We are looking for the next cohort of bold, early-stage impact ventures tackling the twin crises of forest and biodiversity loss. If you are building a scalable solution that puts forests or biodiversity at its core, this is your chance to join a program designed to help you grow with coaching, a global network, and a chance at early investment.

So, what does it take to be selected in our cohort?

We sat down with Camille Accolas, who has been behind the scenes of the Brainforest Venture Program since its early days.  She shares what we are really looking for in applications and how you can stand out.

Camille, Brainforest just opened applications to Cohort 6 and is looking for the next groundbreaking nature-based solutions. How does the process internally work at Brainforest with the applications?

We follow a simple 4 step process which goes as follows. First, we review every application carefully and look at how it aligns with our focus areas. We make a first shortlist of (around 30 teams) teams we want to see for a short interview. From there, we make our second short list (around 15 teams) and share that with our expert committee. Their advice will lead us to our finalists, usually between 5-10 teams who we then reach out to for the onboarding process.

This year’s focus areas are quite specific. How strictly should applicants align with them?

We are looking for ventures that clearly fall within the scope of one or more of our focus areas:

- AI & Data for Nature Intelligence
- Regenerative Agriculture & Soil Health
- Monetizing Biodiversity
- Deep-Tech for Ecosystem Restoration

If you are unsure what we mean, you can find more information on each topic in our selection process article.

What kind of ventures are not a fit for the program, even if they are doing something good for the planet?

We look for teams that combine real-world impact with a clear business model. If your work is purely project-based or lacks a scalable path, it is likely not the right fit for this program.

How much traction or validation does a team need to show? Is a pilot, a customer, or even strong research enough?

We look for teams that show strong validation for their idea in the real world. This could mean having early customer traction or, at the very least, a working MVP and a clear pipeline of potential partners or customers you are already speaking with to test or pilot your solution.

What does a strong application deck look like to you? What are the key elements you expect to see?

Share your vision with us! We want to hear about the problem you are solving, how big it is, how you plan to solve it, where you are headed, who you are building with, and who you are building for. Keep it clear and concise. You will have plenty of space in the application form to share more details about your business.

What are the most common mistakes or red flags you see in applications that lead to rejections?

The biggest red flags are when there is no clear path to scale, no committed team, or when impact feels like an afterthought rather than the core vision. Unprofessional or incomplete applications, unclear value propositions, and missing differentiators also make it hard for us to move forward with a team.

Looking back, what did the most successful applicants have in common?

They had a committed team, positive traction signs, a comprehensible business model, and a very clear impact vision with contributions to nature restoration or conservation.

Thank you Camille!

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Feedback from earlier cohorts:

“We received almost 24/7 help, access to excellent networks and experts in the field, improved almost everything of the company during the program, and got inspired by other founders.”
— Lisa Theman, Co-founder and CEO at Lensor.io (Cohort 4)

“Every step counts and with Brainforest we were able to focus on our first step for now, and simplify our concept.”
— Thea Gherdan, Co-founder at Proon-Tech (Cohort 4)

“Brainforest’s Venture Program is an incredible opportunity for businesses focused on nature-based solutions. It was one of the most hands-on programs we have participated in, with outstanding support.”
— Fernando de Lucca, Co-founder at Ceres Seeding (Cohort 4)

“It is incredibly hands-on and targeted. You are not just going through a generic accelerator. You are getting strategic, practical support from people who care deeply about scaling regenerative solutions the right way.”
— Marie-Louise Wiegert, Co-founder at OnlyPlants Food (Cohort 5)