Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), and its partner, Village Capital today announced the first cohort of 56 startups for the Sage Impact Entrepreneurship Program. The startups are based across France, Spain, Portugal, UK and the U.S., and will receive mentorship, training, grants and product support from Sage to help scale their businesses.
Powered by Sage Foundation, the company’s social impact arm, the Sage Impact Entrepreneurship Program was launched in November 2024 with the aim of supporting under-represented businesses addressing the world’s most pressing problems. The first call for applications received over 200 responses, with applicants building a variety of solutions at the intersection of sustainability and social impact, such as community carbon markets, clean agritech, disaster prevention and energy conservation.
The selected businesses, which were assessed on their mission, their business model, and their ability to translate vision to impact, are working to address critical social and environmental challenges within their communities. For example, Carbix Corporation in the U.S. is working to transform carbon emissions into raw concrete materials for a cleaner construction industry, while Omma from the UK creates on-farm insect rearing systems that offer a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. Similarly, Insail from Spain develops wind-powered solutions for clean maritime transport, thus preserving oceans, and Turnee from France helps redirect returned products directly to new buyers, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of shopping returns.
The panel that selected these 56 startups consisted of 19 members, with seven being from Sage’s leadership team. External members included senior executives from climate-focused venture capital firms and companies, and racial equity non-profits.
The United States had the most entries into the program, and represents the bulk of the cohort, with 28 selected companies being from the country. They are followed by the UK (21), Spain (3), Portugal (2) and France (2). The selected companies have been divided into a Core Cohort, which will receive tailored mentorship, funding and product access; and a Community Cohort, which will receive access to Village Capital’s learning solutions and investment-readiness tools. All startups will receive support for up to two years after the program has ended to continue to help to scale their impact.
Robert Luo, Founder of Mi Terro, said: “Being accepted into the Sage Impact Entrepreneurship program was a moment of pride, motivation, and a strong validation of Mi Terro’s mission to create sustainable, innovative materials that address global environmental challenges. This opportunity will provide the support we need to scale our impact, refine our strategy, and collaborate with like-minded changemakers. Through the program, we aim to expand our production capacity, strengthen industry partnerships, and drive global adoption of eco-friendly materials, pushing the world closer to a circular economy.”
Johann Sammy, Founder of Carbix Corp, said: “We were thrilled to be selected for the Sage Impact Entrepreneurship program. This recognition will connect us to an ecosystem of impact-driven ventures, opening doors to new opportunities and partnerships. Being part of the Sage cohort will allow us to explore commercial pilots, expand our customer base, and engage with potential investors in the sustainability space.”
Helen Devanny, Vice President of Sage Foundation, said: “We are so impressed by the caliber of the companies and entrepreneurs that applied, and are proud to be kicking off this program with these 56 startups. The scale of the problems they’ve chosen to solve is immense, but that is what makes their work even more meaningful and urgent. We’re proud to be putting our technology, skills, and resources behind these purpose-driven leaders in service of a more sustainable and equitable tomorrow.”
Allie Burns, CEO of Village Capital, said: “Early-stage founders are at the forefront of tackling urgent social and environmental challenges, bringing bold ideas and innovative business models to drive meaningful change. The 56 startups in this first Sage Impact Entrepreneurship cohort are not only building solutions for a more sustainable future but also reshaping industries – from clean energy and circular economy innovations to sustainable infrastructure and data and climate modeling tools. We’re excited to support these entrepreneurs, learn from their journeys, and help them scale their impact.”
To see a full list of the companies that form the inaugural cohort, please go here for the U.S. cohort, and here for the UK and European cohort. For more information on Sage Foundation and its impact, visit: Sage Foundation – Charity Support | Sage US.
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Tags: Accounting
