ENSO | B Corp™’s Post

Last week was Oslo Innovation Week (OIW), perhaps the most dynamic week in our capital’s entrepreneurial world. The opening ceremony, this year held in the medieval castle grounds of Akershus Festning, was – as ever – full of energy and verve. Founders/entrepreneurs remain my favourite group of people – passionate, driven, idealistic (many are!) and full of can-do spirit. During OIW, this group of people gets to mingle with big hitters from politics, industry and finance. A big thanks to Tom Miskin for inviting me, and hats off to the formidable Lauga Oskarsdottir for expertly holding the reins on stage! It was great to meet some people for the first time, like Øystein E. Søreide and Geir Førre, and to see old colleagues, associates and friends again. A special shout-out to Bjarne Melbye, Daniel Caetanya Fossum, Daniel Döderlein, and Marcus Winnfors Ravik - always a pleasure to catch up with you! My 4 key takeaways from this week were: ·         The entrepreneurial ecosystem struck me as less empowered than before, and I do wonder if this is due to the anti-entrepreneurial policies currently enacted, such as exit tax on those who go abroad; wealth tax on unrealised gains (a disaster on founders’ personal budgets and a dampener on investors’ desire to invest), and other putative own goals that this post is too short to address.   ·         The dearth of available investment capital was probably the most repeated story I heard the whole week. ‘Everyone’ seems to be scrambling for funding. The investors I met last week must have felt besieged! But what stayed with me the most was the advice given by two nestors of entrepreneurship on stage on the first day (the witty repartee of Håkon Haugli could actually merit its own bullet point, but I’ll stick to business): ·         There is currently an unprecedented concentration of capital. We must all take our cues from the leaders of AI, and Ravi Belani shared some eye-opening things about what that means for whoever wants to prosper in this space.   ·         There is currently also a big knowledge gap between those who want to spread the use of AI and those who are supposed to use it. Despite the vast resources and ultra-heavy media coverage poured into AI over the last two years, this is still the case! That really hit home what an uphill road we have ahead of us with Quantum Technology (QT) awareness building!   I believe that QT will have such massive B2B impact that B2C relevance may not even emerge as a key driver. The differences in advantages between the “haves” and the “have nots”, industrially and societally, will be so huge, that “selling it” to mass market recipients may not be necessary. This could lead to a new level altogether in the seemingly never-ending arms race between the empowerment vs the disempowerment of ‘Joe Bloggs’. The latter is really not aware of this!

𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁? In March, the German Startupverband published its new "Green Startup Monitor" revealing both promising and challenging developments in the landscape of sustainable startups in Germany. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀: 👩💼 Green startups have a higher proportion of female founders, with 24% compared to only 17% in traditional companies. 🌱 Almost one-third of all startups in Germany are now successfully focusing on sustainability. 📊 There has been a notable improvement in how these companies measure their sustainability impact. Currently, 39% of green startups can substantiate their environmental impact with concrete data, up from 27% in the previous year. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀: 📉 Despite the positive trends, the proportion of green startups in Germany has slightly declined. This decrease points to underlying challenges in the market and financing environment that these startups face. 💰 There is a pressing need for improved funding and financing conditions for #Greentech startups. More private investment, especially from institutional investors, is required to bolster Germany's innovation strength. 🔬 The report also highlights the necessity for better conditions to maximize the economic and ecological benefits derived from research. The report is definitely sobering and shows that there is still a lot of work ahead to sustainably transform our companies and economy. With POHA House, we are already on the right path, but one company alone is not enough; we all need to pull together. What is your company doing in terms of #sustainability? 🤔 #transformation #femaleleadership #climatetech

This year, Naked Innovations has been proudly supporting a diverse array of impact events across Europe, from 4YFN to Alimentaria Barcelona, FOOD 4 FUTURE - EXPO FOODTECH, and our monthly #FutureFood sessions at Norrsken Barcelona. 🌟Save the date for May 30th: French Tech Barcelona and Norrsken are teaming up to host Impact Summit Barcelona.🌟Imagine a gathering of over 200 French and Spanish startups, visionary venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, tech experts, and accelerators, all under one roof at Norrsken... Our mission is clear: to spotlight startups that are pioneering change in the agri-food, energy, mobility, and industry sectors. Our very own Ryan Edwards will be taking the stage alongside industry leaders such as Sébastien Pellion from Glovo, Laura Roca from Wallbox Chargers, Wouter Draijer⚡ from SolarMente, Jose Moncada Durruti from Fondo Bolsa Social and many others! Together, we'll delve into the complexities of creating impactful business models within both scale-ups and established corporations. 🏆 Additionally, we'll be celebrating the most innovative startups with prestigious awards. Remember, the application deadline is just 10 days away, and it only takes 2 minutes to apply! Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. For more details on how to apply, check the comments below. #ImpactSummitBarcelona #NakedInnovations #Innovation

