Overview
50 to Watch Summit: Meet the Companies Fighting our Biggest Battles
The daily experience of a changing climate is starting to sink in. In Europe, the last few months have been rocked by heatwaves, tree-killing hail storms and droughts. Deadly fires and floods are increasingly frequent around the globe. While governments have largely failed to deliver drastic measures to cut our emissions and pollution, people seem more eager than ever to embrace change. In this context, we at Cleantech Group are seeing a new generation of innovators developing high-impact solutions to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. These entrepreneurs are creating new technologies and business models that could change every aspect of how we live – from what we eat to how we consume, from how we build our homes to our relationship with nature. After a decade of success with our Global Cleantech 100, we launched 50 to Watch, an annual program designed to surface and recognize the best early-stage companies fighting to get us back on track while turning a profit.
The 50 have their sight set on lofty goals and give their all to achieve profitable impact. Together, they form a roadmap to a more sustainable future.
On November 14th, we will hear from the companies who made our inaugural 50 to Watch list, and the Expert Panel who selected them.
Join us for this intimate gathering and hear from the exciting companies fighting our biggest battles.
Agenda
Meet the Companies Fighting our Biggest Battles
In the face of the climate crisis, 50 to Watch companies are developing high-impact solutions to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. These entrepreneurs are creating new technologies and business models that could change every aspect of how we live – from what we eat to how we consume, from how we build our homes to our relationship with nature.
On November 14th, we will hear from 20+ founders of the 50 to Watch, and will engage them on their goals, ambitions and progress to date. Join us for this intimate conversation with some of the most exciting innovation companies out there.
Featured speakers
Jurrian Ruys
CEO, Land Life Company
Brandi DeCarli
Founding Partner, Farm from a Box
Ruben Walker
Founder & CEO, African Clean Energy
Joan Collell
CEO, FlexiDAONovember 14, 2019
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Arrival & Croissants
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Introducing the 50 to Watch
Jules Besnainou
Director, Cleantech for Europe -
How We Produce Food and Reduce Waste
Brandi DeCarli
Founding Partner, Farm from a Box
Philipp Silbernagel
CEO, Wisefood -
How We Make Our Clothes
Holly Stower
Group Lead, Resources & Environment, Cleantech Group
Petri Alava
CEO, Infinited Fiber Company
Jérémie Blache
CEO, PILI
Adrian Jones
Founder, BlockTexx -
Coffee Break
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How We Build and Maintain
Christophe Desrumaux
Partner, Demeter
Lucile Hamon
Co-Founder & CEO, Backacia
Stéphan Savarese
Co-Founder & CEO, TCTF -
How We Fit In Nature
Jurrian Ruys
CEO, Land Life Company -
Before Lunch: A Bonus Presentation & Welcome to Paris Region
Enass Abo-Hamed
CEO, H2GO Power
Sevinç Ar Chimot
Cleantech Manager, Choose Paris Region -
Lunch
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How We Move
Christophe Desrumaux
Partner, Demeter
Lex Hoefsloot
CEO & Co-Founder, Lightyear
Richard Kolacz
CEO, GSTS -
How We Power Our Lives (Part 1)
Jelena Markovic
Associate, Baywa r.e. Energy Ventures
Andrew Justo
CFO, Allume Energy
Raimo Vuopionperä
Co-Founder & CEO, Bamomas
Ruben Walker
Founder & CEO, African Clean Energy
Eric Reynolds
CEO, Inyenyeri -
Coffee Break
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How We Power Our Lives (Part 2)
Joan Collell
CEO, FlexiDAO
Frédéric Crampé
CEO and Co-Founder, BeeBryte
Charlotta Holmquist
Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, Blixt
James Larsen
CEO, e-Zinc
Nigel Saunders
CEO, Sure Chill
Venue
The 50 to Watch Summit will be located at Taylor Wessing’s Paris office:
69 Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 75008 Paris
Speakers
Enass Abo-Hamed
CEO, H2GO Power Speaker bioEnass Abo-Hamed
Enass founded H2GO Power after her successful research with a novel porous catalytic material for the production and storage of hydrogen as part of her PhD at the University of Cambridge. Having previously obtained her BSc and MSc degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), she is currently a research associate at Cambridge and a Cambridge University Energy Champion.
Petri Alava
CEO, Infinited Fiber CompanyPetri Alava
Sevinç Ar Chimot
Cleantech Manager, Choose Paris RegionSevinç Ar Chimot
Jules Besnainou
Director, Cleantech for Europe Speaker bioJules Besnainou
Jules Besnainou is the Executive Director of Cleantech for Europe, the initiative helping the EU lead the race to net zero by bridging the gap between cleantech leaders and policymakers. He was previously a director at Cleantech Group, where he advised the world’s foremost cleantech investors, corporates and governments, helping them assess and invest in new innovations. After starting his career in San Francisco and London, he moved back to France to head the group’s EU presence and clients. Jules graduated summa cum laude from Sciences Po Paris.
