Impact Hustlers - Entrepreneurs With Social Impact

This episode is a live event from Fast Forward 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals SDG15: Life on Land, with a special focus on combatting desertification, tackling deforestation and halting biodiversity loss. We hear from Chris Forbes of Cheeky Panda, Dom Desmond of Critically Endangered Socks and Keiran Whitaker of Entocycle.

Third Door is a coworking and nursery, bringing together a collaborative community of working parents and passionate childcare professionals, who believe that work and family can grow together.

Joslin Kehdy is the founder of Recycle Lebanon an NGO addressing the waste emergency in Lebanon and creating a regenerative system change from within Beirut.

Highlights:

* Examples of initiatives within Recycle Lebanon
* Ecosouk - eco product marketplace
* Regenerate Lebanon - a circular hub towards regenerative development within Beirut
* Importance of getting information out to people in bite size

Useful links:

Recycle Lebanon - [http://recyclelebanon.com](http://recyclelebanon.com)

Joslin Kehdy - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joslinkehdy/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joslinkehdy/)

Chapters:

[00:55] Lebanon is in a permanent problem of waste emergency in Lebanon

[03:20] Solutions that are copy and pasted from Lebanon

[04:42] Collection points for cigarette buds

[06:49] Surfboards for outdoor lovers

[07:27] Styrofoams in surfboards

[09:55] Regenerate Labenon and circular village within the city

[12:08] NGO profits and community

[14:59] Information is the challenge

[16:54] Increasing use of single-use plastic

[17:58] Scaling Regenerate Lebanon

Danny Witter is the co-founder of Work For Good. He is an investment banker turn social entrepreneur. Work For Good is a business giving online platform that makes it easy for businesses to build giving into their day to day work – impressing their clients, and inspiring their people, at the same time. We connect them to their chosen charities, and have solved the legal and tax impediments to the giving process.

Danny Witter says, "of the £20 Billion that goes to charities in the UK, a miserable 2% comes from businesses. Individuals gives 47%. People like you and me give 20 times more in absolute terms in cash than businesses giving to charities."

Highlights of this episode:

* Helping businesses tell their giving story
* Solving the tech and legal challenge of Work For Good
* Why don't businesses embed more business giving?
* Wateraid and Friends of the Earth turn away 5 business a week
* Examples of businesses using Work For Good and embedd giving in their business
* Everyone loves our logo
* Creating a massive additive channel of philanthropic funding

Useful links:

Work For Good - [https://workforgood.co.uk/](https://workforgood.co.uk/)

Danny Witter's Linkedin - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-witter-94561225/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-witter-94561225/)

Chapters:

[01:04] What's the biggest friction for small businesses to do giving?

[02:45] Linking businesses with charities with small little amounts of giving

[03:38] Receiving an email saying we have donated on your behalf

[04:55] Restaurant that has a charity table where

[05:50] How is the business model for Work for Good

[06:39] What lead to setting up the business as a for-profit

[09:44] Creating behaviour change for business

[10:50] Raising for a seed round impact funding

[11:38] Making a pledge for hitting a target

[13:04] Beautiful toys that make 10% to WWF via Work for Good

[13:47] Reason for starting Work for Good

[16:14] Achievements in the last 3.5 years

[18:03] We need to make the tech more integrated

[19:10] Creating a bigger tribe

[19:15] Vision of Work for Good

Mette Lykke is the CEO of Too Good To Go. With a mission of reducing food waste worldwide, Too Good To Go is the World's largest B2C marketplace for surplus food. TGTG help retailers like restaurants, bakeries, supermarkets and hotels sell the surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. Retailers make a profit on their surplus food and consumers get delicious food at a good value in return. Everyone wins and together saving the food and do good for the planet.

Highlights of this episode:

* Coincidence in a bus meeting
* Why focus on food waste in restaurants
* Biggest barrier to growth for TGTG
* Challenge of making the business model work
* Measuring impact of reducing food waste
* Working with schools and educating people on food waste
* Surplus food vs food waste
* Unsolved problems in food waste

Useful Links:

Too Good To Go - [https://toogoodtogo.com/en](https://toogoodtogo.com/en)

Mette Lykke's Linkedin - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mettelykke/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mettelykke/)

Chapters:

[01:03] Management consulting to Too Good To Go

[02:51] Integrating the global team

[04:41] How can companies make money with food waste

[06:49] Focus on restaurants

[09:18] Challenge with a global team with presence in 11 countries

[12:03] Winner take all market

[17:26] Inspire people to reduce food waste

[19:26] Vision of Too Good To Go

Arthur Kay is the founder of Bio Bean and founding member of Fast Forward 2030.

