Cardano Community in Geneva

Increase Cardano’s visibility in Geneva’s impact finance community and pilot a community expansion collaboration in the Impact Hub network

Impact Hub Geneva is a social innovation lab & community for entrepreneurs, part of the global Impact Hub network with 24,000 members in 100 locations. We lead Accelerate2030, a global program supporting entrepreneurs from emerging markets to scale their solutions for the SDGs.

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Why Geneva & Cardano? 

Geneva is a very unique ecosystem hosting major UN agencies, international development organisations, banks, impact investment funds, and other stakeholders engaged in driving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), active in decision making and action when it comes to innovative technologies and their application across the globe. There is a critical mass of organisations in working as Geneva 2030 Ecosystem to mobilise the capacity, skills, experience, ideas and motivation of Geneva-based actors towards realising the 2030 Agenda (http://geneva2030.org/#ecosystem-approach). 

Simultaneously, Geneva is one of the most important global financial centres. The private impact investing market is estimated to be worth $33 billion in assets worldwide, one-third of which is managed in Switzerland. However, the actual funds directed to SDG-related solutions in the Global South is still far from the actual needs to make the change needed, with only 6% of blended and impact finance going to least developed countries. 

Blockchain has the potential to revolutionise impact investing by increasing trust, transparency and impact attribution. Building on Cardano’s traction in the impact investing space (https://cardanofeed.com/cardashift-raises-10m-to-foster-impact-investing-through-cardano-blockchain-45149.html) and its reputation as one of the most green blockchain technologies, we aim to feature Cardano as a key player advancing innovative impact financing for the SDGs.

About the Project

This proposal offers an unparalleled opportunity to raise awareness of Cardano in Geneva - through Impact Hub Geneva and its access to both a local entrepreneurial community and to the international impact finance ecosystem, United Nations institutions, corporates and more. In addition, its an opportunity to scale Cardano Hubs through a wider network of 100+ peer Impact Hubs across the globe, with Impact Hub Geneva being a part of the Impact Hub network, the world’s largest network of impact-driven entrepreneurial communities, hosting 24.000+ people and organisations driving change – made up of 100+ communities in 60+ countries across 5 continents.

This proposal is a first step in piloting a wider partnership with Impact Hub Geneva through its flagship program Accelerate2030, the largest program in the Impact Hub network, aimed at supporting entrepreneurs from developing & emerging markets to scale their solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals. Launched out of Geneva in 2016 by Impact Hub Geneva and UNDP, Accelerate2030 has been implemented in 33 countries, supporting nearly 500 entrepreneurs. Learn more about our program here: https://accelerate2030.net/

We will do so by hosting a high visibility, ecosystem engagement event at the upcoming Building Bridges Week 2022 in Geneva (https://www.buildingbridges.org/). Through this Accelerate2030 & Cardano event, we will leverage insights from A2030’s global community to explore how the Cardano blockchain can be used by impact investors and social entrepreneurs to increase the flow of funds from Geneva to markets that need it most and advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Building Bridges Week in Geneva is the most important yearly gathering among the financial, development and business community in Geneva around a common vision of advancing impact finance to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It brings diverse actors from the finance industry, the United Nations, international organizations, NGOs, academia, and government together. 

Accelerate2030 is continuously present at the Building Bridges Week, bringing important topics and entrepreneurs on the agenda. Below are some highlights of events and speakers we have brought to this week: 

Our Previous Building Bridges Events in Geneva: 

• Driving finance to scale entrepreneurial solutions for the SDGs
• Financing Innovation to Achieve the Circular Economy Transition, Building Bridges Geneva
• Financing Global Health Innovations: Lessons from Investors and Entrepreneurs
• Factory17: The Pioneers of today, shaping the world of tomorrow

Previous Event Speakers: 

• André Hoffman, Vice Chairman of Roche Holding AG
• Nicole Schwab, Co-Director, Nature Based Solutions, WEF 
• Agi Veres, Director, UNDP Geneva
• Marie-Laure Schaufelberger, CFA , Head of Group ESG & Stewardship at Pictet Group
• Audrey Selian, Director, Artha Impact (Rianta Capital Zurich)
• Thomas Höhne-Sparborth; Head of Sustainability Research, Lombard Odier 
• Darren Back, Vice President, Global Health Investments, Pfizer Inc and Executive Director, The Pfizer Foundation 

In order to maximise the impact of this event, we will organise activities beforehand, such as the selection of impact driven companies using blockchain/Cardano and focus groups with entrepreneurs and investors.