Jérémie Blache
CEO, PILIJérémie Blache
Joan Collell
CEO, FlexiDAO Speaker bioJoan Collell
Former Senior Associate Consultant at Bain & Co., Ex-Google and ex-Henkel. Expertise on B2B Business Development and customer experience
Frédéric Crampé
CEO and Co-Founder, BeeBryte Speaker bioFrédéric Crampé
Frédéric has a MSc. & MEng. from SUPAERO, an MBA from INSEAD and is a Certified Energy Manager. Fred started working in the US at Caltech / NASA JPL where he developed an award-winning software to study Climate Change. The rest of his career has been devoted to work in the Cleantech industry with roles ranging from sales, business development, consulting, strategy, project finance and M&A to general management. Fred is an investor and serial entrepreneur. Until recently, he was CEO of ReEx Capital Asia, a leading clean energy investment banking boutique that he founded in Singapore in 2006. Fred is on the Board of several companies. Some of the companies that Fred has advised include: E.ON, Engie, REC Solar, BNP Paribas, United Nations and the Asian Development Bank. Fred has an extensive network of contacts in the US, Europe and Asia.
Brandi DeCarli
Founding Partner, Farm from a Box Speaker bioBrandi DeCarli
Brandi DeCarli is the Founding Partner of Farm from a Box, an off-grid agriculture toolkit that revolutionizes local food production and enables communities to be economically sustainable. She is currently a SheEO Venture Fellow, a board member of Jordanian agritech accelerator HASSAD, and a Rising Talent with the Women’s Forum. She is a frequent global speaker on technology’s role in climate resilience, economic empowerment, and women’s leadership, including her TEDx talk, “How technology and togetherness can transform our world.” A firm believer in the power of collaboration, Brandi is passionate about rejecting old rules and driving positive change in the world through innovation, compassion, and connection. She’s a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and lives in San Francisco.
Christophe Desrumaux
Partner, DemeterChristophe Desrumaux
Lucile Hamon
Co-Founder & CEO, Backacia Speaker bioLucile Hamon
Graduated from HEC Paris with a Master’s degree in Management and Entrepreneurship. It has kept the recycling of waste as a common theme and, in particular, has set up the Waste Me Up project . She has carried out missions on this topic with large groups (Suez, Engie, …) and social entrepreneurs. Passionate about the circular economy, Lucile wants to create a greener economy.
Lex Hoefsloot
CEO & Co-Founder, Lightyear Speaker bioLex Hoefsloot
As CEO and co-founder, Lex is all about the end-goal and long term vision for the company. He does not only think about which technologies to use, what people to hire and which investors to work with, but also what company culture to build. He believes that by living the Lightyear mission we can make the world a better place. When not at work, Lex likes winter sports, reading, hiking and playing the piano.
Sebastian Höglin Thordén
Co-Founder, WhywasteSebastian Höglin Thordén
Charlotta Holmquist
Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, Blixt Speaker bioCharlotta Holmquist
Charlotta is a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of several companies in cleantech, fintech, B2C and B2B. Her current role is Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of BL!XT, multiple award winning tech startup and the first and only to develop miniature solid state circuit breakers. In 2019 Charlotta was honored ‘No 1 Female Entrepreneur of the Year Globally’ by the UK rating institute Earlymetrics. MBA from Stockholm School of Economics and started her career as Chief Analyst at Salomon Smith Barney in Chile.
Adrian Jones
Founder, BlockTexx Speaker bioAdrian Jones
Adrian Jones is a seasoned retail veteran with over thirty years’ experience in major retailers in the UK and Australia. He has held multiple senior roles, including CEO of APG, owner of iconic brands Sportscraft and Saba. He has a deep and thorough knowledge of sourcing, supply chain and product development in the textile industry. He is a ‘dyed in the wool’ retailer, who loves the fashion industry. As both an industry participant and consumer, Adrian has realised that the industry is both ready for and needs positive and real change. He observed the tension of trying to continue to grow consumption without dealing with the waste we produce, and this is where BlockTexx can make a significant contribution to the fashion model, converting textile waste into resource. Adrian is married, lives in Sydney with his wife and two sons. He is a Director with Youth Homelessness Charity Homie, and in his free time, is a keen cyclist.
Andrew Justo
CFO, Allume EnergyAndrew Justo
Abdul Khogali
COO, Genecis Speaker bioAbdul Khogali
Abdul holds a MASc. degree from University of Toronto, and has over five years of experience in business development. He served as an environmental consultant, coordinating with hundreds of clients in the GTA, ensuring projects were don with a high level of quality and within the regulatory frameworks set by the governments. He also worked as an operations manager for a security firm, leading the development of multi-million dollars deals and managing over 70 staff members. Abdul also holds a B.Sc. in biopharmaceutical science with a specialization in genomics.
Richard Kolacz
CEO, GSTS Speaker bioRichard Kolacz
Richard has 30+ years experience in the naval, space and maritime sectors at both a technical and business level. His proven track record in strategic growth provides GSTS with established relationships in defence, naval and maritime agencies and industries on a global scale.
James Larsen
CEO, e-Zinc Speaker bioJames Larsen
James has over 15 years of business leadership and engineering experience spanning cleantech and startups, strategy and operations, and design and engineering.
