The Business School Entrepreneurs Tackling Sustainable Development
“Whenever you see darkness, there is extraordinary opportunity for the light to burn brighter.” Bono
If human ingenuity is the fountain from which so many global challenges spring, it is also our answer to them.
For instance, climate change. As much as any one event can be suggested as the origin of human-induced global warming, the invention of the first widely used steam engine is a strong candidate, paving as it did the way for the industrial scale burning of fossil fuels.
Yet, it also coincided with an age of widespread innovation, the spirit of which persists today among a new generation of engineers and entrepreneurs. Informed by modern climate science, they are applying skills developed at business schools around the world to find sustainable solutions to issues facing industries as diverse as energy, transport, agriculture, and many others.
For Ann Harrison, dean of Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, “meeting the climate and other global challenges will require new leaders who understand the scale and urgency of the challenges, who understand which corporate actions will make the biggest difference, and who can bring practical solutions to addressing the problems.”
These are the green entrepreneurs: business school graduates at the helm of financially successful ventures that seek to promote sustainability and social well-being while reducing ecological risks.
Repopulating the oceans
“Follow your why and embed sustainability into your core values to guide your work every single … [+]
From sea snails to whales, roughly 2,270 marine species are listed as threatened or endangered globally under the US Endangered Species Act. Habitat loss and overfishing play a major role in this.
In response to the threat to biodiversity posed by overfishing, Kelly Pan co-founded Impact Food, a business that leverages plants and food science to create whole cut vegan ‘seafood’ with the taste and texture of real fish.
Pan, who is also the CEO of Impact Food, says she was inspired by this idea after taking a class called the Alternate Meat Lab at Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley.
“My business school experience gave me a core foundation for entrepreneurship, through courses that taught business planning and experiences that helped me refine my strategic and creative thinking skills,” she says.
“We’re creating a new food culture that empowers people to eat food that is better for them and the planet. Working to redefine the seafood market entirely, we strive to make our food available globally and reduce the demand of overfished ocean resources.”
Looking ahead, Pan aspires to broaden the business’ sustainable impact by scaling up their operations, allowing them to also tackle issues such as mitigating carbon emissions from the conventional fishing industry.
“We need a more sustainable way to feed the world,” she says.
Investing in more resilient agriculture
“My mentor during business school provided me with the insights I need to improve my business … [+]
According to the World Economic Forum, the population in Southeast Asia is predicted to grow to 750 million by 2035. This is expected to drive a 40 percent increase in food by 2050, but limited agricultural resources, widespread land degradation, and diminishing arable land caused by urbanisation and industrialisation threaten food production.
Against this backdrop, Chor Chee Hoe co-founded Qarbotech, a tech startup that uses patented photosynthesis-enhancing nanotechnology to increase crop yields by up to 60 percent.
“As a research-centric agritech startup, we aspire to improve our sustainable product offerings through extensive research and development. Besides food security and resilient agriculture, the technologies that we develop will play a pivotal role in enhancing various aspects of human life, including utilising renewable energy and healthcare,” says Chor, who is also CEO of Qarbotech.
With a background in engineering, he says studying an MBA at Asia School of Business helped him develop transferable skills that enabled him to enter the field of entrepreneurship with confidence.
“By participating in a business competition organised by Asia School of Business, I was privileged to be mentored by Adlin Yusman, the Managing Director of Endeavor Malaysia. He and his team at Endeavor Malaysia provided me with the insights I need to improve my business decisions and increase my chances of business success.”
Does the steak come with emissions?
“Always adopt a pragmatic approach: test your business model a lot, and avoid all biases linked to … [+]
So, you fancy going out to a restaurant. Do you know which items on the menu are most environmentally friendly? UN data shows, for instance, that 70.6 kilograms of greenhouse gasses are emitted to produce one kilogram of beef.
This is where Beelong comes in, a Swiss FoodTech company specialising in environmental data analysis. Through its ECO-SCORE® method, the company provides clear, concise information on the ecological footprint of different food products, and has become a reference point for restaurants and retailers in Switzerland.
“One of the biggest challenges as an entrepreneur in the food sector is that sustainability is rarely a priority, which leads to low willingness to pay for tools and services. One of the ways we found to overcome this has been to strengthen our relationships with local authorities, in order to further encourage potential customers and finance part of our services,” says Charlotte de La Baume, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Beelong.
De La Baume was inspired to launch a FoodTech startup while studying a BSc in International Hospitality Management at EHL Hospitality Business School.
“EHL enabled me to become a Swiss army knife. I started with no expertise in life cycle assessment, finance, marketing, or human resources, but learnt to be versatile and take a hands-on approach, coming up with creative business models and learning from failures.”
Forging a path to energy security
“Spend as much time as it takes to validate your idea and then define a clear, compelling mission … [+]
After serving 10 years in the US Army, including multiple combat deployments, Jason Utton dedicated himself to developing renewable energy power plants across the country.
