Open Call: UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund

To truly solve the challenges facing the Arctic, and thus the world, UArctic is committed to enhancing human capacity in the North and promoting viable communities and sustainable economies. The UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund is an initiative that complements other existing prize funds with a seed-fund program, providing training and mentorship, and encouraging innovation and solutions on a local level.

The program is managed and run by the UArctic Thematic Network on Managing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the North, with UiT the Arctic University of Norway as the host. Through collaboration with other Thematic Networks, the fund also leverages UArctic’s breadth of expertise and knowledge in its activities.

Goals

• Accelerate high-potential incubator-stage products and services aiming to benefit the Arctic environment and/or Arctic communities. Benefit in this context can be described as being greatly diverse; from having a positive impact on the environment, e.g. pollution reduction, or a product that can increase internet connectivity in the Arctic etc.
• Increase engagement from aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators toward Arctic issues.
• Support and encourage ideas of aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs.
• Support and foster a bridge between UArctic’s wealth of academic knowledge and recipients of the UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund.
• Reward creativity and risk-taking by supporting a broad selection criteria that is not solely return-on-investment focused.

Funding Information

• Expected grant disbursement amounts are in the range of $2,000 to $5,000 USD, though exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Eligibility Criteria

• Individual with an incubator-stage product or service that aims to benefit the Arctic environment or Arctic communities and has a positive, demonstrable impact on the Arctic.
• They especially encourage applications from Arctic Indigenous and/or northern-based entrepreneurs.

For more information, visit UArctic.