Business incubators for biodiversity

The BioStartUp programme in Peru, implemented by GIZ through PerúBioInnova, provides an incubator and a 'navigator' tool to support start-ups utilizing biodiversity for nutrition and cosmetics. The initiative helps entrepreneurs overcome legal and market barriers, resulting in improved business models for seven start-ups and the establishment of the USIL Ventures incubator.

• PerúBioInnova established the BioStartUp incubator programme to support biodiversity-based start-ups that create positive social and environmental impacts. The programme was a joint initiative of the Swiss Cooperation SECO and the German Cooperation in Peru, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the ProAmbiente programme.
• Entrepreneurs utilizing Peru's biodiversity face several obstacles, including legal difficulties regarding patent rights and access to genetic resources, obtaining permits for sustainable forest management, integrating indigenous or local communities into value chains, and securing sustainable packaging or market access.
• During a 2016 eight-month period, selected start-ups focused on Amazonian fruits or plants for cosmetic or nutritional use received personal mentoring and technical training in areas such as biotrade, design thinking, benefit sharing, and traditional community knowledge.
• The BioStartUp initiative resulted in seven start-ups improving their business models and products for local and export markets. Additionally, two of these businesses won the 'Reto Biodiversidad' competition, and the University San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL) launched 'USIL Ventures', an incubator financed by the Ministry of Production that has implemented further rounds of BioStartUp, including a focus on the Andes region.
• To enable the up-scaling and replication of the programme, a 'navigator' was created. This tool, which was endorsed by the Peruvian Ministry of Environment and Production, provides an overview of incubation phases, technical topics, and various tools and instruments developed during the BioStartUp process.

APA

GIZ (2019). Business incubators for biodiversity. Green Economy Coalition. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/business-incubators-for-biodiversity

Chicago

GIZ. Business incubators for biodiversity. Green Economy Coalition, 2019. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/business-incubators-for-biodiversity.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=GIZ |title=Business incubators for biodiversity |publisher=Green Economy Coalition |date=25 March 2019 |url=https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/business-incubators-for-biodiversity |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{giz2019business, author = {GIZ}, title = {{Business incubators for biodiversity}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/business-incubators-for-biodiversity}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }