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Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Launching your sustainability product with CISL canopy

About

Join this programme to launch your sustainability innovation product or service with CISL Canopy.

Format

After meeting the cohort in person in the CISL Canopy in Cambridge, there will be 4 virtual sessions to get your final preparation done for the launch and an in-person group launch event hosted by CISL Canopy in Cambridge. 

Who’s it for?

Small businesses, including startups, who are ready to launch their products to the market at the end of March.

Dates

Virtual sessions: 16 (programme launch - meet the cohort), 20, 22, 24, 28 March 2023

In-Person: Launch Event on 30 March 2023

Applications have now closed. 

Are you ready to launch your sustainability innovation product/service and you are thinking what else you can leverage to maximise the impact? CISL’s Canopy is running this programme to support selected impact-focused entrepreneurs to launch their innovations on the 30th of March 2023.

In this programme, you will be joined by other entrepreneurs who have the similar schedule as you to launch their impact solutions, and you will be able to leverage the critical mass theory to maximise impact through this group products launch event.

Leading up to the event, there will be 4 virtual sessions to get your final preparations done:

  • Scope your launch, access your target audience and prepare your post launch marketing
  • Design your sale funnel in advance and learn how to write your press release 
  • How to arrange your launch deck and pitch practice 
  • Master your networking and sales skills  

The event will be organised and funded by CISL Canopy with ERDF funding, and it will be entirely free for selected businesses to launch their solutions. (However, any product marketing materials preparations are the businesses’ responsibility.) CISL Canopy will be inviting their corporate network, investor network and ecosystem stakeholders to attend this event, and it will be a fantastic opportunity for businesses to network afterwards.

 

Contributors

Viola Jardon

Viola is currently working as a Senior Programme Manager 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. Catapult, Plug & Play, MSDUK and L Marks Corporate Accelerators and a business advisor for a few tech businesses. 

 

Ivan Lopez Jr.

Ivan has over 20 years of global senior leadership and entrepreneurial experience with core experience in technology, licensing, e-commerce, content, operations, early stage investment, business development and marketing. He has created and led multiple businesses from idea to exit. Ivan is an active mentor to startup CEOs and deeply involved in global entrepreneurial ecosystems.

With deal making experience exceeding $500M in revenues coupled with product, manufacturing and technology sourcing background in contracts in excess of $1B. Leadership roles held at Amazon, Techstars, Disney, Sony Pictures, Hutchison Whampoa to name a few.

 

Natasha Terinova

Partner at REACH UK, Second Century Ventures technology scale-up programme, Natasha was voted one of the 50 leaders of sustainable change by #ProptechForGood for bringing a unique perspective on the sustainability in the built environment. With a background as a CEO and advisor to cleantech start-ups in the UK and internationally, Natasha also lead bespoke projects for corporates, such as bioplastic challenge for London City Airport.

Co-leading initiatives like the Digital High Street and Net Zero Challenge, Natasha works with the real estate industry professionals to modernise, improve environmental footprint of the built environment, and embrace future trends through cross sector collaboration and partnerships.

 

Simon Hombersley

Simon is a serial entrepreneur and venture builder, with a focus on climate tech. He is a founder and CEO of two companies spun out from the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, developing from initial IP through to Series A funded, scaled businesses while building teams and engaging customers. 

Simon’s expertise lies in plastic alternatives and materials, energy efficiency, water tech, industrial process technology and engineering, with wider climate tech. His focus is on prioritising purpose-led, diverse and impactful priorities.  

 

Satu Apukka

Satu Apukka is the Chief Experience Officer at Finnish EdTech company Kide Science, an exciting start-up delivering play-based lesson plans to teachers worldwide based on the University of Helsinki academic research, and has years of experience in marketing and sales in different companies. She is also specialised in influencer marketing and has worked with top Finnish social media influencers. Satu’s primary role is to create positive customer experiences. For a product to be effective, she knows it’s essential to understand the customer journey all the way through: from a new customer at the start of their journey to the established customers who've built up an ongoing relationship. 

As CXO, Satu also values building the best team culture: where people are eager to grow as professionals, work together as a team, and help each other. Satu believes that learning new things and moving out of your comfort zone are crucial for your success. Satu has been one of the Senior Mentors in the University of Helsinki Incubator program Nexus, in the field of Deep Tech, AI & Sustainability. In the past 6 months Satu has helped researchers, innovators and/or entrepreneurs together with other experts.
 

 

Ramon Crespi

Ramon Crespi is a Spanish entrepreneur and investor currently residing in Helsinki. He has earned recognition for his exceptional communication abilities, his mastery of emotional intelligence, and his expertise in constructing behaviour profiles. At 18, he embarked upon his entrepreneurial journey and has since established a number of flourishing enterprises. He has also had experience in business-to-business sales, having served as a representative for BMWi in the Mallorca. In recent times, Mr. Crespi has turned his attention towards the stock market trading, using his expertise and acumen to achieve great success in this field. He is also committed to helping Nordic companies enhance their communication skills, utilising his philosophy of "better questions, better answers."

Ramon serves as senior mentor at the University of Helsinki, where the Nexus incubation program helps science-based startups in the fields of AI,deep tech and sustainability.

 

Elisabeth Picart

Elisabeth’s 7+ years of agency experience include FMCG, Automotive, Beauty and Arts with industry-leading clients Lexus, Nespresso, Coty and Christie’s before joining the LVMH team. Starting her career in client relationships and then moving into digital strategy, Elisabeth understands the client business challenges, while had the chance to lead integrated media campaigns. As a Digital Director for EMEA, her role is to support both Maisons and local markets on their digital strategy and digital maturity journey to deliver growth taking advantage of her long-standing digital expertise.

 

James Cole

James is a core member of the 150-person, £15m turnover Institute's Executive Team. He leads four central functions (Corporate Relations, Canopy and Accelerator, Marketing and Communications) and has substantially contributed to growing the organisation from £5.5m - £15m pa. He had negotiated and delivered the Unilever Young Sustainability Entrepreneur Awards and Accelerator Programme for six years (attracting 5,000+ applications globally). He has built a cross-organisational team driving CISL's global profile, reach and impact through professional PR and marketing, brand, network engagement, events and digital communications. He also led the team to launch Canopy in 2022, a new home for entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses pioneering sustainability innovation.