Chivas opens applications for 6th $1m Venture competition

Chivas opens applications for sixth $1m Venture competition

The Chivas Venture 2020 applications are now accepting entries before 31^st October 2019.

The Chivas Venture which is on its 6^th year will give to the hottest social startups that blend profit and purpose to have a positive impact on the world a chance to win a share of $1M.

Organised by the Leading blended Scotch whisky, Chivas, the competition, which brings to life Chivas’ belief that blended is better – in life, business and Scotch – invites the brightest entrepreneurs who are using business to change the world for the better to compete for a chance to win training, funding and exposure on a global scale.

Thanks to the $5 million provided in funding to previous finalists, the Chivas Venture has positively impacted over two million lives to date.

Jean-Christophe Coutures, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, the parent company of Chivas, said:

“As we kick off the sixth year of the competition, it is incredibly uplifting to know that so many entrepreneurs across the world are continuing to use business to tackle a whole host of social and environmental issues that threaten our future on this planet. To date, Chivas Venture’s finalists have provided over 34 million liters of safe drinking water, recycled over 1,300 tonnes of waste and provided 75,000 days of education for women and girls – to mention just a handful of their many accomplishments. That’s why, through the Chivas Venture, we want to continue to harness the power of the world’s purpose-driven innovators, and help accelerate their impact.”

Ahead of the Chivas Venture 2020 Global Final, the winning finalist from each participating country will take part in an initial round of public voting for a share of the funding. The finalists will then battle it out at the Global Final for the remainder of the $1m fund.

At the Global Final in 2019, social startup Xilinat from Mexico was awarded the largest share of the fund, with founder Javier Larragoiti receiving $310,000 towards his business that aims to change the sugar industry as we know it. Larragoiti was awarded the funding by an esteemed judging panel including actress and entrepreneur Zoe Saldana, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard, Alexandre Ricard, economist Sonal Shah and global winner of the Chivas Venture 2018, Cemal Ezel, the founder of Change Please.

Chivas’ belief in blending – in life, business and Scotch – was instilled by founding brothers James and John Chivas, who pioneered the art of blending whiskey in 19th century Scotland, and shared their success with the local community as their business grew.

Today, the Chivas Venture plays a central role in Pernod Ricard’s 2030 Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap – an ambitious set of environmental and social targets supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and aligned to four key areas: nurturing terroir, valuing people, circular making and responsible hosting.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to change the world with your startup, apply for the Chivas Venture 2020 and find out more about why blending profit and purpose is better at www.chivas.com/the-venture.