Now that the Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem 2022 winners have been formally introduced, you’ll wish to be taught extra about every profitable staff and the story behind every innovation. The Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem is a web based competitors that awards money prizes to early-stage tech entrepreneurs fixing the world’s hardest issues. Since 2017, the competitors has awarded $3.25 million USD to 78 start-ups from 25 international locations.
We’re excited so that you can be taught extra in regards to the 2022 profitable groups addressing a few of the greatest challenges we face via technology-based options.
In response to the rising urgency to reverse local weather change, we launched 5 new Local weather Influence and Regeneration prizes totaling $300,000 USD. These prizes acknowledge options that may cut back or take away greenhouse gasoline (GHG) from the atmosphere or regenerate depleted ecosystems.
Meet Unergy, a start-up primarily based out of Colombia that received a $50,000 USD Local weather Influence & Regeneration Runner-Up Prize. Their answer assists corporations and organizations that want to convert to wash power, however discover it cost-prohibitive, by offering a straightforward platform for them to attach with traders who’re wanting to fund clear power tasks in creating markets.
I sat down with Eduardo Ospina, the CEO and co-founder of Unergy, and Natalia Isaza, Unergy’s Chief Content material Officer. They shared how they’re making an attempt to democratize the struggle towards local weather change, how Unergy thrived throughout the pandemic, and their ardour for marrying know-how and sustainability.
What downside is your know-how answer making an attempt to resolve? Are you able to clarify how the answer works?
Eduardo: I feel the largest work for humanity proper now could be the struggle towards local weather change. Presently, the world wants greater than $2.4 trillion of funding into clear power to keep away from a local weather catastrophe. Nevertheless, even with all of the work that’s being finished all over the world at the moment, the present degree of funding solely quantities to about 30 % of that quantity.
We now have seen that, in Latin America, and in different rising markets, there’s a large necessity for liquidity to finance clear power tasks. For instance, photo voltaic power has a excessive return charge and good metrics to grow to be a actuality, however organizations have been unable to afford it. Often, corporations that say they wish to spend money on clear power discover that funding prices are too excessive.
However, we see lots of people like us at Unergy which have the liquidity and the will to finance clear power tasks, however don’t have a straightforward method to do it. So, Unergy joins these two completely different teams to resolve the issue by connecting organizations who wish to spend money on clear power with individuals to place cash into their tasks. It permits us to democratize and decentralize power. For instance, with Unergy, somebody situated in the US or elsewhere will be capable of spend money on clear power tasks for corporations in Latin America or in different rising markets.
Natalia: By means of our know-how, we enable any individual to be part of supporting power transformation all over the world. We enable the chance for individuals to spend cash on clear power not simply in Colombia, however in all places.
What impressed you to develop this answer?
Eduardo: I began the corporate with my two companions, Nicolás and Paola. We began Unergy as a result of we have been making an attempt for some years to promote photo voltaic power to corporations, however we in the end realized that the largest barrier—and the largest necessity—for clear power is financing. From there, we determined that reasonably than promoting clear power merchandise, we’d assist finance them and assist join others who wish to finance clear power with corporations that want the cash.
We’re a pandemic firm. We have been engaged on the concept a couple of 12 months beforehand, however we formally began in March 2020 simply when the pandemic started. That ended up being an excellent factor. Earlier than the pandemic, corporations used to have extra liquidity for tasks and didn’t assume loads about various kinds of monetary group. Because the pandemic, corporations have began to essentially take into consideration how they will save and the way they could possibly be extra sustainable. Unergy is the perfect match for that as a result of we’re providing financial savings. We’re providing sustainability. So, I feel it was an excellent second for us to open.
Natalia: I joined Unergy later. I used to be employed to enhance some processes in communication and advertising and marketing, and I simply actually believed within the concept. I related with the mission and imaginative and prescient of the corporate, and I simply fell in love with the concept we may assist present clear power to anyone.
What’s revolutionary about the way in which you’re fixing the difficulty? What units your answer aside?
Eduardo: I feel that it’s comparatively regular for these with numerous funding to wish to spend money on clear power. What is exclusive about Unergy is that we dream in regards to the democratization and decentralization of unpolluted power. For instance, in Latin America, three large gamers are the house owners of all the power in these international locations. What’s essential to us isn’t just financing clear power tasks, but in addition permitting for retail traders and folks from all over the world to take a position.
How will profitable a prize within the Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem assist you advance your small business?
Eduardo: We’re increasing proper now into Brazil, and into European international locations that want extra funding in clear power. The extra we broaden, we can obtain an even bigger impression, so we shall be utilizing all the cash on worldwide enlargement and sharing our purpose of lowering the $2.4 trillion in funding wanted to fight local weather change.
What recommendation do you’ve got for different social entrepreneurs?
Eduardo: I feel it’s important to cross your private motivations with the purpose of the corporate. Personally, I like what I do. I like to be right here, I like to journey, and I like to dedicate my life to fixing this challenge as a result of I actually do wish to make an enormous distinction on the earth. Since I used to be younger, I’ve been captivated with inventing issues, about sustainability, about power and electrical energy. Then, after I was in College, I spotted that it wasn’t nearly inventing issues; it was about inventing issues with a objective and inventing issues with the ambition that it may impression the world in a really optimistic manner. I feel being an entrepreneur could be very laborious for lots of people, however for those who can benefit from the challenges it’s important to face to develop, and for those who can benefit from the stuff you do, it’s higher.
Natalia: If you happen to can combine information of the continual replace of know-how with the will to resolve social or environmental issues, you can be the perfect firm that may impression the most individuals. I agree with Eduardo that you will need to join your private desires with the imaginative and prescient and mission of the corporate. And if you wish to be right here and proceed right here and be motivated, it’s important to be able to be taught on daily basis. I wish to do one thing for the world and for individuals, and I like to attach sustainability with know-how.
Keep tuned for extra articles in our weblog sequence, that includes interviews with each Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem 2022 profitable staff!
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