While working for NextEra Energy, he completed an MBA at Hough Graduate School of Business, University of Florida. That led him to Atwell, a national consulting, engineering, and construction services firm that helps its clients design and build renewable energy power plants.
“There is no way I would be where I am today without the University of Florida. Filling in the gaps I learned in my professional career allowed me to do my job better, lead my teams more effectively, and continue up the ranks at NextEra. It also gave me the confidence to leave NextEra and chart my own path,” he says.
The business now employs over 1,700 professionals across the US, responding to growing demand in the energy sector following the boom in data centres and AI technology.
“Implementing sustainability requires upfront investments, which can strain budgets and impact short-term financial returns. But the challenges we’re faced with today are not going away, and if unaddressed will continue to get worse. A long view is required. There are creative ways to streamline processes or leverage technology that can counter the short-term financial impact,” says Utton.
He looks forward to supporting Atwell’s growth as the energy market continues to transform over the next decade, helping the company foster a culture that values sustainability and empowers employees.
Creating greener batteries
“Accountability builds trust with stakeholders, including customers, investors and employees.” … [+]
The initial idea behind Poseidon – a patent-pending battery that uses only earth-abundant, easy-to-supply materials, guaranteeing the lowest environmental impact – first saw light on a snowy day, while Heidemarie Haupt was returning from the ski slopes.
Haupt is now a Co-Founder and Head of Marketing and Strategy at Poseidon, the name of the startup as well as their key product.
“Sustainability means not only contributing to environmental and social well-being, but also offering long-term viability in an increasingly conscientious market like that of energy,” she says.
“By engineering a green product, we managed to overcome most of the challenges that typically emerge. Cost, for example, proves lower than those of more pollutant solutions, and supply chain concerns were solved by adopting a more local strategy which is permitted by the design and technology of the battery.”
Haupt met the other co-founders of Poseidon, Federico Aiana and Lorenzo Zagnoli, while studying an Executive MBA at POLIMI Graduate School of Management.
“I often like to say that without POLIMI GSM, we would not be here. We owe so much to the experience, not only because our EMBA gave us the occasion to meet, but also because we were lucky enough to find deep inspiration in the months we spent at the school,” says Haupt.
Creating new habitats
“Collaboration is key. Partner with organizations that share your values. Together, you’ll amplify … [+]
The average American household spent $616 on lawn and gardening activities in 2022, according to the National Garden Survey. Globally, it’s estimated the gardening equipment market will be worth $305.1 billion by 2030.
Yet, for many, finding information on the ‘right’ native plants to benefit wildlife in your garden is a challenge, says Shubber Ali, CEO of Garden for Wildlife.
As a for-profit e-commerce platform that is part of the National Wildlife Federation, the business’ goal is to “help people buy the right plants,” he explains.
“This represents much more than just selling plants; it’s about educating and empowering humans to make choices that have a positive impact on local ecosystems, biodiversity, and the environment as a whole.”
With an MBA from McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, under his belt, Ali says his time at the school helped him understand how each component of a business integrates with the other parts, in addition to providing extensive networking opportunities.
“The network I’ve been able to build and maintain across alumni and faculty has made it easier for me to find everything from talent we’ve hired, funding we’ve raised, and even partners we are now working with,” he says.
Garden for Wildlife measure their success in square yards, showing the amount of new habitat they have created for wildlife. The business’ strategic goal is to establish one million Certified Wildlife Habitats by 2030, a target Ali describes as “ambitious but achievable.”
Finding a viable alternative to dairy
“Stay true to your values; they are the guiding light through the inevitable challenges.” Arnaud … [+]
After reading the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land Use, Arnaud Delacour was motivated to co-found The VERY Food Co., a startup which supports the food industry in transitioning from using egg and dairy ingredients to affordable plant-based alternatives.
“Balancing profitability with purpose is fundamental to our ethos. We believe in taking tangible steps towards sustainability without compromising business viability. To achieve this balance, we prioritise the development of products that are market-ready. We understand the urgency of environmental challenges demands immediate action, and delaying solutions is not an option,” he says.
Delacour, who is also the CEO of The VERY Food Co., says his approach to entrepreneurship has been influenced by the global perspective offered in ESSEC Business School’s Master in Management programme, which he graduated from in 2010.
“By joining the ESSEC Station F Incubator, I gained access to invaluable mentorship, networking opportunities, and tailored support, enabling me to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship effectively,” he says.
While food manufacturers and professionals can be resistant to using new, non-traditional ingredients, Delacour says it’s possible to overcome these challenges by focusing on education and collaboration.
“By fostering a collaborative approach and providing viable alternatives, we’ve been able to gradually shift mindsets and overcome resistance within the industry.”
