Where Pioneering Innovation Meets Global Accountability
Trust in Sustainability is an accelerator programme, hosted by CISL and the British Standards Institution (BSI), supporting startups that build more trusted and sustainable value chains through digital innovation.
Now in its third year, the programme brings together BSI’s 125 year history fostering progress and trust and CISL’s innovation expertise and ecosystem, helping start-ups develop their solutions, find their product-market fit, and explore mentorship and networking opportunities.
We will be hosting the third cohort of the Accelerator at a Demo Day in London, coinciding with London Climate Action Week.
- Date & time: 23rd June 2026, 18.00 - 20.30, as part of London Climate Action Week
- Location: London
Register your interest in attending
The Problem: The Trust Gap
From the invisible first mile blind spot to managing scope 3 decarbonisation, sustainability remains a critical visibility challenge, often obscured by fragmented data within complex supply chains. Without automated, real-time data and insights, many corporates still adopt a manual, fragmented exercise prone to greenwashing rather than a measurable performance metric. This creates a significant trust deficit and accountability lag - leaving businesses vulnerable to tightening global regulations and a sceptical marketplace.
Building trust is no longer just a compliance exercise; it is the foundation of business resilience and future growth.
Launched in July 2023, the Trust in Sustainability programme is a partnership between BSI and CISL that provides access to training and expertise to accelerate the growth of startups – helping businesses to further develop their solutions, find their product-market fit, and explore mentorship and networking opportunities. After our successful inaugural programme (2023-2024 cohort), our second cohort focused on startups with digital solutions that can build trust, accountability and deliver best practice for carbon markets (2024-2025 cohort).
This year we are showcasing digital innovations that lead to more trusted and sustainable value chains, harnessing the joint experience and expertise of BSI and CISL to support the development and scaling of disruptive solutions.
The Solutions: Meet the Innovators
Our nine pioneering startups are bridging this gap by building trust directly into every stage of the global supply chain:
Upstream Sourcing & The First Mile Challenge
- Orijin (Finland): Digitalising the first mile of coffee and cocoa supply chains in Africa and Latin America for better traceability.
- TraceX (India):Utilising blockchain to enhance transparency and food safety in global agricultural supply chains.
Sustainable Manufacturing & Operations
- Holis (France): Collaborative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and eco-design platforms for brands.
- Mavarick AI (Ireland): An AI-driven ‘Decarbonisation Operating System’ for advanced manufacturers to cut supply chain (scope 3) emissions.
- Riskoa (UK): Leveraging AI to manage carbon emissions and advance net-zero strategies.
The Trust Layer
- MindClick (USA): Converting complex data into standardised, verified product ratings for giants like Marriott and Hilton.
- Eco2veritas (Germany): Streamlining EPR reporting and material certification through automated AI analysis.
The Consumer
- Ample Earth (UK):Climate fintech integrating merchant sustainability data directly into consumer transactions.
The Horizontal Pillar
- Smart Resilience (UK): Climate risk analytics that forecast physical and transition risks in a warming world.
Event Details
We invite you to meet the third cohort of the Trust in Sustainability Accelerator at an invite-only event in London, during London Climate Action Week. The event is designed for those looking to engage with next-generation solutions and the innovators leading them through start-up and scale-up.
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Date & time: 23rd June 2026, 18.00 - 20.30, as part of London Climate Action Week
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Location: London (SE1)
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Agenda: We are currently finalising our lineup of keynote speakers and expert panels to ensure the highest quality experience. The full detailed agenda will be shared with all registrants via email after registration.
Register your interest in attending
About the programme
Trust in Sustainability is an accelerator programme, hosted by CISL and the British Standards Institution (BSI).This year, we're supporting startups that build more trusted and sustainable value chains through digital innovation. Startups will access:
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FAQsDownload the FAQ below to learn more about what to expect from the 2025–26 programme, how to determine if your startup is a good fit, and how to get in touch with the team. Download the Trust in Sustainability FAQsApplications for this programme are now closed. |
Hear from our alumni
"I can confidently say that the CISL Launchpad has been an outstanding resource for our founding team, offering tailored, practical, and comprehensive support. Having participated in numerous start-up mentoring programs, I find CISL Launchpad sets a new standard, with its highly knowledgeable speakers and well-targeted sessions. Additionally, the collaboration with BSI and the Canopy has opened doors to a diverse and inclusive network, which will undoubtedly benefit KlimateNet in the long term. The opportunity to collaborate with seven other remarkable start-up founders has also been immensely valuable"
Anne-France Kennedy, CEO & Co-Founder of KlimateNet
"CISL Canopy has been instrumental in propelling SkenarioLabs forward on our journey. Through their Trust in Sustainability programme with the BSI, we've gained invaluable insights, mentorship, and access to resources that have accelerated our growth trajectory. The connections we've made within the CISL Canopy community have been invaluable, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations that we wouldn't have accessed otherwise."