Of Course You Should Choose Denmark! Interesting talk here at TechBBQ on the lifescience stage about why startups should choose Denmark. Having been involved in the Copenhagen startup scene for several years now, my two kroner's worth is that Denmark, especially Copenhagen, is a fantastic environment for startups. There's an international focus, many great minds coming to Denmark bringing innovative ideas and helping Danish and international startups to grow and the startup scene here is vibrant with many co-working spaces where startups can collaborate and grow together. However, worker protection in Denmark needs to catch up with this growth, the boom/bust cycles can be punishing, especially for internationals who lack the safety net of Danish citizens. So if you're a startup, remember that you have a moral obligation to take care of your international workers, help them integrate and help them upskill. _______ Hi I'm Simon, I'm an Automation Specialist and CRM Consultant at deranged. Find out more about us here: https://lnkd.in/dRRiamdG

Last Wednesday we put 25 sustainable entrepreneurs across borders in the same (Zoom) room. What happened? Immediately: 👍 But the real - and measurable - sustainable effect of circular products and business models we will see at the Demo Day May30th in Berlin. So, please join! This week we kicked-off our second IBMS Program together with our partner, The Circularity Hub in Berlin. To build community across our own impact innovation ecosystem in Northern Europe, we also had the pleasure to involve DTU Skylab in Copenhagen [ thanks to Jonas Eliasson ] and MiXi Center in Helsinki [ thanks to Alisa Mick ] into the partnership. During 6 weeks we will support 10 Swiss/German/Danish/Finnish impact startups - with circular ambitions - to integrate a measurable impact into the product design process, business modeling and impact data model. Our founder and managing partner Richard Georg Engström started off with the IMPACT PLAN and PROBLEM & CHANGE session on Wednesday, for them to define the problem, when investigating root causes and describing the negative effects. This will lead to an overview of all the changes that needs to happen - because CHANGE is the guiding star in our Impact Business Modeling System™. Without a systemic view, and no understanding of the width and the depth of societal and environmental problems, how could you ever imagine a better world and plan what to do? Thanks a lot to The Circularity Hub and NEEW Ventures team for putting trust in our methodology and process - again, again... Marlen Heske, Craig Willmott, Florian Fehr, Philipp Boehm, Benjamin Giske & Co. We can't wait to arrive in Berlin Pankow Thursday May 30th and experience the sustainable achievements from all participants. #ImpactBusinessModelingSystem #impactstartups #impactinvesting

🚀 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴'𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗛𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀! 📈 Hamburg's innovation ecosystem is flourishing! A record-breaking 2,912 new companies launched in our city during the first half of 2024, showcasing Hamburg's dynamic environment for entrepreneurs and innovators. 🌟 The city pulses with a dynamic ecosystem, driven by high-quality academic institutions, creative hubs, and vibrant collaboration spaces. It’s where entrepreneurs and businesses unite, spark new ideas, innovate, and build valuable connections. Regular events and conferences provide more opportunities to expand your network. Our Startup City Hamburg platform is the perfect place to stay updated on Hamburg’s ever-evolving startup scene. Check out the platform at https://lnkd.in/eyV3GMvK 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗽 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗱 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘂𝗽𝘀: At the Scaleup Landing Pad Hamburg , we're part of this vibrant ecosystem, supporting international GreenTech scaleups entering the German market. Our mission? To accelerate the success of international cutting-edge scaleups in Germany through hands-on business support and venture client opportunities. 🌱 Are you an international GreenTech scaleup ready to tap into Hamburg's thriving innovation ecosystem? Let's discuss how we can support your international expansion into the German market and connect you with local corporations for pilot projects. Reach out today and let's drive sustainable innovation together! 🌿🚀 #GreenTechInnovation #HamburgStartups #SustainableFuture #ScaleupLandingPadHamburg #GreenTech #StartupCityhamburg

