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NN GROUP X RUBIO PRESENT

Social Innovation Startup Award 

Are you an early-stage start-up creating a positive impact on people's lives? Apply today for a chance to secure a €100k grant and scale your social impact!

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Impact Week 2024

The NN Social Innovation Startup Award is an initiative to discover, recognize and support early-stage start-ups that are ​transforming the well-being of others. Selected start-ups will be invited to join us in Bilbao on November 28th as ​part of the Impact Week 2024.

Calling all early-stage start-ups in the following sectors:

equal opportunity

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Equal Opportunities
This category includes
start-ups focused on providing access to education, employment, and essential services for underserved communities.
For example:

  • EdTech: Innovations that improve access to education and skills training

  • WorkTech: Solutions that promote employment, fair working conditions, and workplace diversity

  • Accessibility Tech: Tools and platforms enhancing access for individuals with disabilities

  • Diversity & Inclusion: Start-ups promoting inclusivity in the workplace or society

  • Financial Inclusion: Services that provide access to financial tools for underserved populations

  • Legal & Housing Access: Platforms that ensure equal access to justice and housing

This category includes startups focused on improving physical, mental, and financial health. This includes:  Physical Health: Innovations that promote fitness, preventive healthcare, and overall physical well-being. Mental Health: Solutions that address mental health challenges, stress management, and emotional well-being. Employee Wellbeing: Technologies aimed at improving occupational health and safety. Financial Wellbeing: Services that enhance financial literacy, stability, and empowerment for individuals. Lifestyle and Wellness: Platforms and products that support healthier lifestyles through coaching, nutrition, and fitness.

WELL-BEING

Well-Being

This category includes solutions focused on improving physical, mental, and financial well-being, including:

  • ⁠Physical well-being: Solutions for preventive healthcare, health literacy, and access to quality care

  • Mental well-being: Solutions that address mental health challenges, mental resilience, social connectedness, and emotional well-being

  • Financial well-being: Solutions that enhance financial literacy and allow financial relief and stability

  • Longevity & Lifestyle: Solutions that support healthier lifestyles and sustainable, longer living

APPLY BY OCTOBER 15TH>> APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15 OCTOBER 2024 >> APPLY BY OCTOBER 15TH 2024

Success starts with partnerships

Transforming
well-being together

At NN Group and Rubio Impact Ventures, we envision a future where ​sustainability thrives through a healthy, empowered society. To bring this vision ​to life, we're backing social enterprises that transform the well-being of others. As ​part of Impact Week 2024 in Bilbao, we're hosting a start-up pitch ​event to discover, spotlight and support trailblazing ventures in edtech, worktech, ​and solutions focused on financial, mental, and physical well-being. 

 

This isn’t just a start-up event—it’s a movement to empower people through ​innovation. The winning start-up will secure a €100k grant, with two runners-up ​receiving €50k each to accelerate their impact. But our mission goes beyond the ​finalists; we’re shining a light on the urgent need for investment in people-centric ​tech solutions, ensuring they have the resources to shape a stronger, more ​sustainable future.

 

Join us in investing in the future of human potential. The NN Social Innovation ​Startup Award will be a marquee event at Impact Week Europe 2024, happening ​in Bilbao from November 27 to 29. On November 28, experience the energy of ​dynamic pitches, inspiring keynotes, and a celebration of innovation and impact.

What is in it for you?

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Funding
 

Secure a €100k grant for ​the winner, with two €50k ​grants awarded to the ​runners-up to fuel their ​ventures.

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Media exposure
 

Amplify your brand ​through Rubio and ​partner channels for ​widespread visibility. You get the chance to share your start-up story during Impact Week 2024​​​​

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Personalized ​growth program

Benefit from 1-year of ​personalized mentoring, ​along with a custom-built ​program focused on ​scaling your business and ​developing leadership ​skills.

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Exclusive venture ​support tool

Unlock access to Rubio’s ​proprietary platform, ​packed with expert tips, ​essential tools, key ​contacts, and exclusive ​partner offers to help ​your venture thrive.

