Currimjee Group Awards Rs 1 Million to Startups Solving National Waste Challenges

The Currimjee Group’s accelerator arm, Trampoline, has officially launched JumpStart, a major new initiative designed to drive local innovation and address critical environmental challenges in Mauritius.

Announced on Thursday, 22 January, at the Nénuphar in Curepipe, the programme’s first edition focuses on the circular economy, specifically targeting electronic waste (e-waste) and plastic waste management.

In a significant boost for the local startup ecosystem, each selected project will receive funding of MUR 1,000,000.

Collaborative Innovation

The programme aims to de-risk entrepreneurship by fostering direct collaboration between startups and established corporate giants.

For this inaugural edition, Trampoline has partnered with Emtel and Quality Beverages Ltd (QBL) to integrate innovative solutions directly into their operations.

JumpStart is open to innovators and startups based in Mauritius and the wider region. Applicants are invited to propose concrete solutions across several key areas:

• Circular Business Models: New ways to design out waste.
• Material Innovation: Solutions related to resources and sustainable materials.
• Digital Tools: Data-driven platforms to improve traceability and decision-making.
• Community Engagement: Approaches to make waste management more accessible and efficient.

A Structured Path to Market

The programme follows a rigorous, multi-stage process to ensure local solutions can scale effectively.

Following the initial selection of startups, chosen participants will enter a six-month pilot phase where their solutions are tested within the partner companies’ environments.

If the pilots prove successful, the corporate partners may become the startups’ first clients, providing a launchpad for further expansion into broader markets.

Driving National Change

Speaking at the launch, Arif Currimjee, Chairman of Trampoline, highlighted the programme’s ambition to foster local responses to major environmental and economic issues.

By bridging the gap between innovators and large enterprises, JumpStart seeks to create a more resilient and sustainable Mauritian economy.

Source: Defi Media