Innovate For WASH
Pears Challenge 2019
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Solutions for Humanitarian Settings
The Pears Challenge
ISRAEL'S FIRST DEVELOPING-WORLD FOCUSED VENTURE-BUILDER
The Pears Challenge empowers outstanding, experienced Israeli entrepreneurs, innovators, designers and humanitarian professionals to create innovative, financially sustainable and impact-oriented technology ventures addressing the needs of developing countries.
The Pears Challenge
The Pears Challenge 2019
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Solutions
for Humanitarian Settings (WASH)
Are you an outstanding, experienced Israeli entrepreneur, tech geek, designer or humanitarian professionals who dreams of founding a startup with a real impact on the world?
Pears Challenge fellows will be guided through the process of innovating technologies, developing go-to-market strategies, and connecting with potential field partners, funders and investors for WASH technologies relevant to the humanitarian aid sector. You do not need to have a product idea to apply, just raw talent, relevant experience and a strong commitment to making the world a better place.
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Join the growing ranks of Pears Challenge Fellows with technology startups having a real impact on critical barriers to international development.
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Why Humanitarian Settings?
Over the past 10 years, the number of people affected by disaster and humanitarian crises has almost doubled and the amount spent on international humanitarian aid has more than tripled.
In 2017, 68.5 million of people were displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, or generalized violence. As this population continues to grow, humanitarian aid organizations are searching for more cost-efficient, effective, and sustainable ways to build resilience and bring needed services and supplies in crisis settings.
Why WASH?
Clean drinking water, effective sanitation and good hygiene practices are key to saving lives and reducing suffering during emergencies, According to the Global WASH Cluster, 80 million individuals around the world are in need of WASH services.
Present technologies and approaches are not providing sufficient answers to the challenge.
By innovating and adapting existing Israeli WASH technologies to humanitarian settings, Israel can help change this.
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Did You Know?
The Program
The 2019 Pears Challenge will help a select group of innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals ideate, create and commercialize WASH technologies for humanitarian settings.
PHASE 1
Ideation Lab
ONBOARDING & MARKET ORIENTATION
March 1 to April 12., 2019
Learn about WASH challenges affecting displaced peoples and refugees. Get access to top experts and need-knowers from Israel and around the world. Develop innovative ideas for meaningfully improving the lives of persons affected by conflict and disaster.
PHASE 2
Acceleration
YOU GET CREATIVE
May 3 to June 28, 2019
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We take the best ideas from the ideation lab and work with you to accelerate them. Learn what business models work. Delve in-depth into the particular needs, conditions, and characteristics of humanitarian settings to further develop your business plan and product.
PHASE 3
Market Validation
TEST YOUR IDEAS
IN THE FIELD
Through fall 2019
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Partner with a local organization in a humanitarian setting and travel to the field in order to test your ideas.
PHASE 4
Ongoing Support
BENEFIT FROM ONGOING
ALUMNI SUPPORT
Ongoing
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You never really stop being a Fellow. Access expertise, networking, and funding support through the Pears Challenge team and community.
"The Pears Challenge helped us execute our first proof-of concept and get our first customer feedback. Priceless for a new venture. "
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Max Simonovsky
Co-Founder of Soapy
Pears Challenge Fellow
Our Track Record
10M
in grants and seed-investment has been raised by Pears Challenge ventures.
20
Pears Challenge ventures have been validated in the field.
11
Pears Challenge ventures are currently active.
150
professionals worldwide mentor Pears Challenge Fellows on a consistent basis.
Pears ventures have gone
on to be accepted to:
"The most important pivot for me happened in the Pears Challenge where I found out I actually can design for people in developing countries.”
Tamar Ish Cassit
Founder & Designer of Cassit Orthopedics
Pears Challenge Fellow
Stay tuned to the next Pears Challenge
Any question? Feel free to contact us:
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