Arthur came up with the idea for bio-bean whilst studying architecture at The Bartlett, UCL, and in two years has raised several million in financing, built the world’s first coffee waste recycling factory and a team of twenty. He currently holds positions on a number of boards associated with social enterprise and green entrepreneurship and is a Fellow of RE, the RSA and IoD. In 2013, Shell named him ‘the UK’s most Innovative Entrepreneur,’ he was appointed as a ‘London Leader’ by Mayor Boris Johnson, in 2014 he became one of NESTA’s ‘New Radicals’, was named ’25 under 25 most influential Londoners’ by the Evening Standard and as '30 under 30' by Forbes Magazine. He was named the youngest ever Guardian Sustainable Business Leader of the Year.

Bio-bean is an award-winning clean technology company, the first in the world to recycle used coffee grounds on an industrial scale.

Bio-bean manufactures a range of biofuels and biochemicals from these recycled spent coffee grounds, saving businesses money, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and displacing conventional fossil fuels.

Highlights of this episode:

* How Arthur's interest in designing cities lead to the problem of coffee waste
* What is Bio Bean?
* How to turn a waste stream into something of value
* Why creating a fuel and is it sustainable?
* Looking for co-founders, financing for sustainable?
* Challenge of circular economy products
* Bio Bean's business model
* Advise to environmental and social enterprise entrepreneurs

Useful Links:

Bio Bean [https://www.bio-bean.com/](https://www.bio-bean.com/)

Arthur Kay's Linkedin - [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/akay1111](https://uk.linkedin.com/in/akay1111)

Arthur Kay's Twitter - [https://twitter.com/arthurkay_](https://twitter.com/arthurkay_)

Chapters:

[01:22] How did Arthur discover the waste coffee problem?

[04:34] Properties of coffee waste.

[08:40] How does supply chain of Bio Bean more sustainable?

[10:39] Solving a chemical engineering problem?

[12:55] Running a capital intensive business

[15:33] Scale of feedstock

[17:24] Scaling coffee waste circular product

[19:08] Advise to early stage companies

[21:55] Mistake that Bio Bean made

[22:31] The vision of Bio Bean

Julia Daviy is a fashion designer creating the first ever 3D printed, recyclable and zero waste clothes. Her 3D printed fashion collection is the first ever to be released within the U.S. that not only uses the technology of large printing format but also displays a true everyday clothing look that is functional, fabulously delicate and wearable for women.

Highlights of the episode:

* How Julia started her journey into 3D printing
* The Third Age of Fashion
* Zero waste fashion
* 3D printing with new materials
* Large scale 3D printing in footware and bags/accessories
* Social problems because of automation

Useful links:

Julia Daviy - [https://juliadaviy.com/](https://juliadaviy.com/)

Julia Daviy on Twitter - [https://twitter.com/JuliaDaviy](https://twitter.com/JuliaDaviy)

Time Stamp:

[01:05] How did you discover 3D printing technology can be applied to sustainable fashion?

[03:45] Localised clothing production

[07:10] The Third Age of Fashion

[11:00] Where are we at for sustainable fashion

[13:00] Adidas producing millions of 3D printed shoes

[15:45] Large 3D printers

[17:00] 1/3 of cotton is wasted and 3D printing eliminates waste

[18:00] Future of 3D printed fashion

[21:00] AI will have an effect on fashion

Solveiga Pakštaitė is the Founder and Director Mimica. Solveiga is the inventor of Mimica Touch, a biologically accurate food spoilage indicator that reduces food waste and improved food safety. The product has a granted patent and has been awarded prizes - most recently she was named MIT Technology Review's Inventor of the Year.

Highlights of this episode:

* Inclusive design, working with a blind charity and being inspired by an old banana
* Benefits of an accelerator programme
* Winning awards and grant fundings
* Making the first hire
* Why food waste is such a big problem
* Educating companies on how food waste affects sales and customer loyalty
* Asking why a problem is not yet being solved
* Finding out the budget the market can bear for a scaled technology

Time Stamp:

[01:45] How did it all start?

[03:30] Making the first prototype

[05:10] Being an entrepreneur

[06:00] Joining an accelerator

[07:00] How big is the problem of food waste?

[08:00] Working with a scientist to develop a solution.

