Truck manufacturer MAN, together with the Yunus Social Business Initiative, is supporting social startups in the transportation sector with an accelerator program. Applications are open until October 1.
The Munich-based MAN Group is committed to supporting social startups with new ideas for transportation against the backdrop of global urbanization and population growth. The program, in collaboration with the Yunus Social Business Initiative, aims to support startups in developing their ideas into economically viable ventures. MAN employees support the startups within a mentoring network. The truck manufacturer also connects the participating startups with each other. Startups from Europe, India, and South Africa can apply on the website until October 1, 2017. impact.man.eu apply for the six-month program.
The program focuses in particular on transport solutions for growing urban centers in emerging markets. A MAN press release states:
"According to current estimates, between nine and eleven billion people will live in cities by 2050. Over 90 percent of the projected urban growth will take place in today's developing and emerging countries. [...] With a view to equal opportunities, it is therefore necessary to fundamentally rethink existing systems, develop new approaches, and further develop them to meet specific needs."
MAN Works Council and Executive Board support the project
The company says it hopes the program will help employees learn about new forms of collaboration and develop new ways of working.
"We are convinced that the concept of social startups is the right way to effectively improve the lives of many poorer people. The core of this is to support clever social business ideas so that they become economically viable and generate profits. These profits flow 100 percent back into the startup. MAN's goal is to accompany partner startups to this point and thus promote socially sustainable projects in the transportation sector."
Chairman of the Board of Management Joachim Drees explains the idea behind the commitment. General Works Council Chairman Saki Stimoniaris says:
"We MAN employees support the company's social commitment to the best of our ability – whether locally, nationwide, or internationally. We are confident that many exciting ideas will be implemented this way."
The ten best submissions will be awarded prizes at a Selection Day in Munich. The accelerator program will then launch in January 2018.
Here you can find all the information about the application.
