Highline BETA, in partnership with the global beer company AB InBev, has announced the launch of the AB InBev 100+ Sustainability Accelerator, a program dedicated to addressing global sustainability issues.
The AB InBev 100+ Sustainability Accelerator will invite academics, entrepreneurs, scientists, and technologists to develop solutions that tackle AB InBev’s sustainability goals related to water stewardship, responsible sourcing, product upcycling, smart agriculture, circular packaging, and climate change.
According to a blog post by Highline BETA, AB InBev has created 10 challenges that startups can apply to. Startups accepted into the six-month program will receive mentorship, funding of up to $100,000, and access to AB InBev’s resources and experience.
“Through the 100+ Accelerator, innovators will benefit from our resources, experience and global reach to speed their progress and scale.”
Highline BETA, which has been working with AB InBev to design and run the accelerator, said it will also provide mentorship, programming, and access to investors and partners to startups accepted in the program. Startups will also have the opportunity to receive follow-on investments from AB InBev and its partners at a Demo Day, and the ability to start a corporate partnership with AB InBev.
“At AB InBev we have a long-term vision to build a company to last for the next 100+ years, which relies on driving sustainability across our business,” said Tony Milikin, chief sustainability and procurement officer of AB InBev. “Our approach is rooted in the communities where we live and work, which are well positioned to support entrepreneurs who are tackling local challenges. Through the 100+ Accelerator, innovators will benefit from our resources, experience and global reach to speed their progress and scale.”
Some of the AB InBev’s challenges include “Every Single Drop,” which wants startups to develop solutions to help create sustainable and energy-efficient practices to eliminate water scarcity; “Farm X,” which invites startups to develop solutions to help farmers sustainably produce the best quality hops and grains; and “Carbon Action,” which is seeking proposals to develop technology that can make production, manufacturing, and operations more affordable.
“Every corporate accelerator program is a little bit different,” said Ben Yoskovitz, founding partner of Highline BETA, in a blog post. “You need to bring forward a meaningful value proposition to startups (including corporate pilot/customer opportunities, capital, mentors/domain expertise, access to new markets, quality programming and more) and find the right mix of many elements. I believe 100+ Accelerator is going to do all of that and deliver amazing results for the startups that participate and AB InBev.”
The 100+ Accelerator is the latest accelerator that Highline BETA will provide support to. In June, RBC launched RBC Reach in partnership with Highline BETA to give startups the opportunity to create commercial agreements with RBC. Also in June, Highline BETA announced the launch of the Fast Track Program, which aims to create more connections between startups and large corporations. In May, Highline BETA announced the relaunch of Female Funders, an education program dedicated to helping women pursue angel investing.
Those interested in joining AB InBev’s 100+ Accelerator can apply here. Selected winners will be announced in September 2018 and invited to participate in the program, which will run between October 2018 and March 2019 in New York City.