The British Standards Institution (BSI) and the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (CISL) have launched a new startup accelerator program to support the growth of six technology startups that are working to address sustainability challenges.
The BSI Sustainability Innovation Lab Startup Program, which started in July, will provide the chosen startups with business support, networking opportunities, mentorship, and the chance to co-create and pilot solutions with the lab following its opening in Cambridge in December.
The program will also feature talks from external speakers, including Walter Stahel, founder of the Product Life Institute and the coiner of the term “circular economy” in 1982.
Among the six chosen startups, is CarbonBright, which uses artificial intelligence to help customers manage their product’s environmental impact by gathering supply chain data from multiple sources and constructing digital twins of their supply chains.
Another startup, Gentian, on the other hand, employs machine learning to map and monitor natural habitats, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity. Then there’s HACE, which leverages AI to track a range of modern slavery metrics aimed at benefiting investors, financial institutions, and others.
Moving on to iov23, their focus is on crafting supply chain traceability technology that simplifies compliance with due diligence regulations for organisations. SkenarioLabs steps in with machine learning to help organisations grasp their energy consumption and carbon intensity, while also honing their asset management strategies.
Last but not least, TEXpert AI with its cloud-based analytics platform, designed to aid organisations in comprehending their workforce’s diversity and inclusion through data analysis.
“It’s fantastic to have such a diverse and dynamic list of start-ups on board for our inaugural programme at BSI’s Sustainability Innovation Lab.” said BSI chief commercial officer Harold Pradal. “Supporting individuals and organisations pioneering creative solutions to the pressing questions of our day, from modern slavery to conserving nature, can help accelerate progress towards a sustainable world.
“The support offered by BSI and our partners in progress, the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability, is designed to enable these start-ups to draw on our 120 years of knowledge and expertise in delivering tangible improvements for society.”
CISL’s senior director of sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship Sam Laakkonen continued: “I’ve had a few conversations with the founders and have been extremely impressed by the diversity of technology deployed to address trust in sustainability issues.
“They cover the full range of CISL’s three impact lenses; future place, future lives and future economy, which perfectly complements all our other activities and initiatives. I am extremely interested to see the progress these teams will be making over the coming months, as well as the outcomes of the piloting part of the programme.”
