The “Climate Launchpad” is the world’s largest competition for green startups – more than 50 countries take part. This year the initiative is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is therefore still part of the Climate-KIC’s entrepreneurship offering, which is supported by the European Union. From 2024, the Climate Launchpad will have a new host organization in Austria: The Thinkubator, founded by Alexandra Kick and Felix Ambros.
Thinkubator brings Climate Launchpad back after a 1-year break
“Stop climate change – one startup at a time” is the mission of the Climate Launchpad. Its role is clear: it offers cleantech entrepreneurs a platform. Those climate startups that emerge as winners in the competition are supported in their early development phase, for example through mentoring and training.
The Thinkubator, a think tank on the topic of circular economy that sees itself as a connector for sustainable solutions, supports this and is the new host organization in Austria this year. For the two founders of the thinkubator Kick and Ambros, the return of the Climate Launchpad underlines the central role of the Austrian start-up scene in sustainability transformation. In recent years it has been sic! (students’ innovation center) host of the Climate Launchpad, but gave up the role, which is why Austria did not take part in the competition last year. “Austria currently has no comparable program for climate startups,” says co-founder Kick.
This is what the Thinkubator stands for
Thinkubator’s business model is to advise organizations and individuals and offer training on the topic of sustainability transformation. “We provide the necessary knowledge and tools to achieve positive changes for the environment and society,” says the founding team. As a Climate Launchpad participant in 2022, the Thinkubator itself emerged as the winner of the audience award. This meant they were able to experience first-hand the impact and value of the program and the community. In addition to the Audience Award, which is determined via community voting, several jury prizes are also awarded.
The Thinkubator sees itself as a bridge builder for innovation. Co-founder and initiator Ambros emphasizes: “The Climate Launchpad is the contact point for early-stage climate startups in Europe. Reviving this program in Austria closes an innovation gap and advances the ecological transformation in an innovative way.”
The application window for the Climate Launchpad 2024 is open to all climate entrepreneurs as of today.