Yesterday, the boldest Norwegian impact makers tuned in to the final pitch battle showdown at Get in the Ring Oslo – Impact, powered by ImpactCity and Unknown Group. Representing RePack in the red corner, Jørgen Sørgård Erdal is leading the used EV battery revolution by repurposing discarded li-ion batteries into high quality and zero emission energy storage systems. In the blue corner, we have Adriana Ruiz Kyvik of B’ZEOS. Their mission is to tackle plastic pollution by converting seaweed into sustainable packaging solutions. Both solutions with high impact potential led by visionary founders. We’re delighted to announce that the two finalists will join the brightest changemakers at the Impact Final in The Hague, where they will compete for a convertible loan of up to €500k.
RePack conquered the champion jury members’ attention with their solution and was crowned as the most promising Norwegian impact startup. RePack aims at maximising the value of second life EV batteries by repurposing them in a streamlined, safe and cost-effective way. They make an impact by reducing battery system cost up to 70%. This limits the need for further extraction of rare earth materials and the carbon emissions required in new battery production.
In an unexpected turn of events, B’ZEOS emerged as the most popular Norwegian impact startup. B’ZEOS is a green tech company offering sustainable, home-compostable, and bio-digestible packaging solutions made from seaweed extracts to combat plastic pollution. Recycling is especially difficult for flexible and small packaging films such as food wraps due to complex materials, potential contamination by food, and a too small packaging size for the recycling line. They make an impact by solving the challenge of plastic pollution arising from single use food packaging.
Check out their pitch videos, powered by Vormats:
Last, but not least, we’re grateful to our champion jury members who joined us to test and scale impact solutions. For supporting the finalists by providing relevant connections, incredibly useful feedback, and offers, we’d like to thank: Ágústa Ýr Thorbergsdóttir (Managing Director at Navigo), Karl Klingsheim (Adjunct Professor Norwegian University of Science and Technology & Liaison EIT InnoEnergy), and Anders Prietz (Head of Statkraft Ventures)
Have you missed the premiere? Watch it here:
Coming up in the Impact Competition: our next destination is Copenhagen. Danish impact startups with solutions in the food, water, and energy domains are invited to register HERE. Not a Danish startup, but you are interested to scale your impact? Then you should apply for the online selection HERE.