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The Shinju call for projects closes on 16 August 2026.
This call currently covers France and Belgium.
It is open only to (future) start-ups identified through specific channels: in France via the AgroParisTech network and its partners; and in Belgium via various services dedicated to university spin-offs and various start-up incubators.
Philosophy
The Shinju call for projects is aimed at young entrepreneurs developing sustainable and innovative start-ups (pre-seed and seed stage) that are committed to maximising environmental benefits across the board in the fields of food, agriculture and forestry, including biotechnologies serving these three sectors.
The Shinju initiative is characterised, in its philanthropic dimension, by the following elements: a primary focus on environmental impact from a comprehensive, 360° perspective; a high level of risk and a risk-adjusted return at a reasonable level; the altruistic nature of donors’ contributions to the Shinju Fund for Future Generations; and the full reinvestment of repayments (including interest and philanthropic contributions) into the Fund’s objectives.
Calendar
- Launch of the call for projects : 26 May 2026
- Application deadline : 16 August 2026, midnight
- Announcement of candidates invited to present their project to the jury, based on the jury’s assessment: end of September
- Pitch to the jury in Paris: 2 October 2026 in Paris
- Future Generations Summit (mandatory attendance): 3 December 2026. Showcasing of the Foundation’s laureates.
Application form & rules
Eligibility criteria
Applications are assessed for eligibility by the Foundation for Future Generations and AgroParistech. Only applications that meet these criteria will be forwarded to the selection panel for evaluation.
The applicant initiative aims to achieve one or more positive impacts, explicitly defined, on the environment, whilst taking into account the aspects of sustainable development (as highlighted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) that are relevant to its activities.
The applicant initiative is primarily active in one or more of the thematic areas within the life sciences and environment sector: relating to food (human or animal), agriculture (and livestock farming), forestry, biotechnology linked to these issues, and certain interactions between health and the aforementioned themes (excluding the strictly medical field: medicine, pharmacy, etc.).
The applicant initiative must be a legal entity, legally incorporated by the time of the jury meeting at the latest, which is developing a business model that is potentially profitable or self-sustaining in the long term.
The applicant initiative is led by one or more founders who are committed to taking a primary role (rather than treating it as a ‘side project’) in its management.
Through this call for projects, the applicant is seeking subordinated loan funding of up to €50,000 which, if granted, would contribute a minimum of 5% and a maximum of 50% of the total funding sought for this stage of its development.
The applicant initiative is a young legal entity in the ‘early stage’ of its start-up phase, established less than 3 years ago, whose development is at the pre-seed or seed stage, i.e.:
- Either the phase of validating the project’s fundamentals (i.e. funding for technological and product development) in order to move from prototype/POC to Minimum Viable Product, enabling the company to reach an initial customer base to demonstrate ‘product-market fit’;
- Or, once the first users have adopted the product or service, the initial growth phase (or even a pivot) to explore the market, generate traction and prove the business model, requiring the first major investments (production, recruitment, communication, etc.)
In terms of technological maturity, the project will therefore be at least at TRL 3–5, i.e. at a validated prototype stage or currently undergoing validation at laboratory or pilot scale.
The applicant initiative is registered in France or Belgium, or will be registered by the date of the jury meeting at the latest.
Selection criteria
Applications that meet the eligibility criteria set out below are forwarded to the selection panel for assessment based on a set of selection criteria.
This call for projects aims to contribute to an environmental transition towards sustainable agricultural, food and forestry systems.
The candidate initiative has a clear ambition to set an environmental example, with a view to overall sustainability (a ‘360°’ approach).
- Environmental exemplarity: a priority, as the preservation of present and future ecosystems is a fundamental cornerstone for all human activity, social justice and economic prosperity.
- 360° approach: the initiative aims to take into account the main societal dimensions significantly impacted by its actions (positively or negatively). A global framework, such as the 4 Ps or the SDGs, can facilitate the identification of the societal dimensions deemed relevant.
The applicant initiative specifies how it intends to implement its objectives for positive and measurable impact: translating its impact into operational objectives (possibly SMART), appropriate management…
The applicant initiative contributes to addressing an emerging, neglected or under-addressed issue that is relevant to the themes of the call for applications and its impact criteria.
The applicant initiative must specify how the funding requested under this call for applications (in the form of a subordinated loan, on the specified terms) makes a difference.
The applicant initiative contributes to, or plans to contribute to, other levers for change – in addition to its priority lever, which is bringing its impact products or services to market – in order to accelerate its impact or improve the societal context in which it operates.
By demonstrating innovation in the broadest sense, the applicant initiative creates innovative knowledge, services or products that directly or indirectly benefit the greatest number of people.
These innovations may be technological (low tech or high tech, and with or without a patent), organisational (internal governance, partnerships), or economic. As such, they may touch upon all or part of the elements of a (Sustainable) Business Model Canvas ().
The initiative stands out from the competition through its Unique Selling Proposition.
The applicant initiative has an operational team, strategic bodies and a robust governance structure, capable of addressing the impact, financial and technical challenges involved in bringing its business model to fruition.
The applicant initiative demonstrates the relevance, soundness and quality of its business plan and strategy.
Funding and benefits
The 3 to 4 selected start-ups will receive:
- seed capital in the form of a subordinated loan of up to €50,000.
- the opportunity to refine their projects based on constructive feedback from a jury of experts from various sectors.
- visibility and access to a vast network of impact-focused organisations and individuals.
Every year in December, the laureates are showcased at our event: the Future Generations Summit.
A subordinated loan is a form of credit in which the lender takes on the highest level of risk: they are the last to be repaid. Banks regard this type of loan as quasi-equity, which helps them to provide financing. This type of financing allows founders to focus on developing their project without worrying about dilution from the outset.
The loan carries zero interest for the first 18 months. From the 19th month onwards, for a period of four years, an annual rate corresponding to the 12-month average interbank rate, reviewed annually and increased by 4%, is applied. From the 67th month onwards, the mark-up increases from 4% to 9%. Interest is paid annually.
For start-ups that achieve significant success, a solidarity-based mechanism for additional philanthropic contributions is provided for.
The underlying objective of the Shinju Fund’s financing mechanism is not to generate a profit for its funders, but to ensure the long-term sustainability of its activities so as to benefit as many impact start-ups as possible. Repayments and any additional philanthropic contributions are reinvested in full to support new start-ups in subsequent rounds.
Examples of laureates
Shinju’s support represents a key milestone in our development: it will enable us to enhance our product from a technical standpoint, refine our marketing strategy and increase our visibility.
Thanks to this support, we can lay the foundations for a scalable model, professionalise our sales approach and accelerate the roll-out of our distribution channels within businesses.
Thibaut Sonnet
co-founder KIWO, Shinju 2025 laureate
Contact
- For Belgium :
Caroline Reff, Project Manager ‘Entreprendre pour les Générations Futures’
shinju@futuregenerations.be
+32 498 54 16 09 - For France :
Grégoire Burgé, Deputy Director of Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer, responsible for Innovation at AgroParisTech
gregoire.burge@agroparistech.fr
Team in charge
Contact details: shinju@futuregenerations.be
- Zoë Linardos, Head of Operations
- Caroline Reff, Project Manager « Entreprendre pour les générations Futures »
- Célia Verstrepen, Project Manager « Entreprendre pour les générations Futures »
Support & Partner