[11:00] Importance of innovating

[11:40] Challenge of making a mass market product

[16:50] Advise for people who are trying to create a business model and solve an engineering problem

[19:00] Mimica in 10 year time

Useful link:

Mimica Lab: [https://www.mimicalab.com/](https://www.mimicalab.com/)

Solveiga Pakštaitė on Linkedin: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/solveigap/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/solveigap/)

Kike Oniwinde is the founder of BYP Network, described by many as the 'Linkedin for Black Professionals' helps to connect ambitious future leaders with each other for networking purposes and with corporations for job opportunities.

Highlights of this episode:

* Why a network for Black Young Professionals needed?
* What is the standard for the community?
* Creating a job board for the black community
* Role models and trailblazers
* Advise to companies who are trying to be more diverse
* Mentoring for black people
* Becoming a global network
* Changing negative stereotypes

Time Stamp:

[01:12] Why did you found BYP Network?

[03:18] How did the platform got started?

[05:13] What is the business model?

[09:02] Biggest challenge for black people.

[11:28] How can company have a diverse culture

[16:33] Working with top companies with accessing talent

[18:57] Future vision where BYP Network

Useful Links:

BYP Network - [https://www.byp-network.com/](https://www.byp-network.com/)

Download the app [https://app.byp-network.com/](https://app.byp-network.com/)

Amy Williams is the founder and CEO of Good-Loop which converts advertising money into charitable donations in a way that keeps the internet free and makes online advertising more effective, more rewarding and more ethical.

Highlights of the episode:

* How Amy met her cofounder
* What is the biggest challenge for the ad industry
* How to find your first big customer and scale
* The importance of getting the right first customer
* What's the catch?
* The KitKat case study

Time Stamp:

[1:14] Ads as a positive value exchange

[4:10] 65% decrease in negative brand sentiment while and funding 300 school kids in Sierra Leone

[7:30] Starting Good Loop without a tech backgound

[12:00] Making impact and doing good

[14:00] Biggest challenge of the ad industry

[15:00] What is the big hairy audacious goal?

[18:00] What is the catch?

Useful links:

Good Loop - [https://www.good-loop.com/](https://www.good-loop.com/)

Amy Williams Linkedin -[https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-williams-/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-williams-/)

William and Anna Brightman are the brother sister team behind Up Circle. Their high-quality skincare products are made of repurposed ground coffee. The Dragons Den favourite have plans to save up to 1000 tons of coffee ground from going to waste in the next 5 years.

Highlights of the episode:

* How they are challenging perceptions of what is waste.
* Importance of breaking the status quo and telling your story
* Going through a journey, making mistakes and iterating.
* How fundraising on crowdfunding is different.
* What their Dragon's Den experience taught them.
* Where the future of circular economy is heading.

Time Stamp:

[01:32] Why is what they are doing important?

[04:13] How did it start?

[05:53] Not having a background in cosmetics

[07:00] How to grow a new brand and differentiate?

[10:15] Natural, organic, vegan, handmade and cruelty free

[11:03] How to communicate the message? Rebranding from Optiat

[14:45] Taking on discarded ingredients

[16:56] Getting feedback and iterate

[20:24] Dragon's Den experience and crowdfunding

[26:58] Vision of the future

Useful link:

Up Circle -[https://upcirclebeauty.com/](https://upcirclebeauty.com/)

Up Circle Instagram - [https://www.instagram.com/upcirclebeauty/](https://www.instagram.com/upcirclebeauty/)

Lina Chan and Tyler Cristie are co-founders of Adia Health a startup that helps couples test their fertility. Adia’s mission is to empower women with knowledge and to change the approach to women’s reproductive health to one that is proactive, personalised and holistic.

Highlights of the episode:

* How Lina and Tyler’s personal experience shaped their thinking around fertility

* Changing the conversation around reproductive health

* Importance of emotional and mental health when discussing fertility

* Importance of creating a trusted environment for people to talk about fertility

* How big is the problem of fertility and how they are solving this

* Why fertility is as much a men’s issue

* Empowering women to talk about fertility
* Creating a tech product in healthcare

Time Stamp:
[01:00] Founders who are couples and why Adia
[03:35] Obstetrics today is very reactive
[05:34] Michele Obama is speaking up
[05:38] How does a home fertility test kit work?
[08:13] Trend of watching your health from home?
[10:48] Delivering quality healthcare lower cost with more accessiblity
[13:08] Fertility is a journey
[14:43] Fertility is equally a men 's issue
[18:19] Interventions for men are easier
[19:39] From not knowing much about the topic to the launch of products
[20:48] Is there a need to come up with new methods
[23:23] Trust
[24:02] Fertility is still taboo and nobody has a plan
[26:47] Future of Adia Health

Useful link:

Adia Health - [https://adiahealth.com/](https://adiahealth.com/)

Lina Chan - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-chan-b0a269127/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-chan-b0a269127/)

Tyler Cristie - [https://about.me/tylerchristie](https://about.me/tylerchristie)

Victor Trokoudes is the co-founder and CEO of Plum. They are focused on making the boring act of saving money an automated, seamless ,background process.

