GoumbookCompetition

$20,000 Regenerative Agriculture Venture Competition

Nov 15, 2026 23:59:00 GST

Opportunity type

Competition

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

Global

Deadline

Nov 15, 2026 23:59:00 GST

About this opportunity

Goumbook, a UAE social enterprise working on sustainability in the Middle East and North Africa since 2009, runs this venture programme with HSBC for scientists, researchers, students and early entrepreneurs working on regenerative agriculture. Participants take a research, science or nature-based solution to a MENA farming problem, such as soil health, water scarcity, salinity or desertification, and build it towards a fundable proof of concept. The top three finalists each win a $20,000 grant.

What you get:

One of three $20,000 grants for the top 3 finalists
Specialist training and mentorship from agriculture, investment and banking experts
Free access to online self-paced courses
Expert talks and workshops on innovation, regenerative agriculture and entrepreneurship
Access to potential funding and incubation, plus an online community platform
Regional exposure and networking across the programme

What you'll do:

Register, apply and complete self-paced courses
Join Bootcamp 1 and mentorship sessions if selected for the top 20, then submit a pitch deck
Join Bootcamp 2 and further mentorship if selected as one of 10 finalists
Pitch to investors and an expert jury at Demo Day, where the top 3 are awarded

Key dates:

Applications close 15 November 2026
Programme stages: applications, venture development (top 20), venture refinement and demo preparation (top 10), demo day and awards (top 3); dates for each stage are not published

More information:

Applicants register an account on the programme portal at regenerativeagriculture.goumbook.com
Questions go to regenagri@goumbook.com

Who can apply

Open to applicants worldwide, except residents of Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Syria, from which applications are not currently accepted
The solution must directly address food system challenges in the Middle East and North Africa, such as climate adaptation, soil health and desertification, carbon farming, biodiversity, food and water security, or farmer livelihoods
The solution must sit within regenerative agriculture and be grounded in research, science or nature-based innovation; process and technological innovations are both eligible
For researchers and innovators developing their work to proof-of-concept stage who want the business and entrepreneurship skills to scale and secure funding
No age limit is stated

AI Verification

✓ AI Verified

Our AI read the official sources and cross-checked the key facts. Here is what held up, and what it could not confirm.

We could not fully verify this organization or all of its details. Check it independently on the official website before you apply, and never share sensitive personal or financial information until you are sure a request is genuine.

LOT Verification ScoreSolid

Cross-checked 9 of 12 key facts

Confirmed Our best read Not stated

Good to know

+Run by Goumbook, a Gulf social enterprise, with HSBC as partner and ICARDA as scientific partner
+Third cohort, with past winners published
+Free to apply
+Everyone selected gets training, mentorship and online courses, not only the winners

Worth checking yourself

!Only the top 3 finalists receive cash ($20,000 each); everyone else gets training, mentorship and courses
!Applications not accepted from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Syria
!No dates published for bootcamps, demo day or grant disbursement
!Whether bootcamps and demo day are online or in person, and who pays any travel, is not stated
!No closing time is given, so submit before the end of 15 November in Gulf time (UTC+4)

Sources checked

GOgoumbook.comApplyREregenerativeagriculture.goumbook.comOfficialGOgoumbook.comApplyGOgoumbook.comApplyGOgoumbook.comApplyGOgoumbook.comApplyGOgoumbook.comApplyGOgoumbook.comApplyGOgoumbook.comApplyMEmediagoumbook.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.comOfficialMEmediagoumbook.s3.eu-north-1.amazonaws.comOfficial

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