Keeping it cool
“Problems are usually best solved when they are very concrete.” Sebastian Leicht – easy2cool
“Our aim was to create a sustainable alternative for insulating packaging which is unsurpassed in terms of performance and transport safety,” says Sebastian Leicht, CEO and Co-Founder of easy2cool GmbH.
The company has developed a new sustainable insulation material out of recycled paper in collaboration with Technical University Dresden. From a startup producing cooling packs in a car garage, easy2cool GmbH has expanded its operations to cover most of German-speaking Europe and now employs over 100 people.
“The market for shipping fresh and frozen products is growing strongly and Europe, especially Germany, is lagging behind. I therefore expect above-average growth rates here. We want to be able to serve this market. However, internationalisation is also a priority,” says Leicht.
Prior to studying an Executive MBA at Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, he would not have imagined himself becoming an entrepreneur.
“Through the course content, and thanks to my fellow students, I was able to better understand what is necessary to run my own company.”
Initially, the plan was to act as a distributor rather than a developer of insulation products. However, a lack of products on the market that met their sustainability requirements motivated Leicht and fellow co-founder Marco Knobloch to start from scratch.
Founding a fly farm
“Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. Understand that your business may undergo … [+]
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. This centuries-old proverb is at the heart of Philafeed, an innovative startup that aims to improve food security and transform traditional agriculture by farming black soldier flies fed on organic waste. The flies in turn produce a nutrient-dense protein source for animals and soil amendment for plants.
“Our short-term goal is to establish our first farm in Cape Town, leveraging the expertise of GenBioSol, leading black soldier fly experts, as our technical partner. With their support, we are poised to revolutionise waste management by processing tons of waste into valuable protein and frass, enriching the soil and promoting sustainable agriculture,” says Maya Zaken, CEO and Co-Founder of Philafeed.
Zaken currently represents the company in the BeVisioneers programme, a year-long global fellowship funded by Mercedes-Benz. The fellowship aims to provide young innovators aged 16-28 with the training, expert support, and resources to bring their sustainability projects to fruition.
Initially solely purpose-driven, Zaken says she realised that “if I were going to sustain myself, my ventures, and my beneficiaries, I required profitability. In this way, I see profitability and purpose as intrinsically linked, each reinforcing the other.”
Building efficiency into the foundations of society
“The idea was to bring a data-driven approach to an industry traditionally reliant on manual … [+]
Caidio is a Finnish-born startup that is transforming the foundations of society in a very literal way. As CEO and Co-Founder Aku Wilenius explains, the company leverages artificial intelligence and data analytics to provide digital quality optimisation products that enhance the sustainability and efficiency of concrete production.
“With concrete being Earth’s most widely produced material, innovating in this vast industry is crucial for reducing our ecological footprint and advancing global sustainability efforts,” he says.
Wilenius and his fellow co-founder Pasi Karppinen have backgrounds in technology and automation in other industries, and sought to apply their expertise to address the challenge of concrete production’s massive environmental impact.
“The idea was to bring a data-driven approach to an industry traditionally reliant on manual processes and substantially contribute to its sustainability and efficiency,” says Wilenius.
Caidio launched shortly after Wilenius embarked on the MBA programme offered by Aalto University Executive Education and Professional Development, an experience which he believes was instrumental in shaping his entrepreneurial journey.
“This experience gave me a holistic understanding of business operations and instilled the confidence and network necessary to translate our vision for Caidio into reality.”
Wilenius aspires to position Caidio as a global leader in providing digital tools to help streamline concrete production.
“Considering the projected doubling of our global cities and infrastructure in the coming decades and the accelerating climate change, the push for digitisation and sustainability of concrete production has never been more critical,” he says.
Investing in healthier children for a healthier planet
“INSEAD empowered me to get the clarity I needed to streamline my vision.” Priya Prakash – … [+]
Motivated by her own personal health struggles during school, Priya Prakash founded HealthSetGo Education, India’s leading healthcare organisation for schools.
Having received international recognition from the World Health Organisation, Global Citizen, and Indian Education Awards, HealthSetGo Education’s health programmes are designed to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible in schools.
Prakash believes an additional benefit to improving healthcare access in schools is improving sustainability.
“We believe that by investing in preventive healthcare today, we are saving millions of future emissions from the heavily unsustainable curative care industry. It has been a challenge to showcase the correlation between climate change and health for a lot of our partners, but through our advocacy efforts we have seen a huge shift in mindset,” she says.
She believes that her time studying in the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Programme helped her develop a clarity of vision which has been an important factor in HealthSetGo Education’s success.
“Being a social entrepreneur and trying to solve problems at scale is not easy, and it was very important early on to know the direction and type of impact that I wanted to create. The curated case studies that we went through under the guidance of some of the best professors I have come across, empowered me to get the clarity I needed to streamline my vision,” she says.
READ PRIYA’S STORY HERE
