The top eight submissions have now pitched their innovations to the jury of experts. The winners will be presented on November 11th, at the final event at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26.
Until then, you can explore our eight finalists in the full list below.
The Shortlist.
ClimateHero
Helps you go carbon neutral in three steps.
ClimateHero is a climate calculator that helps consumers reduce their climate footprint by calculating footprints from current lifestyles, setting goals for behavior change and coaching towards new, climate-better habits.
Cling Systems
Launching the world's first online mine.
Cling Systems create circular systems for the recycling of batteries thus reducing the need for the destructive mining of metals. A market platform in the form of a “digital mine” connects manufacturers, workshops, dismantlers and re-manufacturers and allow them to trade in recycled batteries with full traceability throughout the life cycle.
Ekolution
From seed to home.
Ekolution manufacture and sell bio-based, energy-efficient houses and building materials. Since the raw materials consist mainly of hemp, the walls, floors and roofs of the buildings capture more CO₂e than they emit during their life cycle.
Exeri
Transforms the eletric grids of today into the smart grids of tomorrow.
Exeri have created an AI platform that minimizes power outages by providing advance information for preventive maintenance of the electricity grid. The solution can also quickly identify damage to the grid after storms and other disturbances. Access to the right information reduces grid downtime and the use of fossil-fueled reserve units.
Hydrogen Energy Scandinavia
The future of clean hydrogen.
Hydrogen Energy Scandinavia have developed a 3D-printed catalyst, making it possible to efficiently extract hydrogen from biomass and thereby simplify the storage of renewable energy anywhere. The innovation tailors hydrogen production systems for the industry and location where the solution will be installed.
Krafthem
A virtual power plant that connects flexibility assets with buyers.
Krafthem offers a virtual power plant that creates balance between electricity production, storage and consumption through software that optimizes the charging of, for example, electric vehicles based on supply and demand.
Ligna Energy
Green energy storage – from sensor powering to large scale application.
Ligna Energy develop green energy storage solutions by creating “bio-batteries” made from organic material. The innovation uses residual material from pulp production, which is usually burned for electricity or heat, and converts it into batteries for both consumer products and industries.
Tvinn
Accelerate the world's transition to a fossile-free society.
The innovation “Tvinn Nebula” makes it possible to switch to a fully electrified vehicle fleet within the current design of existing electricity networks. The solution optimizes the use, charging and storage of locally produced energy through smart software.
The Jury.
Stefan Krook
Stefan Krook is a serial social entrepreneur with vast experience from the telecom, IT and electricity sectors. In 1997 he co-founded internet service provider Glocalnet which later merged into Telenor Sverige. He co-founded the GoodCause Foundation where he is also chairman. The foundation has started companies such as GodEl and GodFond. Stefan is co-founder and chairman of Kivra.
Johan Lindehag
Johan Lindehag is the CEO of Ellevio, one of the largest distribution system operators in Sweden. Johan has more than 18 years of experience from the energy sector. He occupied several senior management positions within Fortum Distribution, which in 2015 was divested from Fortum and became Ellevio. Johan is a member of the Board of Directors of the industry association Energiföretagen Sverige.
Jane Walerud
Jane Walerud has been a successful serial entrepreneur and private investor since 2002. She has invested in several successful companies, including Klarna and Lensway. Nowadays, the family business Walerud Ventures focuses on deep tech, clean tech and AI first companies. The current active portfolio includes Volumental, Graphmatech, Swedish Algae Factory and Racefox.
Lina Bertling Tjernberg
Lina Bertling Tjernberg is a Professor, and Director of the Energy platform, at KTH the Royal Institute of Technology. Her research and teaching are focused on power grid technology for sustainable developments with special interest in reliability analysis, predictive maintenance and asset management. She is a Distinguished Lecturer of IEEE Power & Energy Society.
Johanna Mossberg
Johanna Mossberg is Vice President of Biorefinery and Energy at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, as well as adjunct senior lecturer in energy science at Luleå University of Technology. Mossberg holds in-depth knowledge on topics such as environmental improvement assessment of industrial production and biorefinery concepts and analysis of industrial transition. She has previously been managing director of f3 – the Swedish knowledge centre for renewable transportation fuels.
The Challenge.
Startup 4 Climate is aimed at startups and young companies with ideas that can speed up the energy transition and steer the development towards the global goal of 1,5-degree warming.
The energy transition encompasses initiatives that promote the switch from current energy and transport systems to those systems and solutions that are smarter, more efficient and more climate friendly.
The shortlisted submissions will pitch their ideas to our jury of experts from the fields of entrepreneurship, energy, green technology and climate action. The winning startups will be granted a SEK 2 million prize to help catalyze their ideas and contribute to the energy transition.
The Win-win.
What’s in it for you?
The best submissions will be shortlisted and have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to our jury of experts. Participants will also have the opportunity to interact with two of Sweden’s most well-known energy companies, tap into their networks as well as be fronted on social media platforms and news outlets.
The final winners will share a prize of SEK 2 million, as well as 3 hours of coaching from a jury member, to help catalyze their ideas and contribute to the energy transition.
What’s in it for GodEl & Ellevio?
As two of the Swedish energy market’s most well-known actors, we have a great responsibility in shaping the future of the sector. We want to promote the transition to a truly sustainable energy system, but we can’t do it alone.
Innovation and wide-spread engagement are key aspects for curbing the global climate crisis. Therefore we want to catalyze more actors and contribute to initiatives that can enable our common goals for a sustainable future.
The Timeline.
2021
- 5/5Challenge opens for submissions
- 1/6Voting opens
- 1/9Deadline for submissions
Voting closes - 15/9Top submissions are shortlisted
- 14/10Shortlisted startups pitch their ideas to jury of experts
- 11/11The winners are presented at the final event at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26
About / Collaborators
GODEL
GodEl is the 9th biggest electricity company in Sweden. They are owned by GoodCause foundation that donates all dividends to charitable purposes. To this day, GodEl has donated over SEK 54 million to NGO:s such as the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and MSF. GodEl is also a key player when it comes to sustainable electricity contracts. They provide only renewable energy marked as a Good Environmental Choice. Additionally, GodEl measures the company’s entire carbon footprint and invests in projects that reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
ELLEVIO
Ellevio AB is one of Sweden’s largest distribution network operators. Ellevio invests in, develops and maintains the company’s power grids in order to ensure a reliable electricity supply to its 962,000 customers. By investing in a long-term sustainable power grid Ellevio works to improve the quality of life for its customers as well as to enable the ongoing energy transformation and the continued digitization of the society.
THINGS
THINGS is the #1 industry focused deep tech and innovation hub in Sweden. They are a 2,000m2 co-working space for startups, connected to an extended community of close corporate partners, including some of the most successful and innovative export companies in Sweden. THINGS is committed to disruptive innovation and technologies, which are driving the digital transformation.
WE DON’T HAVE TIME
We Don’t Have Time is a social media network for everyone who wants to be a part of the solution. Being a member of We Don’t Have Time is free of charge and lets you create climate reviews as well as interact and follow other members. The non-profit foundation is based in Stockholm, Sweden and its principal purpose is to contribute to a reduced climate impact and an ecologically sustainable environment.