
UNLEASH Amazon: A Week of Innovation in the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest
The UNLEASH Amazon Innovation Lab brought together over a hundred young changemakers to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges faced by communities in the Amazon region. Focused on the themes of Environmental Protection and Accountability and Sustainable Economic Development and Bioeconomy, participants embarked on an inspiring journey of co-creation, guided by the principles of human-centered design.
This Innovation Lab has been a first in many ways: it is the first UNLEASH Innovation Lab in the Americas; the first one to be in a language other than English; the first one where the vast majority of participants identify themselves as Indigenous or part of Traditional Communities; the first one that is co-created end-to-end with the UNLEASH Community and the innovation ecosystem of the region; and the first one to contemplate participatory voting to choose the winning teams, and many other decisions that took place throughout the week, always letting participants decide how to move forward.
The week began with an energetic Opening Ceremony at the historic Palacete Provincial in Manaus, where Talents got inspired by prominent figures of the innovation and cultural ecosystem of the region, including Débora Holanda from SECTI (Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation of the Government of Amazonas); Denis Minev, CEO of Bemol; Izabel Cristine Munduruku, a young Indigenous Activist; and Michelle Guimarães, Chief Governance Officer at Navegam and UNLEASH Alumni, amongst others.

Talents sharing their talent
Throughout the week, participants worked intensively to ideate, prototype, and reframe solutions in teams, but not everything was about learning new innovation skills. They also had some fun while getting to know each other in a speed socializing game, an impromptu tour around Manaus, and even a Talent Show where a few brave participants shared their talent outside of UNLEASH, showcasing their creativity and culture to the rest. We also left our sticky notes behind to visit MUSA, the Museum of the Amazonas, where we learnt about the biodiversity of the Amazon biome and the crucial role it plays for the region and the world.
At the end of the program, Talents voted for the eight teams who would make it to the Pitching Finals. The approach aimed to have everyone have a direct say in recognizing the most impactful ideas, fostering a sense of ownership and collective celebration of success, while acknowledging that their own experiences in their communities are a valuable source of judgement to assess the viability of a solution.
A nursery for manioc, a cultural exchange for Riverside youth, and a training program in the fashion industry, the winners of UNLEASH Amazon
This participatory voting process was also used to select the winning team of the People’s Choice Award, while the panel of Judges, including Denis Minev (CEO of Bemol), Ashley Valle (Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at Chemonics International), and Marcus Bessa (Co-Founder of Impact Hub Manaus) chose the winner of each SDG Track. Our partner BEMOL provided financial grants for the winning teams to implement their solution:
- People’s Choice Award (20.000 BRL): RORRAM, a team that designed a nursery to prevent the extinction of manioc species in Roraima, tackling food insecurity and malnutrition in the region by focusing on the exchange of ancestral knowledge.
- Environmental Protection and Accountability Winner (15.000 BRL): TURIMPACTO, for addressing the rural exodus of youth in Riverside communities by offering a cultural exchange with tourists while training young locals and preserving their way of life.
- Sustainable Economic Development and Bioeconomy Winner (15.000 BRL): KUNAY MODA COM PROPÓSITO, a training program that supports Indigenous and Traditional Amazonian youth to break stereotypes in the fashion industry, promoting appropriate cultural representation.

The week ended on a high note with a Closing Ceremony that reflected on the journey participants had undergone, while sharing lots of opportunities to continue their path to impact. We were honored with the presence of Vanda Witoto, an Indigenous leader and political activist, founder of the Witoto Institute, who emphasized the need for Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities to be part of creating a sustainable future for their land.
UNLEASH Amazon wouldn’t have been possible without the invaluable support of our partners: Chemonics International, Global Commons Alliance, Amazon Investors Coalition, UEA, Bemol, Certi, Impact Hub Manaus, Sebrae, Government of Amazonas, Land Innovation Fund, and Venture Hub.