Tom Somers, UK Director of SkenarioLabs
"Joining CISL Canopy & BSI's Trust in Sustainability accelerator has been very powerful for us as a growing company. As a small organisation you can sometimes feel rather ‘alone’, but the sense of support and engagement from the wider CISL and BSI networks has been very encouraging and helped us feel part of something bigger - a movement for digital trust in sustainability. Alongside my colleagues, I’ve truly appreciated the quality time that people have given us; CISL has created an excellent support network of friends and partners who can offer fresh perspectives, sage advice and supportive challenge."
Anna Roberts, Head of Market Development at iov42
"The Cambridge CISL program has been incredible. The speakers are top-tier, and the program managers really go out of their way to understand each startup’s unique needs, pairing us with mentors who deliver quick, actionable results. They’ve blended academia and entrepreneurship perfectly, and the sponsors have prime access to innovative, game-changing solutions just as they’re emerging. I am more than proud to be part of the current cohort and look forward to growing with their presence as an actionable asset to our company."
Isaure Courcenet, CEO - Climate Finance Expert of Initiativ
"Our time at the Canopy during the programme was exceptional, especially as we delved deep into discussions on building trust in sustainability. Working in a building that embodies sustainability principles was incredibly inspiring in itself. The sessions led by industry experts and CISL lecturers were timely as we refined our strategy. Additionally, being part of the CISL network gave us access to a network spanning academia and industry, perfectly aligned with our target market."
Drishdey Caullychurn, MBA, Founder and CEO of TEXpert AI
Read about our previous cohorts
Read more about the 2024/2025 cohort
This cohort comprised of startups with a digital solution that can build trust,
accountability and deliver best practice for carbon markets.
Read more about the 2023/2024 cohort
This cohort was comprised of a diverse group of sustainability startups who are
looking to test and pilot their emerging products.
Feeling curious?
Watch our most recent webinar where you will get a chance to listen to the team behind the programme and hear them answer them your questions!
Frequently asked questions
We’ve compiled answers to some of the most common queries from founders and partners interested in the programme. The FAQ guide covers everything from eligibility and time commitment to what kinds of ventures we’ve supported in previous cohorts and how the programme has evolved.
Download the FAQ below to learn more about what to expect from the 2026 programme, how to determine if your startup is a good fit, and how to get in touch with the team.
Download the Trust in Sustainability FAQs
About BSI
The British Standards Institution (BSI) is a long standing and trusted organisational partner with a reputation for driving progress towards a sustainable world. Incorporated by Royal Charter and with 84,000 clients in 193 countries ranging from globally recognised brands to small local businesses, BSI embeds frameworks, best practices and solutions that create trust between consumers, companies, and governments. The BSI Sustainability Innovation Lab is at the forefront of the innovation and development that is needed to deliver clear, positive impacts for wider society. The Lab accelerates the adoption of disruptive digital solutions that bring trust to sustainability, and enable more sustainable decision making. Offering a creative and collaborative environment, the Lab promotes strategic partnerships any organisations can benefit from BSI’s 120 years of knowledge and expertise to transform their business models and create new customer solutions.
Meet the team
Wendy Niu
Wendy leads BSI's Sustainability Innovation Lab in Cambridge. She started her career at Innovia Technology, a global innovation consultancy, where she specialised in managing complex, multidisciplinary projects across a number of sectors, covering areas such as innovation strategy, product development and prototyping, and consumer-facing communications. She has also worked at the Royal Society of Chemistry, where she developed and managed activities to advance the chemical sciences, including "Digital Futures", a cross-organisational programme on the role of data and digital technologies in the future of science R&D. Wendy has a background in physics, with a PhD in Nanoscience from the University of Cambridge.
Jie Zhou
Jie Zhou is a sustainability expert with over 15 years of experience in circular economy, systems thinking, and innovation. At the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), she helped launch The Canopy, CISL’s incubator and innovation hub, and leads the Sino-UK Centre for Sustainability Innovation. Jie’s work spans accelerator programs, decarbonisation toolkits for SMEs, and partnerships with organizations like UNICEF and Imperial College. She is also a Research Advisor at Newham College, a Trustee at Dialogue Earth, and an Advisor at Undivided VC. Jie is a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, serving as a role model for underrepresented groups.
Viola Jardon
Viola is currently working as a Programme Director with CISL Canopy where she has worked with more than 150 early-stage start-ups with sustainability innovations. Her expertise and experience are in business innovation, go-to-market strategy and sustainability storytelling for the creative industry, tech industry, and the built environment. She is a business mentor for Tech Nation, Digital Catapult, Plug & Play, MSDUK and L Marks Corporate Accelerators and a business advisor for a few tech businesses. Before joining CISL, she was part of the founding team establishing the London Fashion Fund, which supported start-ups and entrepreneurs to address innovation and sustainability in the fashion industry.
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