Our outcomes & relevance to challenge outcomes

In line with the main needs of this challenge, i.e. the need to Scale Down individual capital outlay, and work on the Capital supply, this project will provide insights in exploring an innovative collaboration model in setting up Cardano community Hubs, with established networks of entrepreneurial hubs (i.e. Impact Hub network). Simultaneously, it will open up a unique visibility and networking opportunity for Cardano in international Geneva - one of the world’s most important impact finance and development centres. 

The expected outcomes of this project are:

• Delivering information to people who would not otherwise have the access: Raising awareness among a highly relevant audience in Geneva’s impact community, including: 
• UN agencies
• Impact investors
• Entrepreneurs
• Larger companies
• Establishing Cardano as a leading blockchain technology when it comes to impact among the Geneva ecosystem by showcasing concrete example of its use by entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders
• Gaining a deep understanding of Cardano’s role within this community and this agenda, and building a Geneva-based community based on this knowledge
• Gaining understanding on the potential for further collaboration with the Impact Hub network, present across 100+ locations in 60+ countries.
• Exploring further opportunities with relevant stakeholders in channelling more funding for local Cardano Hubs 

• Risks: the Geneva financial system is very traditional   
• Mitigation: Blockchain becomes more and more important and providing concrete, tangible use cases will be very effective. It is a small ecosystem and we can see a ripple effect with adoption 

• Risks: we are not aware of how many of our startups in developing countries know about Cardano 
• Mitigation: we have access to entrepreneurs across many developing countries and we have submitted another proposal under the Business Solutions Challenge/Grow Asia/Grow Africa Challenge, with an aim to scan the needs of 450+ entrepreneurs from the A2030 community to gain better understanding on their use of blockchain

• Risks: engagement and interest of relevant stakeholders
• Mitigation: Impact Hub Geneva is well embedded in the Geneva ecosystem with strong connections across the finance and UN community, and has so far successfully engaged with these actors. 

[FEASIBILITY]

Road Map:

In order to maximise the impact of Cardano’s presence in Geneva, we will organise activities before the Building Bridges week, such as the selection of relevant companies using the technology, and other relevant stakeholders that can contribute to the discussion on the topic of the potential of blockchain, and particularly Cardano, to channel more funds for the Sustainable Development Goals. 

1. MAY - JULY SELECTION OF UP TO 5 COMPANIES USING BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY in their business to showcase their solutions at Building Bridges Week: these can be a mix of companies coming from the Accelerate2030 and Cardano community to be showcased at the international Building Bridges Week 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland, as a tangible example of how Cardano can enhance SDG-related business solutions. 
2. May: define with Cardano best mix of companies and profile, based on Catalyst funded projects and Accelerate2030 companies   
3. June: pre select 25 for further evaluation based on pre set criteria   
4. July: Select up to five best match companies  

• AUGUST - SEPTEMBER Hold virtual focus groups with Impact Investors & Impact Entrepreneurs exploring the potential of Cardano prior to Building Bridges Week in Geneva

Facilitate 2 virtual focus groups: one with Geneva-based impact investors and another one with up to 5 selected entrepreneurs from developing and emerging markets to discuss how Cardano and blockchain technology can be used to transform impact investing.   

These sessions will explore key challenges and barriers to impact investing from the dual perspectives of entrepreneurs and investors, such as risk, return, transparency, trust and attribution, and explore how these problems can be addressed using blockchain technology. Findings will be well documented and key insights will be shared during a high level event at Building Bridges Week in Geneva and fed back into the Cardano online community. 

Accelerate2030 is well placed to extract insights and bridge the communication gap between the differing realities and perspectives of impact investors in Geneva and entrepreneurs working on the ground. 

• 3 - 6 OCTOBER: CARDANO AND ACCELERATE2030 EVENT AT BUILDING BRIDGES WEEK

The insights of this process will be showcased at the most important yearly gathering among the financial, development and business community in Geneva discussing how to channel more finance for the Sustainable Development Goals - an excellent opportunity to showcase the opportunities for innovative financing through blockchain and how this technology can overcome some of the challenges in traceability and transparency when it comes to funding and impact measurement, topics that are at the heart of the Building Bridges Week. 

