* * * APPLICATIONS CLOSED !!! * * *
Apply now for the zeroland Excellence Challenge
zeroland has launched an ongoing process to identify the best startups in Europe and worldwide in order to match them with globally operating investors, business angels and family offices.
We invite all startups tackling the most pressing problems such as climate crisis as well as biodiversity loss and already offering products and solutions on international markets to qualify for our selection process.
You are in the right place if you have a groundbreaking innovation and can demonstrate both a significant ecological impact as well as a clearly recognizable return on invest.
OUR VALUE PROPOSITION
What's it all about?
- We help greentech startups close the gap between initial financing and Series A or B investments
- Exclusive opportunity to meet with high-level investors ready to fund solutions addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis
- A rigorous validation process that ensures funding upon approval
OUR OFFER FOR YOU
What you need to do?
→ Participate in the zeroland Excellence challenge 2024/2025
For a fee of EUR 99,00 (+VAT) zeroland offers all applying startups to participate in the zeroland Excellence Challenge 2024/2025.
A limited number of 50 spots available!
Part A: The Active Match-Making program
What's exactly in it for you?
1. Active sales & match making for 6 months: You will be included in zeroland's sales activities for 6 months and be actively promoted in discussions with investors, business angels and family offices as part of a personalized match-making process.
2. Constant match making: Our Match Making Engine continuously monitors potential investor opportunities. You will be actively contacted when a match is found.
3. Quarterly progress review: Every three months, we assess your current situation, how your needs have evolved, and discuss any conversations that have taken place.
4. zeroland newsletter: Sent every three months.
5. Founder interview: We produce an interview with one of the founders or C-level manager of your startup.
6. Startup highlight report: One feature report on your startup over the 6-month period.
The Topics
All startups covering the following topics can apply by DECEMBER 15th, 2024 (EXTENDED DEADLINE!) for the zeroland Excellence Challenge 2024/2025.
Topic 1: SOLUTIONS FOR THE DECARBONIZATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY & REAL ESTATE
Topic 2: SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE & FOOD PRODUCTION (e.g. water management & storage / drip irrigation / flood prevention / drought prevention)
Topic 3: CONSERVATION OF NATURE & BIODIVERSITY (e.g. afforestation / forest protection / peatland drainage)
Topic 4: SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE & GREEN FINANCE SOLUTIONS (e.g. CO2 management / energy consulting / energy audit / supply chain / energy efficiency)
Topic 5: CO2 BINDING & CARBON CAPTURE SOLUTIONS (e.g. biochar / direct air capturing)
Topic 6: SOLAR, WIND & HYDROGEN TECHNOLOGY (e.g. commercial PV systems / agri-PV / innovative PV coatings / carports / tenant electricity / solar parks / wind parks)
Topic 7: ELECTRICITY & STORAGE SOLUTIONS (e.g. scalable commercial electricity storage / recycling of used batteries / H2O-based solutions)
Topic 8: MOBILITY & CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE (e.g. e-mobility / car sharing / bike sharing / e-bikes / cargo bikes / charging infrastructure)
Qualification Round → Excellence Round → THE FINALS
1. Qualification Round
From all applications the best 10 startups will be selected by the zeroland jury and qualify for the Excellence Round. The winners will be announced by DECEMBER 20th, 2024.
2. Excellence Round (online)
The Excellence Round is an online event held in December 2024. The exact date and the composition of the jury will be communicated to the selected startups by email.
3. THE FINALS (Face-to-face event)
The winners of the Excellence Round will then be invited to the THE FINALS of the zeroland Excellence Challenge taking place between January 24th to 26th, 2025 in Verbier, Switzerland, where they will meet their potential investors in one-to-one meetings in an extraordinary atmosphere.
Your way to participate in the zeroland Excellence Challenge
(99,00€ one-time fee)
Step 1: Your Application
- Apply now to take part in the zeroland Excellence Challenge via our → QUESTIONNAIRE
- Send us your latest pitch deck
- Send a one-minute WhatsApp video that shows the personality of the founder(s). Be as spontaneous & natural as you are. No need for AI design, use your mobile! Real faces, please.😉
Send both to the following Email: challenge@zeroland.io
Duration: 30 minutes
Step 2: Qualification Round
All applications will be revised by our jury of experts according to the specified criteria and formed topic clusters.
