UNIDO and a coalition of public and private partners, including Changelabs, announce the launch of Jordan’s first accelerator targeting natural cosmetics, fashion, and phytopharmaceutical startups and SMEs

The one-of-a-kind program will admit 50 startups and SMEs founded by Jordanian entrepreneurs, allowing access to digital markets, seed funding, and partnerships with e-commerce players in the target countries. The program also provides extensive mentorship and operational support, with a chance to travel to Europe and learn from industry immersion experiences.

Amman, 20 June 2021 – A partnership led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced today the launch of its leading LevelUp Accelerator, to support the creation and growth of sustainable and inclusive businesses in Jordan. At its core, the LevelUp Accelerator brings together public and private partners to accelerate entrepreneurship in Jordan by supporting the development of competitive small and medium-sized enterprises to bolster entrepreneurship and provide employment opportunities, especially for youth and women. It targets top Jordanian startups and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) that focus on natural cosmetics, fashion, and phytopharmaceuticals. The program will facilitate access to funding and markets for businesses that promote sustainability, integrate circular economy principles, and employ a digital-solutions driven, design thinking approach to create human-centered products, services, and experiences.

The Accelerator will offer startups and more mature SMEs an unparalleled access to resources required for scaling up, learning and training opportunities with leading entrepreneurial actors, and a gateway to global markets by pitching their business plans to world class venture capitalists and investors.

QUOTE: “UNIDO’s work in the MENA region supports entrepreneurs, innovators, SMEs, start-ups and organizations to build game-changing and successful business models to enter global markets. We promote a community of motivated young women and men who see an inclusive and sustainable digital transition as the starting point to enter the global markets.” – Bashir Conde, Project Manager at the Department of Agribusiness, UNIDO

The accelerator is part of the larger LevelUp – Advancing Jordanian Industries multi-component project aimed at creating decent job opportunities for women and youth. It is delivered in partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply and local partners, including Change Labs, Jordan Exports, JEDCO and Business and Professional Women Amman (BPWA). The project runs in line with Jordan’s 2025 Economic Development Plan and brings together public and private sectors to create game-changing opportunities for Jordanian entrepreneurs and helps establish long term partnerships with national and international stakeholders. The project is funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, and is powered by UNIDO’s flagship program, Promoting women empowerment for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development in the MENA region.

QUOTE: Changelabs believes that Jordan has a competitive advantage in local, regional, and global markets across the natural cosmetics, organic food supplements, and ethical fashion markets – in partnership with UNIDO, we’ve designed a 7 months’ learning and acceleration program to help Jordanian entrepreneurs build world class businesses that will create jobs and contribute to the diversification of the Jordanian economy” shared Karim Samra, founder and CEO at Changelabs.

The LevelUp Accelerator will be launched through a call for applications and three open days featuring interventions from development agencies, experts and influencers from across Jordan. The Accelerator provides an unparalleled opportunity to enter a comprehensive digital learning program for 50 startups and SMEs, to eventually 10 Champions of Digital Change. Startups and scale ups in the targeted industries (natural cosmetics, fashion, and phytopharmaceuticals) across Jordan are now invited to apply to the program through Level Up and Changelabs’ and changelabsme.org) and to join the open days starting from June 22, 2021 to learn more about the program.

About UNIDO:

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. The mission of UNIDO is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States. The Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four strategic priorities: creating shared prosperity; advancing economic competitiveness; safeguarding the environment; and strengthening knowledge and institutions.

Website: https://www.unido.org

About Changelabs:

Over the last 3 years, Changelabs has been turning impactful ideas into startups and helping existing companies scale up with the support of major European development banks, governments, and regional private sector partners. With financial headquarters in Cyprus and operating programs in Amman, Cairo, and Beirut, the firm has trained over 10,000 youth, launched over 40 startups, and provided more than 400 job opportunities thus far. Changelabs’ mission is to give impact entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed while delivering lasting impact on the MENA region.