UNIDO and Changelabs welcomed 50 Jordanian companies into the Level Up accelerator through an announcement event in the presence of H.E Fabio Cassese the Italian Ambassador in Jordan, the ministry of industry, trade and supply and public and private partners

After a widespread 3 month call for applications, UNIDO and a coalition of public and private partners have announced the completion of an intensive screening and selection process, and admitted the 50 top companies into an exclusive free 1 month of e-learning and entrepreneurship development program. The selected 50 companies were announced through a unique event with the presence of the ambassador of Italy to Jordan H.E Fabio Cassese, the head of AICS Amman Mr. Emilio Cabasino, Mr. Ahmad Hammad representing the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, and UNIDO representative, Ms. Sulafa Mdanat.

As an initial phase, the 50 companies will undergo a one-month digital e-learning program focused on beginning their business strategy development and digital transformation. The companies will be provided with a series of courses delivered by leading global experts, assigned 1:1 coaching sessions and given access to an extensive tools and resource library. Furthermore, the selected companies will benefit from the speaking sessions of leading successful regional entrepreneurs .

Following the e-learning program, the 50 companies will be split into two cohorts of 35 early-stage startups and 15 more mature Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The startups will undergo an intensive 3-month training program focused on bringing their ideas to the market, while the mature SMEs will join a 3-month accelerator to help them scale their companies and raise additional funding. The program will then launch a regional demo day which will showcase the companies to potential investors and select the top 10 Champions of Digital Change for an exclusive business immersion experience in Europe that will connect selected companies with potential partners and customers.

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 SMEs that focus on natural cosmetics, fashion, and food supplements. 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 LevelUP accelerator program 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 (MITS) and local partners, including Changelabs, Jordan Exports (JE), Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and Business and Professional Women Association (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 (AICS), and is powered by UNIDO’s flagship program, Promoting women empowerment for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development in the MENA region.

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