The 10 best placed startups will advance to the Excellence Round.
Step 3: Excellence Round & FINALS
As soon as the Excellence Round is scheduled the winners will receive an invitation for a 5-minutes pitch (online) + 10-minutes discussion.
Duration: 15 minutes
The 5 best startups will be invited to THE FINALS. At this exclusive event taking place between January 24th-26th, 2025, they can discuss their ideas directly with potential investors (location to be announced).
Duration: 3 days & nights (arrivals at January 23rd, 2025)
Your Benefits
1. Expert consulting services
Those startups selected to the Excellence Round receive a 20% rebate on zeroland consulting services (partly carried out by partners). Our experts provide strategic guidance to overcome business challenges and accelerate growth. Please contact us in case you are interested.
2. Direct access to investors
This competition bridges the gap for startups struggling to find Series A or Series B funding. Startups that advance to THE FINALS have the unique opportunity to pitch directly to an exclusive circle of globally successful investors, family offices and business angels, potentially securing the funding needed to elevate their startup to the next level.
3. Valuable feedback from experts
Presenting to seasoned entrepreneurs and investors provides invaluable feedback. Experts will highlight strengths, identify areas for improvement and offer insights that might have been overlooked, refining your business model and pitch.
4. Significant exposure
Participating startups gain social media presence on our website and LinkedIN. This exposure reaches a wide audience of industry leaders, potential partners, and investors, giving your startup the visibility it deserves.
5. Networking with industry leaders
Building a robust network is crucial in the startup world. The competition offers excellent opportunities to connect with other startups, investors and industry experts, leading to partnerships, collaborations and mentorship.
6. Boost your credibility
Being part of the competition enhances your startup's credibility, showing that you're serious about growth and open to learning. This makes your startup more appealing to investors and partners, increasing your chances of securing funding and resources.
7. Prestige
The winners of the Excellence Round advance to THE FINALS and will have the chance to pitch directly to investors. This is a significant opportunity to showcase your startup to key decision-makers who can fund and support your growth.
Don’t miss out – Join us today!
Participating in our startup competition is more than just a chance to win; it's an opportunity to learn, grow, and network. You can gain feedback, market insights, innovation advice and much more. Take this step to propel your startup forward and secure your future success.
→ Click on the button and complete the PAYMENT PROCESS as well as the following QUESTIONNAIRE in order to participate in the zeroland Excellence Challenge!
Rules of the Challenge
1. Eligibility
Industry focus:
- Open to impact startups from all industries within the areas mentioned above.
Company size:
- Number of employees: >5
- Annual revenue: >250.000€
Targeted investment:
>500.000€, up to 10M€ and more
2. Deadline for applications
- DECEMBER 15th, 2024 at 23:59:59 (EXTENDED DEADLINE!)
3. Terms and conditions
- Fee: The participation fee is non-refundable.
- Commitment: Participating startups must commit to attending the scheduled pitch sessions.
- Confidentiality: All participants agree to maintain the confidentiality of other startups' proprietary information.
- Final decision: The judges' decisions are final and binding in all respects.
- Promotion: By entering the competition, startups agree to the use of their names, logos, and descriptions in promotional materials.
- Discaimer: The fee of 99,00€ (+VAT) entitles you to participate in the zeroland Excellence Challenge 2024/2025. However, it does not guarantee you a participation at THE FINALS event. Only those startups selected by the Excellence Round jury will be invited to THE FINALS event. Per startup one single person, i.e. CEO or founder, will be invited. Basic accomodation for 3 nights - arrival on January 23rd to 26th 2025, will be included, travel expenses won´t.
