VP Summer 2024 - Orijin Takes the Win

Dear Brainforest follower,

It has been a very exciting few weeks at Brainforest with the culmination of our Biodiversity Lab Venture Program, the pitch event and the announcement of the winner.

Let us start with Quick Brainforest Updates:

👨‍💻 We are happy to welcome our new intern, Ben, to the team.

🚀 Our team attended and hosted a side-event at the ClimatHack event, furthering our commitment to biodiversity and innovation.

📃 We are proud to announce that Ecosystem Value Alliance Foundation (eva foundation), our second spin-off venture, is now officially recognized as a foundation.

The closing of the Biodiversity Venture Program 2024

As we reflect on the past 10 weeks, our Brainforest Venture Program has been an intense journey of growth and innovation. We had the pleasure of working closely with the brilliant teams behind Boosterra, Leeana, Orijin, and NoArk Technologies. Throughout this period, we engaged in numerous Miro worksheets, venture coaching sessions, collaborative update calls, expert sessions, brainstorming meetings, pivots, and client outreaches. Each startup demonstrated impressive progress, making the recently concluded pitch event highly anticipated and fiercely competitive, thanks to the exceptional quality and advancements of the teams.

The pitch event took place at the coworking space "Headsquarter" in Zurich. Founders from Boosterra, Leeana, and Orijin joined us in person, while Dipu from NoArk Technologies participated online from India. It was a special moment for us as the Brainforest team and cohort finally gathered together in person 😎. Each team delivered their pitches, showcasing months of hard work, dedication, and collaboration. The event brought together not only the startups but also our Expert Decision Panel, creating a supportive and inspiring environment.

Co-Founder Dennis from Leeana

Co-Founders Nandor and Gabor from Boosterra

Founder Dipu from NoArk

Co-Founder Salla from Orijin

Announcement of the Winner

After the Expert Decision Panel discussed the pitches, we are excited to announce that Orijin is the winner of our Brainforest Biodiversity Lab Venture Program! 

Orijin, led by Salla and Teemu, offers a solution to help fight deforestation by making it easier for coffee and cocoa producers in Africa and Latin America to meet environmental regulations. Their innovative approach involves digitalizing data right from the start of production, often in remote areas, which helps producers track their environmental impact and gain valuable insights to improve their practices. This technology not only aids in conservation efforts but also supports local communities by promoting sustainable and transparent business operations.

Our Expert Decision Panel played a crucial role in evaluating the pitches and determining the winner of the Brainforest Venture Program. We were privileged to have the insights and expertise of Amir Suissa, Joshua Berger, Yannick Ritschel, Martin Studer, and Jaboury Ghazoul. Their diverse backgrounds in entrepreneurship, biodiversity measurement, investment, financial management, and ecosystem management provided a well-rounded perspective, ensuring a thorough and fair assessment of each startup’s potential impact and feasibility. We are deeply grateful for their valuable contributions to this process.

As we reflect on the past 10 weeks, we are incredibly grateful for the dedication and hard work of our participants, the invaluable insights from our Expert Decision Panel, and the support from the Brainforest internal team. 

Closing

"Biodiversity starts in the distant past and it points toward the future." — Frans Lanting

Thank you for being part of the Brainforest ecosystem. Your support is vital as we strive to regenerate and protect 20 million hectares of biodiverse forests by 2030. Together, we are paving the way for a sustainable and biodiverse future.
Your Brainforest Team