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Impact startups is a movement encouraging companies and entrepreneurs at Web Summit to focus on how they can use tech to benefit their industry as a whole, their local communities, and even the planet. At Web Summit 2022, we’re celebrating the startups at the forefront of this movement.
UN Sustainable Development Goals. Source: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
How are Impact startups selected?
How are Impact startups selected?
Impact startups are selected by our team for their innovation in pursuit of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – 17 objectives in the fight against poverty, hunger, inequality, environmental degradation and climate change. Impact startups act on one or more of these goals in a way that could have a far-reaching effect within their industry and beyond.
The SDGs are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”.
FAQ
Am I an Impact startup?
Am I an Impact startup?
The startups team at Web Summit is looking for emerging companies that are:
Pursuing one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in operations.
Adjusting and adapting enterprise objectives to be more sustainable.
Solving problems in their industry that could have a far-reaching effect.
Prioritising social collaboration over competition.
How do I become an Impact startup?
Our Impact initiative has closed for Web Summit 2022
What are the benefits of being an Impact startup?
There are many benefits to becoming an Impact startup:
Investor to startup meetings: We have allocated Impact investors who are interested in investing in social enterprise startups. You will have access to 1000+ investors, including recognised Impact-focused VCs and entrepreneurs.
Knowledge sharing: The Web Summit team offers focused content for Impact startups, including a dedicated startup roundtable with an impact-related topic, and impact-specific mentors for Mentor Hours.
Strategic exposure: Stand out from the crowd with our Impact startup badge, which you can share on your own social channels. We also have strategic blog posts profiling some of the Impact startups coming to Web Summit.
Community development: Create relationships with other Impact startups during impact-specific Mentor Hours sessions. Use the Impact filter on the mobile app to connect with other Impact attendees at the event.
Impact masterclass area: A brand new area at Web Summit 2022 for all things Impact, including Impact masterclasses and an Impact Startup Showcase celebrating the startups on the programme pursuing the UN SDGs.
Our brand and sustainability
Web Summit stands at the forefront of the world’s latest developments and discoveries, and, in 2020, we launched our sustainability strategy. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the core of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and we are proud to commit to these SDGs as guiding principles for our own sustainability initiatives.
The Earthshot Prize
We are honoured to again be named as Earthshot nominators for 2022. In 2021, we were invited to contribute to the Earthshot prize as nominators for the first time. It was an experience we relished being part of, as sustainability is core to our mission – both as an event series and as a convener of world leaders and innovative thinkers.
Web Summit's Impact startup programme is utilised to find entrepreneurs and emerging companies that can make key contributions to the aims of the Earthshot prize. The enterprises in our network are already selected for their forward-looking focus and entrepreneurial abilities. With the Earthshot prize, even more of our exciting startups can have the chance to share their vision of the future with the world.
The awards are centred around five ‘Earthshots’ – simple but ambitious goals (underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Goals) for improving life on our planet.
This sustainability prize will continue throughout this decade, providing 50 solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems by 2030. The Earthshot prize will award GB£1 million to the winners of each of the five Earthshot categories every year, with shortlisted candidates also receiving support and contacts to help scale.
You can find out more here.
Impact blogs
Impact blogs
***Coming soon***
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