Highlights of this episode:

* Problems of personal finances

* Getting customers to test your product

* Why automation is key to solving personal finance issues

* Big issues in financial education

* A world where people do not worry about money

Time Stamp:

[00:54] What is the personal story behind Plum?

[02:33] Are millennial saving less?

[03:31] From saving from subscriptions to helping get reduce bills

[06:52] Do you face trust issues?

[08:02] Automated finance vs challenger banks

[09:30] Connected to savings so no need to decide amount of investments

[10:42] How to uncover the problem

[12:08] BBC article and getting 5000 users

[13:20] Impact on people's lives

[15:05] Is Plum for people with very little income

[17:02] What are the big issues that still need to be solved in personal finance

[18:52] Finance philosophy

[20:09] What is the future of Plum

Useful link:

Plum - [https://withplum.com/](https://withplum.com/)

Victor Trokoudes Linkedin - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/victortrokoudes/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/victortrokoudes/)

Pierre-Yves Paslier, cofounder of Skipping Rock Labs who is behind the viral Ooho sustainable packaging talks about replacing single use plastic water bottles.

Highlights of the episode:

* Why there is a need to move a way from current plastic packagings

* Why crowdfunding is a good way to reach new investors.

* Challenge of creating a product like Ooho

* The transition from industry and a Master from Imperial College

* Creating natural products with the Skipping Rocks Lab approach

Time Stamp:

[00:46] How does the Ooho packaging works?

[01:44] How big is the single-use plastic problem?

[03:00] Barrier in getting people to try out Ooho.

[05:05] Traditional shaped plastic bottles with Pepsi and Coke

[08:06] Are people concerned with hygiene?

[10:09] Bridging the Skipping Rock Labs team together and crowdfunding

[14:33] How to convince investors to invest?

[17:00] Crowdfunding and managing 900+ investors

[19:56] Scaling Ooho to restaurants

[21:47] Biggest challenges

[23:53] What is the vision of Ooho?

Useful link:

Skipping Rock Labs - [http://www.skippingrockslab.com/](http://www.skippingrockslab.com/)

Pierre-Yves Paslier Linkedin - [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrepaslier/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrepaslier/)

Jemma Phibbs, Founder and Co-director of School Space talks about how they are creating the AirBnb for schools, a service to allow schools to easily rent out their space to local community events.

Highlights in this episode:

* Mental health of startup founders

* How an extra income stream are changing schools

* Importance of community hubs

* Impact of School Space to local communities

* Advising schools on the business of renting out spaces

* Need for schools to be more of an open environment

Useful links:

School Space - [https://school-space.org/](https://school-space.org/)

Calmer - [https://www.thisiscalmer.com/](https://www.thisiscalmer.com/)

Zzish - [https://www.zzish.com/](https://www.zzish.com/)

I talk to Chieu Cao, the Founder and CMO of Perkbox, a company on a mission to increase employee happiness and wellbeing.

We talk with Charles Wiles, the Fouder and CEO of Zzish about how their platform helps teachers cater to the individual needs of each student.

Max Parmentier talks about how he and his team are building Birdie, a device platform that allows carers to provide better and more tailored care for the elderly.

Brett Hurt is the Founder and CEO of Data.World, a platform that allows people to openly share data and collaborate on the data sets. Data.World is a BCorp and is on a mission to democratize the access to data and enable organisations and people to make an impact with data.

I speak to Hamish Grierson, the Founder and CEO of Thriva, a company that allows people to take at home blood tests, help monitor and prevent commonly known health conditions.

I speak to Caroline Angus, the CEO of Deciwatt which has gone viral with their Gravity Light and nowLight, a product that allows people without access to the electricity grid to easily generate power to charge their cellphones and light.

Maroof Ahmed, COO and Co-founder of Quit Genius, an app that helps people stop smoking through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). I talk to him about how they started and how they are looking to use their technology to solve the mental health crisis.