Most recently, James was a Director with the Advanced Energy Centre (part of MaRS Discovery District) where he built a novel Products & Services business line. Within 2 years, he grew this business from initial concept to over $1.2MM in sales and expanded its global reach to include 5 international markets. Prior to MaRS, James was a Management Consultant with Bain & Company, a top-tier consulting firm, developing strategic solutions for market-leading companies in Canada, the U.S., and Europe. James also possesses deep experience as an engineer working in the renewable energy industry with a variety of technologies, including hydrogen fuel cells, as well as micro-hydro and geothermal generation.
James holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering (with Honours) from Queen’s University and an MBA (Dean’s List) from the Ivey Business School at Western University. James is also a registered Professional Engineer.
Eric Reynolds
CEO, InyenyeriEric Reynolds
Jurrian Ruys
CEO, Land Life CompanyJurrian Ruys
Nigel Saunders
CEO, Sure ChillNigel Saunders
Stéphan Savarese
Co-Founder & CEO, TCTF Speaker bioStéphan Savarese
Stéphan has filed with Kolja Kuse patents on CFS applications in the construction industry and in space. Aerospace engineer (Centrale Lyon 1991, Cornell M. Eng.), Started in the USA as an expert in CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), modeling and numerical simulation.
Back in France in 1995, Stephan received several awards in industrial creativity for successful technology transfer from research to industry, and then led and created engineering, development and sales teams for scientific and industrial software.
Expert in transport and energy systems, scientific advisor, innovative leader for climate transitions (teaching, revision of IPCC reports), energy and digital, creator of start-ups and technological patents, Stephan has prioritized since COP21 in 2015 Climate Transition: Shock the shocks from the Holocene to the Anthropocene.
Philipp Silbernagel
CEO, WisefoodPhilipp Silbernagel
Holly Stower
Group Lead, Resources & Environment, Cleantech Group Speaker bioHolly Stower
Holly is a Senior Associate leading Resources & Environment research at Cleantech Group and is based in the UK. She is focused on emerging innovation and trends, including those in water, waste, the circular economy, natural resources, and corporate sustainability.
Prior to joining Cleantech Group, Holly was a Public Affairs & Communications Executive with the Solar Trade Association and the Association of British Insurers. Before this, Holly worked in advocacy for climate and wildlife charities.
Holly earned an Undergraduate and a Master’s in Environmental Science from the University of East Anglia.
Raimo Vuopionperä
Co-Founder & CEO, BamomasRaimo Vuopionperä
Ruben Walker
Founder & CEO, African Clean EnergyRuben Walker
Sponsors
We would like to thank our sponsor, Taylor Wessing, for hosting the 50 to Watch Summit.
If you are interested in sponsoring the 50 to Watch Summit, please reach out to jules.besnainou@cleantech.com
Summit Sponsor
Established in April 2018 and focusing on digital energy solutions, storage and e-mobility, BayWa r.e. Energy Ventures is looking for innovative startups from across the energy sector to invest as lead or co-investor, during the crucial stages of early development.
Read moreEstablished in April 2018 and focusing on digital energy solutions, storage and e-mobility, BayWa r.e. Energy Ventures is looking for innovative startups from across the energy sector to invest as lead or co-investor, during the crucial stages of early development. With the stability and financial backing of BayWa AG, BayWa r.e. Energy Ventures acts as a standalone business and can guarantee startups maximum independence, quick decisions and flexibility.
Choose Paris Region is a catalyst for business and innovation which supports international companies willing to expand in the Paris Region.
Read moreChoose Paris Region is a catalyst for business and innovation which supports international companies willing to expand in the Paris Region. As a non-profit governmental agency, Choose Paris Region works with local public entities to provide free tailor-made services. Every year, with a team of 80 dedicated professionals across Europe, the US and China, Choose Paris Region supports 1,000+ international companies looking to grow their business in the Paris Region, one of the leading tech and business hubs in the world.
Demeter is a major player in venture capital and private equity for the energy and ecological transition. We invest from 1 M€ to 30 M€ to support companies at all stages of their development: innovative startups, high growth SMEs and infrastructure projects.
Read moreDemeter is a major player in venture capital and private equity for the energy and ecological transition. We invest from 1 M€ to 30 M€ to support companies at all stages of their development: innovative startups, high growth SMEs and infrastructure projects.
Taylor Wessing is a full service law firm with a widely acknowledged strength in industries rich in intellectual property, based primarily in the three largest economies in Europe but also in emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East.
Read moreTaylor Wessing is a full service law firm with a widely acknowledged strength in industries rich in intellectual property, based primarily in the three largest economies in Europe but also in emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East. Taylor Wessing act for private and public companies, financial institutions, public sector bodies and wealthy individuals. Clients around the world trust us to deliver success. They turn to Taylor Wessing for constructive and commercial advice, partner-driven service, integrated, tailored solutions and strength in depth. Taylor Wessing core services underpin the main areas of business activity including: corporate transactions and restructuring, finance, tax, property and construction, intellectual property, commercial contracts, employment and employee benefits as well as dispute resolution. Taylor Wessing have extensive experience of a number of industries including technology, media, life sciences, climate change, real estate and financial services.
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