Few days ago I joined Tech for Impact Awards 2019. It was great opportunity to connect with the impact entrepreneurs, celebrate leading European tech initiatives for impact and listen to the inspiring speeches of the selected finalists.
The event was introduced by Prof. Mariana Christen Jakob, CEO & Founder of SEIF. SEIF supports and promotes individuals or teams seeking to apply innovative business ideas to respond to current social and/or environmental problems, otherwise known as “social enterprises”.
Out of 337 applications from startups tackling tech for good issues, there were 10 founders selected for the final pitch competition.
Before announcing the winners in 3 categories (listed below), Nir Shimony, CEO & Co-Founder of TechForGood shared his experience and thoughts about the Startup Nation in Israel. Israel is one of the fastest growing startup market with great infrastructure and available capital from angel investors as well as from institutional entities.
The SEIF Awards 2019 target entrepreneurs in Europe who develop or make innovative use of technologies to tackle social and/or environmental challenges and contribute to the UN sustainable development goals. Each Award grants the winners a prize money of CHF 10’000. Together with partners UBS and PwC SEIF provide finalists a unique opportunity to increase their international awareness, gain reputation and present themselves to a top-class jury. In addition, the finalists may enjoy an exclusive coaching package as well as the opportunity to pitch in front of global impact investors.
Award Categories 2019
SEIF Award for Scalable Solution – supported by SEIF
Winner: Provement has created an innovative and effective digital treatment platform for Child Obesity.
SEIF Award for Responsible Business – supported by PwC
Winner: Bloom Biorenewables has developed a ground-breaking solution for the production of sustainable and cost-competitive bio-based materials for the chemical industry.
SEIF Award for Social Innovation – supported by UBS
Winner: FenX transforms mineral waste into high performance insulation panels for the building industry.
If you would like to get to know all the finalists, below you can find short info and the link to their websites.
Agrishelter (IT)
Agrishelter is a quality, energy efficient transitional home for emergency situations. It is built by natural materials and local resources.
Bloom Biorenewables (CH)
Sustainable and cost-competitive chemicals production from biomass.
FenX (CH)
Transform mineral waste into high performance insulation panels for the building industry.
Field Buzz (DE)
Smartphone software for the “last mile” in emerging markets, tracking operations with smallholder farmers, small shops and low income households.
MeduSoil (CH)
Medusoil applies the world’s first ground bio-stabilization technology to mainstream construction problems.
MPower Ventures (CH)
eMPowering households and SMEs in emerging countries with affordable solar energy, via a highly scalable B2B approach.
Planted (CH)
Planted creates tasty ‘meat’ directly from plants – and skips the animal.
Provement (SE)
Innovative and effective digital treatment platform for Child Obesity.
SatSure AG (CH)
SatSure provides Spatial Decision Intelligence for Insurers/Banks, Governments & NGOs to improve the Financial Inclusion of Farmers in Emerging Markets.
SwissProsthetics (CH)
SwissProsthetics provides robust, affordable and modular hands for adults and children in need.
