From crisis to impact: Reflections from UNDP’s BOOST and Tadamon Accelerator programs 2020-2022

In the ever-evolving world of impact acceleration, we, the Innovation team at UNDP Europe and Central Asia and the architects of BOOST and Tadamon Acceleration programs, are taking a moment to reflect on the transformative journey of our program graduates. We’re excited to share key insights from our recent alumni survey which did not only help us evaluate the impact of our programs but also provide a nuanced understanding of the diverse landscape of our alumni and how we can continue to support this community in the months and years to come.  

From crisis response to a flexible and scalable model for impact venture support 

Born in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our flagship programs, BOOST and Tadamon, were conceived with a clear mission: to identify, support and scale innovations that can help address the complex challenges standing between us and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Since then, we have designed and implemented six BOOST programs in Europe and Central and one Tadamon program in 28 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. This collective effort has provided crucial support to nearly 200 startups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), social enterprises, and non-profits. Moreover, we have allocated a substantial USD 1,175,000 in grants to further develop and help scale the innovative and high-impact solutions developed by our participants. What started as a swift response to the emerging needs during the pandemic, has evolved into a flexible and scalable model for impact venture support.  

Insights about our BOOST & Tadamon graduates  

The BOOST and Tadamon alumni network is a melting pot of diversity, representing businesses and non-profits across various countries and sectors, with ideas at different developmental stages. Our strong commitment to supporting women-led organizations has notably contributed to an alumni network with a significant representation of women.

Our program graduates are actively progressing and growing. A significant number of the surveyed participants have not only secured funding and investments but have also expanded their teams and are venturing into new markets.  

What unites our alumni is a shared commitment to impact. Alumni organizations are not just participants; they are innovators and changemakers. Their commitment to addressing development challenges is evident in their alignment with various SDGs. 

What’s next? 

Building on the survey findings and in-debt interviews with our alumni, we are currently drafting a strategic roadmap for the next phase of our alumni network. This is what we are working on right now:  

• Alumni Networking Events: We aim to offer regular online and offline networking events, enabling alumni to connect, share experiences, and foster meaningful connections. The sessions will be practical and engage our alumni as speakers and sources of inspiration.  
• Continued Training and Mentorship: We are committed to providing post acceleration learning and mentorship opportunities tailored to alumni requests and needs. Leveraging UNDP’s large network of experts and partners, we want to develop an online repository of resources and establish a mentorship program connecting alumni with experienced entrepreneurs and sector experts. 

• Expand Funding and Financing Opportunities: In collaboration with other UNDP impact venture initiatives, we are exploring new partnerships with global, regional, and local investors and corporations. Our goal is to facilitate matchmaking between investors and innovators e.g. through regular pitch events, making sure that funding and financing is channeled towards high-impact solutions.  

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Join us in supporting a community of changemakers reimagining our future through innovation! 

We are looking to join forces and exchange ideas and approaches with other people in UNDP and beyond looking to drive impact through innovation and entrepreneurship. We want to hear from you if you are interested in: 

• Supporting BOOST or Tadamon participants and alumni with one-on-one mentorship and advice on scaling their businesses and non-profit organizations. 
• Co-designing and/or participating in alumni network training sessions, knowledge exchanges and pitch events.  
• Wishing to directly collaborate with alumni organizations to scale their high-impact innovations into new markets 

To learn more about BOOST and Tadamon accelerators or to get involved in shaping or supporting our alumni community, visit www.boosimpact.org and www.tadamon.community/accelerator or reach out directly to: 

• Louise Skärvall, BOOST Accelerator Lead, louise.skarvall@undp.org 
• Teodor Petricevic, Tadamon Accelerator Lead teodor.petricevic@undp.org