👉 Have a look at what our team at South3E - S3E has been reading over the summer! A great list for #innovators and #entrepreneurs! #Innovation #Acceleration #Incubation #Research #Sustainability

🌟 Let's Celebrate Innovation and Impact! 🌟 We are excited to support the amazing young businesses participating in the Belgium Impact Start-up Award this year. These start-ups are redefining the future across six inspiring categories. Here are some inspiring examples of the start-ups nominated: ♻️ Circular & Mobility: •⁠ ⁠Relieve Furniture: Transforming #office spaces with sustainable, second-hand furniture, empowering eco-conscious organizations at unbeatable prices. •⁠ ⁠Hooba: Providing a complete solution for shared #electric bikes and scooters, managed effortlessly through their mobile app. ⚡ Energy: •⁠ ⁠D-Carbonize: Leading the way with their #Carbontool, a user-friendly software that helps organizations measure and reduce their carbon footprint. 🌍 Environment: •⁠ ⁠Shayp: Utilizing AI to help organizations cut down on #water waste by identifying leaks and consumption issues in real-time. 🍽️ Food & Beverage: •⁠ ⁠Kazidomi: Your go-to #eshop for healthy, sustainable products at fair prices, curated by experts. •⁠ ⁠Happy Hours Market: Aiming to reduce food waste by #redistributing unsold supermarket products directly to food banks. 🧑🤝🧑 People & HR: •⁠ ⁠OrientaEuro: Designing comprehensive programs to facilitate socio-professional #integration and empower individuals. ❤️ Social & Not-for-Profit: •⁠ ⁠Impactoo: Inspiring societal change with a sustainable impact through #entrepreneurial initiatives. •⁠ ⁠BetterflyBox: Promoting urban #biodiversity with customizable biodiversity kits & insect hotels, complete with monitoring capabilities to track their environmental impact. 👏 Congratulations to all these start-ups for their hard work and vision! Let’s keep supporting them on their journey to making a lasting, positive impact. 🌱 Don't hesitate to vote, you have until tonight ! https://lnkd.in/gMQ4NaVA #BelgiumImpact #StartUpAward #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SocialImpact #SupportStartups

We’re really excited to share that we’ve been featured on the top 10 of Sifted 50: France Leaderboard 🇫🇷 This regional ranking showcases the 50 fastest-growing startups in France in 2024 based on revenue growth over the last three financial years. Great to see the efforts of the Greenly | Certified B Corp team recognised here! Glad to see the ecosystem evolving with fantastic companies featured in this leaderboard: 🚀 Some of my favorite startups like Swan, Stockly, Libeo, Zenride, Alma, Planity, Foodles, Weglot ou encore Yubo ! 🌱 About half of the 50 companies are reporting their emissions with Greenly, showing their engagement for a greener future. Impact companies are globally on the rise in this ranking! Check out the leaderboard: https://lnkd.in/eWrmv7EX #SiftedLeaderboards

Fresh Inset has been recognized as a Positive Impact Startup and has received the "Creators of Positive Technology 2024" award 🏆 standing alongside other incredible startups like Astroteq.ai, Biostra, Green Sequest, and Waterly. 📚 For the past six years, this report has been curated under the editorial guidance of Boleslaw Rok by the Kozminski Business Hub / Kozminski University. 🙏 A heartfelt thank you to the Jury - the Panel of Positive Characters - key opinion leaders who represent startups, social enterprises, and corporate ESG entities: Adrian Migoń, Agnieszka Oleksyn - Wajda, Anna Węgrzynowicz, Berenika Pel, Boleslaw Rok, Julia Koczanowicz-Chondzyńska, Justyna Markowicz (she/her), Mikolaj Szyc, Klementyna Sęga, Maciej Otrębski, Magda Andrejczuk, Michal Miszulowicz, Mirella Panek-Owsiańska (she/her), Monika Kulik, 🚀 Piotr Boulangé, Przemek Pohrybieniuk. Quoting Professor Rok: "The benefits of developing positive impact startups are increasingly recognized by corporate partners seeking radically innovative solutions to support ESG strategy, investors focused on maximizing positive impact, and consumers benefiting from products and services that enable essential changes in daily choices." 📖 Check the link to the "Positive Impact Startups 2024. Ecosystem of Change" report in the comments. 📰 Read more about the report and the award winners in today's issue of Rzeczpospolita #ESG #PositiveImpact #Award