
2023 UNLEASH Plus Incubation Program for Early-Stage Social Entrepreneurs
Applicants are now invited to submit applications for the UNLEASH Plus, a 6-month incubation program for early-stage social entrepreneurs who have a great idea and a phenomenal team.
The program supports teams who are uniquely qualified to solve their particular problem, but need access to the skills, tools, mindset, networks, and resources that will push their solution from minimum viability to product market fit.
Program Modules
During the program, teams will benefit from e-learning modules, interactive workshops, mentorship and world-class experts to support them in the following topics:
- Lean Management: Focuses on setting goals and priorities, developing an adaptive mindset, and testing the solution in an iterative way
- Impact Measurement: Improves the team’s ability to measure, analyze and communicate the initiative’s impact in a clear and compelling way
- Financials: Includes tools for defining the venture’s business model, planning core revenue and costs streams, and determining future growth potential
- Fundraising: Supports in clarifying financial needs and developing successful fundraising strategies
- High-Performing Team: Includes a leadership program, and focuses on team development, diversity and inclusion, HR, and recruitment
- Go-to-market & storytelling: Centers on developing knowledge of the target market and how to acquire and keep customers, clients, or users
- Designing for Scale: Provides insights into pathways and models for scaling the solution, for example by using “network effects” or platform thinking.

Why join UNLEASH Plus?
Many of us have great ideas for social impact, but it’s hard to create an organization that contributes towards a sustainable future. UNLEASH Plus will help teams get there. During the program, Teams will receive:
- Online training
- Ongoing mentorship
- Peer-to-peer learning
- Access to world-class Experts
- In-person bootcamp
Eligibility Criteria
- UNLEASH Plus is made for young innovators around the world who are solving problems to achieve the SDGs.
- The program is designed to help for-profit, non-profit, and hybrid organizations build solutions that solve real problems and impact the SDGs while preparing them for long-term sustainability and scale.
- To participate in UNLEASH Plus, please note the following criteria before proceeding with your application:
- Solution criteria:
- Solution that addresses one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
- Nonprofits, for-profits, and hybrid entities are welcome to apply
- Have a minimum viable product (MVP) i.e. your solution has been tested and validated directly with users
- Documented feedback, references, or testimonials from early testing with actual users or prospective customers that demonstrate the market need for the solution
- Team criteria:
- 2 to 4 active Team members participating throughout the 6-month program
- Teams must include founders/co-founders, and all team members must have organizational decision-making authority
- Ability to commit at least 8 hours per Team per week throughout the program
- Half of the Team members below 35 years old
- A legal entity with the ability to receive funds (Teams may be in the process of establishing their legal entity and should aim to complete the process by November 2023 in order to receive any potential funds)
Where will the program take place?
- The 2023 program will be mostly virtual, including the two-day program kick-off, monthly half-day checkpoints with Mentors and Experts, and online courses where Teams will complete several online learning modules focused on key aspects of their business model. For the top Teams at the end of the six-months, an in-person event will be held at a location to be communicated at a later point.
Application Deadline: 31-Mar-23
Also Read: Other Opportunities to Apply
Also Apply for the Strategic-Technical Support Program – Capacity Building for NGOs and CBOs