Selection criteria

  • Mission-driven: You’re dedicated to advancing equal ​education, creating equal employment opportunities, fostering ​sustainable livelihoods, or enhancing longevity, financial, physical, or ​mental well-being.
     

  • Impact-first: Your venture demonstrates clear, positive, and ​systemic impact that drives real change.
     

  • Tech-enabled innovation: You offer a tech-enabled solution ​with a live product or proven initial validation.
     

  • Scalable success: Your business model aligns potential ​revenues with impact and value, ensuring commercial ​scalability.
     

  • Regional presence: Your venture operates in at least one of the ​following markets: Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, ​the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Spain, Turkey or Japan.
     

  • Inclusivity champions: We’re particularly excited about ​solutions that promote inclusivity, accessibility, and diversity ​in society.  

Rubio PeopleTech award seeking bright social innovation startups

NN Social Innovation Start-up Award is brought to you by: 

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Application process & timeline

Fill out the form online to apply
1

Apply

Start your journey by ​filling out our application ​form.

Applications are ​open until Oct 15th.
The first 50 applicants (early applicants) ​will get an extra feedback round.

Support and partnership with Rubio
Interview with our experience VC selectors

Interviews

Shortlisted start-ups will ​be notified by October ​5th and invited for virtual interviews.

Timing interviews:

Oct 7st - Oct 20th.

2
Success starts with seed funding
Go through a light DD phase

Due diligence

After the interviews, 5 ​Semi-Finalists will be ​chosen for a light Due ​Diligence.

Timing DD:

Oct 20th - Nov 5th.

3
4
Present in Bilbao to a wide audience of investors

Finals in Bilbao

Three finalists will be selected ​and invited to pitch in ​Bilbao in front of a ​world-class jury.

​Transport and lodging ​will be arranged and paid for.

Pitch Finals: Nov 28th in Bilbao

Get funded and supported for a year
5

Personalized growth program

The winner and runner-​ups will benefit from a ​1-year custom-built ​venture growth and ​mentoring program ​focused on scaling your ​business and developing ​leadership skills.

OpenUP startup
OpenUp team

Business model:

A 360° mental well-being platform, offering evidence-based ​resources and professional guidance to organisations and individuals.

Impact:

OpenUp enables employers to give their employees direct, fast and ​easy access to certified psychologists and online tools to improve ​mental well-being through a fully digital web/app platform.

Female Invest focuses on financial literacy for women
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Business model: 

Female Invest is an ed-tech platform empowering women through ​subscription-based learning and community.

Impact: 

Female investors are on a mission to close the financial gender gap ​by educating women on how to manage their money and begin ​investing, which improves their financial well-being.

sponsorship

Do I have to give out equity for the €100k of funding?

No, the capital is a grant and not an investment. It will be up to you on how to spend it. For other terms & ​conditions, we will post these online shortly.

Can I still apply if I am not available on the in-person dates?

The final five founder teams will be invited to pitch in-person at our event on November 28. Therefore we ask you ​to already block this in your calendar. In case you are not available please make note of this in your application.

I want to make positive impact with my start-up, but it is hard to measure in this stage. Can I still ​apply?

Yes! In an early stage it can be difficult to measure your impact. Try to formulate your Theory of Change to ​communicate what the impact is you are striving for and how your product/service ties into this. When you ​continue in the process, we will help you to refine this.

Can I apply if I have raised (multiple) convertible loans from other investors?

Yes! You are welcome to apply. This is a grant investment. Loans that are not converted into equity can be secured ​from institutional investors and you would still fit the eligibility criteria.

What can I expect from Rubio?

You will have a designated member of Rubio’s investment team as a mentor for 1 year; access to our proprietary ​venture support tool including offers for all our portfolio companies and access to the Rubio network. We do not ​guarantee any further investment, but if we both want to continue our partnership we can continue investing in ​your seed and series A rounds. Our fund is able to invest up until €10mn in one company.

What can I expect from NN?

Finalists will be given access to the volunteer programme from NN Group, where employees will support start-ups with their time and expertise.
All will be given access to the NN mentorship program, where a dedicated mentor will create a tailor-made support programme to meet the start-ups' scaling objectives.

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