According to a research report from Unternehmensgrün (the German Federal association of green economy) into green startups in Europe, the biggest challenges facing founders are financial and bureacratic.The Borderstep study came to a similar conclsion. While initial financing is a hurdle for all new startups, the financing requirements for green startups was estimated to be considerably higher (on average 200,000 EUR) than for non-green ones (on average 35,000 EUR), making it significantly more challenging for green startups to turn their idea into a successful company.
But while the environmental challenges constantly grow, and more and more environmental policy goals are set to tackle them, we need business models that address these challenges more than ever. In order to support ecopreneurs and what they do, we need:
more committed and targeted startup funding for ecopreneurs and green startups
more political support, both in terms of reducing regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles and raising capital.
In the EU, Climate KIC runs several different programmes from entrepreneurs with ideas for climate impact business ideas - offering funding, coaching and networking opportunities.
And RESET actively supports green founders too: We accompany ecopreneurs on their way to successful financing (seed, early stage, growth capital), providing practical assistance along the way and answering questions about sustainable business models and financing opportunities. Find out more in our Green Impact Finance section.
Author: Sarah-Indra Jungblut (RESET Editorial), with the collaboration of: Dr Paul Stadelhofer / February 2019
collected from
https://en.reset.org/knowledge/ecopreneurship-innovative-business-climate-impact-11202019
