Yesterday we had the pleasure of hosting a fantastic cohort of #entrepreneurs at Middlesex University at a #naturepositive pitch event.
Facilitated by the excellent Finlay Kerr, each pitching company had 10 minutes to showcase their business value proposition to #investors and the SME Nature Positive Finance Team.
They all did brilliantly and we hope that it leads to some real concrete outcomes and offers from investors both in the room and those who were unable to make it.
We learned a lot from Oliver Bream McIntosh about the difference between climate-, nature- and planet-positive approaches and how they impact business values in what was a wonderful interactive workshop with our start-up cohort.
The potential of Catherine Wilder's Storybord AI to support the positive and crystal clear focus to communicate impactful business is clear and waiting in the wings, watch this space! Contact Catherine to find out more...
We heard about game-changing solutions to meet some of the most pressing environmental challenges we face today in #fashion, #energy, #agrifood, and #conservation, #marinedata and even #carbonnegative, UK distilled #rum.
These offer immediate, exciting and investible ways forward to support both #localised, #regenerative and #circulareconomy approaches with a #socialconscience while also building into their enterprise the means to empower communities in the #globalsouth. Lots of connections to emerging global trade opportunities (Utsav Jasapara) and pioneering investment models too.
Marion Mc Gowan opened the session with an inspiring talk about the value the cohort brought to Middlesex University to reflect a positive future, paved by those with the wherewithal to dream of a better future.
Robyn Owen (Baldock), who is leading the #SMEnaturepositivefinance project has done an incredible job in driving the need to support #smes to consider biodiversity with her deep insights into the #finance world and the entry points and drivers to elicit change. She, together with Amy Burnett, has bought together a positive collective of like-minded researchers, investors and funders, business supporters and SMEs to forge exciting pathways in the interests of people and planet. We are delighted that Niayesh Nejatali, our dedicated and fantastic PhD student is part of this team.
Dougal Alexander Fleming's presence, searching questions and insightful comments were the icing on the cake. This was Dougal's second trip to Hendon in four months and we deeply appreciate the ties his collaborative spirit has on linking projects within the Integrating Finance and Biodiversity programme.
Overall, an excellent and positive day.
Well done team! (and to those who couldn't make it for their ongoing excellent work in our agrifood and fashion and textiles sector studies - Fergus Lyon and Andrea Werner. And a big thanks to Linda Geßner from CUSP | Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity for all her brilliant comms support).