Pitch Day: Inaugural SustainTech Competition
Tecno International is really proud to launch the SustainTech Pitch Competition in partnership with University College London School of Management.
Last month, Tecno International launched the first-ever SustainTech Pitching Competition in collaboration with UCL School of Management, one of our most prestigious business partners.
Hosted at UCL School of Management at Level 50, One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, the event saw the finalists pitching their business ideas in front of an audience of over 150 people.
Throughout the first semester of 2023, we worked side by side with UCL SoM to evaluate and support participants in preparation for the Pitch Day event. The competition was open to all UCL staff, researchers, students and alumni who have a startup or business idea looking to positively impact the planet and its people.
During the event, our finalists pitched their startup ideas to a panel of sustainability experts operating in different fields: Micol Chiesa Churchill, Partner and Head of Impact at Planet Fund; Julie Blane, Co-Founder of Sustainable Women’s Network; Professor Paolo Taticchi, Professor in Strategy and Sustainability at UCL School of Management; and Salvatore Amitrano, Managing Director of Tecno International.
The finalists competed for a chance to win one of the following prizes: Best Pitch, Best Idea and Audience Choice Award, with the latter being determined by the audience of the event itself. The winners of each category earned a £1,000 cash prize, 12 months of Business and Technical Mentorship and introductions to Tecno International’s business partners.
Learn about the winners below
Best Pitch: BioBright
BioBright
BioBright is an innovative company dedicated to revolutionizing interior design by incorporating BioBright’s algae plants into commercial and residential spaces. Our mission is to provide aesthetically pleasing and sustainable interior design solutions that not only enhance the visual appeal of spaces but also promote health benefits and environmental protection.
Best Idea: Sahel AI
Sahel AI
Sahel AI aims to accelerate sustainable and responsible AI adoption in Africa by developing localized AI solutions and implementing AI risk management.
Audience Choice: Phyta Biodesign
Phyta Biodesign
At Phyta Biodesign, we are dedicated to revolutionizing the way we approach sustainability by harnessing the power of biotechnology and design. As a dynamic startup, we are thrilled to collaborate with Tecno International and this partnership is a significant milestone in our journey, as we align with their vision to create a more sustainable future.
Finally, Allegra Fortunato, Head of Strategy of Tecno International, delivered a keynote speech on Global Trends of SustainTech to discuss the relevance of SustainTech for businesses as well as its future trends in the market.
The competition concluded with the celebration of our winners; an exciting networking opportunity for all the attendees.
