An air purifier using microalgae – and it doubles as a lamp! That’s the idea that won this year’s Impact Challenge final at Jönköping University on Wednesday, September 27th. Huge congratulations to Gustavo, Ashley, Jaap, Maxim, and Mehtap for taking home the top prize of SEK 15,000 from Tillväxtstiftelsen (The Growth Foundation) in Jönköping County!
Impact Challenge kicked off with a talk by Peter Siljerud from Futurewise.
Earlier in the week, over 250 students from JIBS and the School of Engineering came together, ready to tackle big societal challenges using trendspotting, creativity, and entrepreneurship. This year’s Impact Challenge kicked off with a talk on the “5B model” from trendspotter and analyst Peter Siljerud from Futurewise. The model focuses on five key areas that are essential for building a sustainable future.
How will our living preferences evolve?
What will transportation look like in the future?
How will our food consumption change?
How will our consumption of goods and services shift?
How will the economy and investment landscape evolve?
Emilia Sundberg, affärsutvecklare på Science Park, är en av de som jobbat med att arrangera tävlingen.
– Our planet is facing huge challenges, and that’s why it’s so important to come together and find solutions while staying positive. The energy that comes from 250 students working together is unbeatable. They are the future, and that’s why we’re doing this with JU, said Emilia Sundberg, business developer at Science Park.
The students were split into 45 teams, each with two days to develop a business idea to present to the jury. Five teams made it to the final.
Inspired by the structure of a beehive, Honeycomb is a new design for shipping containers. The structure makes the containers stronger and lighter, reducing energy consumption and helping the transport industry become more sustainable.
Algalume tackles the issue of poor air quality in small urban apartments. Their idea? A combined lamp and air purifier that uses microalgae to clean the air. The byproduct can even be used as fertilizer for indoor plants!
Much of the fresh food we eat travels long distances, losing nutritional value and leaving a big carbon footprint. Inspired by vertical farming, EcoHub allows small-scale farming in urban environments, making fresh, locally-grown food more accessible.
Many startups struggle to grow due to a lack of funding, but over half of venture capital goes to impact-driven companies. Pennywise is a stock-based crowdfunding platform that allows micro-investments in startups focused on impact.
Physical stores are disappearing, and e-commerce is creating environmental issues with returns. Magic Mirror combines the digital and physical shopping experience, allowing customers to try on clothes from different brands in one fitting room using high-tech mirrors that project outfits onto their reflection.
The pitch that won over the jury was Algalume – the combined lamp and air purifier powered by microalgae. The jury, including Linda Pålsson (Science Park/Speed Capital), Peter Schön (Science Park), Leona Achtenhagen (Jönköping University), and Magnus Vårbrant (Jönköping University), had this to say:
“The winning team brilliantly tied their idea to future scenarios and showed a deep understanding of nature. Their solution meets a real customer need and fits perfectly within the competition’s theme. It’s realistic, can be implemented before 2030, and has a strong focus on benefiting both the environment and society. The team’s pitch was professional and inspiring, making the jury eager to learn more. With their vision and dedication to making a real impact, Algalume are the well-deserved winners of this year’s Impact Challenge.”
Tillväxtstiftelsens (The Growth Foundation) promotes entrepreneurship, innovation and renewal in Jönköping County by offering loans, grants, and scholarships to early-stage companies. Managed by Science Park, the foundation also organizes workshops and seminars to drive business development and research. Its long-term sustainability is supported by donations from businesses, organizations, and individuals.
