one or more of the following topics: Offer Energy Efficiency and access to clean, reliable, safe and affordable energy for untrued communities and/or disadvantaged people; Promoted professional training and recycling of energy transition -industry with models for affordable registration percentages; And promote the preservation and restoration of forests and biodiversity, which generates a positive social impact, especially in needy areas.
For this program, EDP returns to its Ashoka Partners, a worldwide organization that specializes in identifying and supporting social entrepreneurs and bridge for billions, an online platform that offers tools, sources and mentoring for entrepreneurs in the early stages of growth.
In the 1st edition of the Esperanza Fund, launched in June last year, EDP received more than 150 applications, with more than 10 projects for mentoring and two for financing: Clean Cooking Technologies, Dedicated to combating climate change by innovative technologiesas an intelligent induction kitchen, with a positive impact on health and the environment; and Generalamés, a non -profit association that uses young people who are at risk of exclusion in the renewable energy sector, while the energy transition is promoted.
He Esperanza Fund is part of EDP YES – U Empowerment Society, The worldwide social impact strategy of the company, an investment of 300 million euros up to 2030 to support more than 500 social responsibility projects at different locations.