How to prepare for the Challenge
→ Prepare for the zeroland Excellence Challenge. The following questions await you there:
1. Give us a brief description of your business
2. Which industry does your startup operate in?
3. Number of employees
4. Your current stage
5. Annual revenue last year
6. What problem is your startup solving?
7. Describe your product or service. How does it solve the problem you identified?
8. Who are your primary customers? Describe your target market and its size.
9. What evidence do you have that your target market needs your solution (e.g., customer testimonials, market research, pilot programs)?
10. How does your startup make money? Describe your revenue model.
11. Who are your main competitors, and what differentiates your startup from them?
12. What milestones have you achieved so far (e.g., customer acquisition, partnerships, revenue growth)?
13. Received investment by now
14. Targeted investment
15. How do you plan to use the investment funds if you receive them?
16. Who are the key members of your team, and what are their roles? Include brief bios highlighting relevant experience and expertise.
→ Apply now to take part in the zeroland Excellence program via our QUESTIONNAIRE
The Qualification Round Jury
Rajeshwar Bachu
As founder of Zero Carbon and co-founder of 42hacks, Rajeshwar is driven by a passion for sustainability and innovation. His motivation to organize the zeroland Excellence Challenge stems from a desire to support startups that are pioneering in green technologies and solutions. By leveraging his extensive network and experience, Raj aims to accelerate the transformation towards a sustainable future by connecting startups with the right investors and resources.
CEO of Zero Carbon
Peter Brock
Peter is an experienced expert in impact investing and wealth management, with a focus on sustainable wealth transfer across generations through financial education. He is a co-founder of BeeWyzer and the *Impact Investing Magazin*, and he offers one-on-one coaching on impact investing, wealth management, financial education, and family office services. Based in Lugano, Switzerland, Peter serves as a Family Officer and Chairman of an Investment Committee. He also mentors various accelerator programs, including Impact Startups at Anthropia, PHINEO Startups, and the BRYCK Startup Accelerator.
Founder, family officer & startup mentor
Wilhelm Hammes
Offsetting emissions is important and necessary, but reduction should always come first. Companies then have to achieve this through other measures and I hope through zeroland, a partner network with lots of cool solutions. We are really happy about the cooperation. This means that our customers can also find suitable solutions for all kinds of issues.
Co-founder & CEO of Planted
Guido West
Guido is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with extensive experience in international sales, business development and strategic marketing. As founder and CEO of zeroland his focus lies on promoting zero-emission and biodiversity protecting solutions. zeroland on the one hand supports businesses in their green transition and on the other hand matches greentech startups with potential investors, business angels and family offices.
CEO of zeroland
CEO of Zero Carbon
Rajeshwar Bachu
As founder of Zero Carbon and co-founder of 42hacks, Rajeshwar is driven by a passion for sustainability and innovation. His motivation to organize the zeroland Excellence Challenge stems from a desire to support startups that are pioneering in green technologies and solutions. By leveraging his extensive network and experience, Raj aims to accelerate the transformation towards a sustainable future by connecting startups with the right investors and resources.
Founder, family officer & startup mentor
Peter Brock
Peter is an experienced expert in impact investing and wealth management, with a focus on sustainable wealth transfer across generations through financial education. He is a co-founder of BeeWyzer and the *Impact Investing Magazin*, and he offers one-on-one coaching on impact investing, wealth management, financial education, and family office services. Based in Lugano, Switzerland, Peter serves as a Family Officer and Chairman of an Investment Committee. He also mentors various accelerator programs, including Impact Startups at Anthropia, PHINEO Startups, and the BRYCK Startup Accelerator.
Founder & Impact Angel Investor
Anne Geiger
Anne is an experienced professional serving as a Non-Executive Board Director at Moniflo, General Partner at Partners in Clime, Advisory Board Member at Tomorrow, and an impact angel investor, with a background in fintech and marketing roles at NMA Venture Capital, FINEXITY, and finleap connect, as well as being a member of the Evangelistas and a Carbon13 founder.
CEO of Ragnarson
Maciej Gałkiewicz
Maciej is CEO and Partner at Ragnarson, a software agency and angel investor, with over 14 years of experience, including roles in business development, Linux system administration, mentoring startups through Rockstart and GrowthMentor, and co-founding Shelly Cloud, with a strong educational background in computer science from Politechnika Łódzka.
