Grow AI 2025: Another accelerator of learning, community & impact

Over six months, the Grow AI Accelerator convened a bold, diverse and deeply committed group of impact organisations, mentors, trainers and partners united by the belief that AI done right can improve lives. 

Aligned with INCO Entrepreneurs’ mission to promote sustainable, inclusive innovation, Social Tides has strengthened Europe’s social-innovation ecosystem: over the past three years, it has supported more than 360 impact entrepreneurs across 13 targeted incubation and acceleration programs, tackling barriers to funding, skills, visibility and networks so innovators can scale solutions for lasting change.

In this post, we share what Grow AI set out to achieve and how our program translated into growth, social and environmental impact, stronger teams and deeper ecosystem connections. These reflections offer practical insights into program design, community-building, and impact support that may inspire incubators, funders, policymakers and community partners in their own work.

What was the Grow AI accelerator aiming for

Grow AI is a 6‑month, equity‑free accelerator for social enterprises and impact organisations using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In two years, the program equipped 28 selected organisations with support in areas such as business strategy, technology, impact measurement, ethical AI, as well as development, marketing, visibility and resilience.

Our approach: Human-Centred Growth for Impact

The curriculum was built holistically around five pillars with the entrepreneurs at the centre; it combines core business support with leadership and team development, based on the belief that sustainable growth requires all elements of a venture to evolve together. Key themes included:

• Business growth & strategy: business planning, tools, marketing & sales strategy, scaling, growth metrics.

• Impact management & measurement: not just “doing good” but having clarity on what “good” means, measuring it, and understanding environmental and social return.

• Technology, AI & ethics: building with machine learning, technical infrastructure, compliance, regulatory frameworks, ethical and responsible AI.

• Communication, visibility & brand: positioning, pitching, branding, investor decks, storytelling, so that teams’ work reaches more people and builds stronger trust.

• Sustainability & organisational health: leadership, team management, work‑life balance, inclusive and diverse cultures. These softer, harder topics are often the ones that determine whether the impact is lasting.

Workshops, expert business and technical mentoring, peer learning, guest lectures, and accountability groups: these were the formats that allowed theory to become practice. Each organisation tailored much of what they learned to their own context.

Our community is our catalyst

An accelerator is only as strong as its people. Each program is embedded in intentional community-building efforts, fostering meaningful human connection as a foundation for growth. We support impact-driven ventures by cultivating strong communities of founders, trainers, mentors, and ecosystem players and by strengthening ecosystem connections. Grow AI’s core has been this community:

• Founders & Teams: The 15 organisations in this cohort came from across Europe and tackled a broad range of social and environmental challenges - from education and inclusion to climate solutions, accessibility, and health. Their courage, curiosity, adaptability, and commitment to their missions made this more than a program. Their questions pushed trainers and mentors to go deeper. To learn more about our entrepreneurs, visit this page. 

  
  

• Mentors & Trainers: Experts from business development, ethics, branding, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; people who have been in the trenches. Their willingness to share not only what worked but what failed made the learning honest and grounded. Meet our mentors and trainers by clicking the links.

  
  

• Ecosystem organisations: Not only our key supporters, INCO Entrepreneurs, Share It, and Google.org, but also a wider network of organisations that contributed to our outreach and amplified what each entrepreneurial team could achieve.

What we’re proud of: our impact

As we close this cohort, we are proud to see tangible results. Many of the cohort’s solutions have moved beyond promises into real prototypes, pilots, and traction. Teams have already grown in confidence, reporting greater ability to tell their story, pitch for support, plan financially, and manage their organisations. Engagement in the ethical and responsible AI courses was especially strong, with participants asking difficult questions, assuring fairness, and thinking through regulatory and environmental implications. Perhaps most importantly, solid and lasting relationships were formed: mentor-mentee and peer-to-peer bonds that people highlight most when they reflect on their journey. One of the special things Grow AI delivered was the sense that no one was alone. In peer learning sessions and accountability groups, entrepreneurs exchanged ideas, insights, frustrations, and encouragement. Many found in each other long‑term collaborators, sounding boards, and even friends. 

Read more about our impact and stay updated with our impact stories.

Linking back to our Theory of Change

Grow AI isn’t just a standalone program. It is one expression of the Social Tides Theory of Change, which guides the development of all our programs.

At the impact level, our vision is clear:

• Entrepreneurs are upskilled and empowered to take agency in entrepreneurial activities and create responsible, ethical AI for Good solutions.

• Impact organisations deliver scalable, innovative AI for Good with measurable social and environmental outcomes, while harnessing AI to create social value and generate employment.

• The broader ecosystem becomes more inclusive, transparent, and collaborative, driving AI innovations that tackle real‑world challenges and contribute to long‑term, sustainable value creation.

We get there working on:

• Outcomes on an individual and organisational level, from stronger impact management to greater visibility and from improved access to funding to building a resilient support system for each founder, were echoed in the reflections we heard during the wrap‑up session.

• Outputs like peer sessions, networking, and a thriving alumni community were visible throughout the program, reinforcing that entrepreneurs don’t walk this path alone.

• Inputs and activities like mentoring, training, grants, and ecosystem building directly shaped the learning journey for our cohort.

Our Theory of Change is based on a systems-thinking approach when it comes to impact, carefully differentiating the change we can influence at individual, organisational and ecosystem levels. We believe that long-term change is complex and requires acknowledging these multiple layers, so we can value the nuances and interrelations between them. Grow AI has brought that theory to life. The entrepreneurs, mentors, trainers, and partner organisations together formed a real-life support system, one that empowers innovators not only to grow their ventures but also to amplify the transformative potential of AI for social good.

Reflections & what’s next

No journey is perfect. Some of the common challenges included balancing the pace of learning with the urgency of growing; dealing with diverse contexts and different countries; and making sure that the technology work stays aligned to real human needs and is developed ethically.

Looking ahead:

• We want to continue to support our alumni through visibility, connection and learning opportunities.

• Keep sharpening the program in topics we heard were especially valuable and in areas where teams felt stretched.

• Further strengthening the network so that knowledge and resource exchange among alumni happens more organically.

In conclusion

Grow AI 2025 has been about more than an acceleration program; it has been a real‑life support system for founders to thrive. It’s been about building a community where entrepreneurs, mentors, trainers, and partner organisations pull together, not just to solve societal issues, but to walk alongside each other in doing so.

To everyone who participated: you dared, you learned, you built, you connected. You are changing the world. We can’t wait to see how much further you go.

We will continue to share the stories of the people who we believe can change the world. For more stories: sign up for our newsletter and follow our blog.