Likewise, through the Ray of Hope Prize, the Biomimicry Institute is recognizing and rewarding the scientific innovations needed to address the most pressing planetary challenges,” said Deron Davis, Executive Director, The Nature Conservancy in Georgia and one of last year’s Prize judges. “Driven by science, The Nature Conservancy is working around the world to tackle climate change and protect healthy oceans, freshwater, and lands.

While funding is not a requirement to participate in the program, last year all of the finalists had secured more than $250,000 in funding (grants, equity, etc.) and less than $5 million in funding. Participants in the program routinely secure additional funding support and see an increase in their sales pipeline.

The finalist teams will also receive in-depth support and training for their science communication storytelling and access to a wide range of corporate and investment leaders. Up to 10 startups will be selected as finalists for the prize by a panel of experts, including representatives from investment, sustainability, and biomimicrybackgrounds. In addition to the $100,000 grand prize, one participating startup will receive the $25,000 Runner-Up Prize, and an additional $25,000 will be split among the remaining finalist teams. “The program drove us to think about ECOncrete’s mission as a biomimicry leader and about ways to spread the value of integrating biomimicry principles in different disciplines and processes in working toward achieving greater sustainability.”

“The Ray of Hope Prize program was a source for optimism and growth that really challenged us to think about a healthier and more resilient future, especially in this difficult COVID-19 period,” said Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, Co-Founder and CEO of ECOncrete. Past recipients of the Prize include ECOncrete Tech (Israel, 2020), Watchtower Robotics (USA, 2019), and Nucleário (Brazil, 2018). The Ray of Hope Prize shines a spotlight on up-and-coming startups and entrepreneurs that are leveraging biomimicry in business to solve major environmental and sustainability challenges. This $100,000 Prize is awarded annually to the top nature-inspired startup, and applications are due December 4, 2020. MISSOULA, MT - OctoApplications are now open for the 2021 Ray of Hope Prize®, organized by the Biomimicry Institute in partnership with the Ray C.

Rays of hope 2019