Co-founder & CEO of Planted
Wilhelm Hammes
Offsetting emissions is important and necessary, but reduction should always come first. Companies then have to achieve this through other measures and I hope through zeroland, a partner network with lots of cool solutions. We are really happy about the cooperation. This means that our customers can also find suitable solutions for all kinds of issues.
CEO of zeroland
Guido West
Guido is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with extensive experience in international sales, business development and strategic marketing, currently serves as Founder & CEO of zeroland, focusing on promoting zero-emission and resilient economic solutions.
Our Sponsors
GOLD Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Who we are
Guido West, CEO of zeroland
"zeroland helps businesses to master the green transformation and find suitable solutions for all kinds of climate and environmental issues. "
"Our motivation for organizing the zeroland Excellence Challenge lies in connecting innovative founders and promising startups with the right investors, business angels and family offices. We firmly believe that great ideas and groundbreaking technologies can only reach their full potential with the right support and funding. We believe that the necessary transformation can only be accelerated with adequate funding, and we aim to motivate investors to shift their money into green technologies, following the principle of 'move the money.' Our goal is to foster the next generation of entrepreneurs through this platform and help them realize their visions."
Bachu Rajeshwar, CEO of ZEro Carbon
"Together with zeroland, Zero Carbon aims at finding new ways to massively accelerate the green transformation. Just look outside your front door: it's high time!"
As founder of Zero Carbon and co-founder of 42hacks, Rajeshwar is driven by a passion for sustainability and innovation. His motivation to organize the zeroland Excellence challenge stems from a desire to support startups that are pioneering in green technologies and solutions. By leveraging his extensive network and experience, Raj aims to accelerate the transformation towards a sustainable future by connecting startups with the right investors and resources.
...and this is zeroland
Why a collaboration with zeroland pays off
Greater reach
By working with zeroland, you gain access to a broad network of small and medium-sized companies, municipalities and institutions that are actively looking for sustainable solutions. This gives you a stronger market presence.
Trust
As an established player in the field of sustainability, zeroland acts as a trustworthy intermediary between solution providers and customers. We are convinced that you will also benefit from this.
Efficient matching
With the help of data-driven approaches, we offer efficient provider matching that ensures that your offer is an optimal match for the needs and requirements of your customers.
More deals
Through targeted marketing and sales measures tailored to your individual offer and your presence on zeroland, you will receive increased attention from potential customers, which will significantly increase your chances of closing a deal.
Investor relations
zeroland assists young, selected startups by providing them direct access to a network of investors, businesss angels and family offices. The immense advantage lies in the accelerated growth potential and the opportunity to scale their innovations more effectively, ultimately increasing their chances of success in competitive markets.
What our startups say about zeroland
Wilhelm Hammes, CEO of Planted.green
"At zeroland, customers can find suitable solutions for all kinds of climate and environmental issues."
Offsetting emissions is important and necessary, but reduction should always come first. Companies then have to achieve this through other measures and I hope through zeroland, a partner network with lots of cool solutions. We are really happy about the cooperation. This means that our customers can also find suitable solutions for all kinds of issues.
Sylvia Brockmann, CHAIRWOMAN AT UNO INO
"I immediately liked zeroland's idea of working with many providers to accelerate the green transformation."
I got to know Guido at the Impact Festival in Offenbach and liked his idea of zeroland directly, bringing together different providers on one platform and offering solutions for the climate transition in business, cities and municipalities. At UNO INO, we think in terms of cooperation and networks and are convinced that now is the time to work together to find solutions for sustainable transformation and the climate transition. We therefore see the cooperation as complementary and are happy to be involved as a provider of support for sustainable transformation and climate management in companies.
Dr. Hannes Junginger-Gestrich, CEO of carbonfuture
"We want to have a real climate impact! zeroland is the ideal partner for us."
We offer solutions to extract CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in the long term.
We want to have a real climate impact by scaling up climate-positive projects. This requires financing and that's why carbonfuture exists.
I am delighted to be working with zeroland to support companies and other stakeholders in implementing their climate strategy.
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