Deliverables and KPIs   

• Identification of (up to) 5 high-impact green/circular companies integrating blockchain in their business, as a showcase of how Cardano can deliver needs-based solutions to entrepreneurs
• 2 Virtual Focus groups with impact investors & impact entrepreneurs
• Accelerate2030 & Cardano event at the Building Bridges Week in Geneva, with exposure to key UN organizations and financial professionals in Geneva 

Long term view: 

• This initial collaboration among Project Catalyst and Impact Hub Geneva and its flagship program, Accelerate2030 will provide insights about the opportunities to scale the collaboration across the globe, particularly in markets where Cardano is under-represented, and where A2030 is well connected through local entrepreneurial communities, including Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latam. 

Why we are well positioned to do this

• Impact Hub Geneva and Accelerate2030 are well embedded in the Geneva ecosystem, and locally rooted across 30+ countries. Events & methodologies created by/with Geneva Hub can be easily disseminated through the A2030 network (& vice versa - hubs share their learnings with Geneva)

• Organise selection of up to 5 companies to using blockchain / Cardano in their business to join Building Bridges: 5.000 USD
• Outreach campaign
• Application process
• Screening Selection process

• Organise the design and delivery of focus groups on Blockchain and Cardano: 3.000 USD
• Engage entrepreneurs
• Engage investors from the Geneva community
• Prepare and deliver focus groups
• Harvest and integrate insights into the event

• Participation of up to 5 selected companies in Building Bridges: 8.000 USD
• Supporting companies for their participation in the BB week and event (preparation sessions, expert support, blockchain sessions)
• Contribution to travel and accommodation costs

• Host the A2030 & Cardano Event at Building Bridges Week in Geneva: 9.000

*The costs above also include partial cover of: 

• Marketing and communications , incl: social media, email outreach campaign, PR, event communications
• Event logistics, such as space rental, logistics, catering 
• Project coordination
• Travel and accommodation of participating entrepreneurs in Geneva

Total: 25.000 USD

We are an experienced team located in Geneva and across the globe managing Accelerate2030 since 2016: https://accelerate2030.net/team/

While we are new to the community we are already in contact with Cardano Foundation and various catalyst communities such as Cardano4Climate, SustainableADA and the Catalyst school. We are looking forward to further collaboration with like minded people and communities. We are also aware of projects such as Cardashift which could have synergies with our startup community.  

Ljupka Mitrinovska

Co-founder and Global Program Manager of Accelerate2030, Impact Hub Geneva

Inspired by the great potential of entrepreneurs, Ljupka has dedicated 10+ years in the area of innovation and start-up support. Since 2016 she has been working at Impact Hub Geneva, involved in building and managing Accelerate2030. Prior to Accelerate2030, Ljupka has worked in different organizations in the NGO, public and private sector across Europe. She holds an MSc in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship from University of Manchester.

Alexandra 'Santu' Boëthius

Co-founder of Impact Hub Geneva & Lausanne and Strategic Lead of Accelerate2030

Santu Boethius is the co-founder of Impact Hub Geneva and Impact Hub Lausanne, part of the leading community of social innovation and entrepreneurship in Switzerland and across the world. She initiated Accelerate2030 in 2016 with her team and partners, and is driving the strategic development of the program. She has spoken at various fora such as the UN General Assembly, and the World Investment Forum and holds an MSc in political science from the London School of Economics.

Emily Skovran

Impact Management & Program Development Coordinator at Accelerate2030, Impact Hub Geneva Emily has been working with the Accelerate2030 Global team at Impact Hub Geneva since 2019. Her work focuses on impact measurement, project management, program coordination, partnerships for the SDGs, and wellbeing. Prior to Accelerate2030, Emily worked in non-profit and educational settings in Singapore, Thailand, Switzerland, and the United States. Emily holds a master’s degree in Development Studies from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Mala Henriques

Global Program Coordinator at Accelerate2030, based in Medellin, Colombia

Mala brings people, ideas and resources together to develop innovative, creative projects that tackle local and global inequalities to foster social justice. Originally from London, Mala has lived in Medellin, Colombia since 2013 where I have grown a powerful professional network through starting her own business and community, joining other local and international communities as well as attending and hosting a variety of events. Since joining Impact Hub in 2018, Mala has co-created, fundraised for and delivered several entrepreneurship support programs nationally and internationally, and has personally mentored and coached more than 20 impact entrepreneurs helping them reach their potential. Mala specializes in impact measurement, project management and program design, she is also an active member of Global Shapers Medellin.

Adaeze Nwadike

Communications Lead at Accelerate2030, based in Lagos, Nigeria

Adaeze Nwadike is a Digital Strategist from Lagos Nigeria who specialize in helping organizations develop and execute innovative digital marketing strategy. She discovered her passion for women’s empowerment at a young age, and is the founder of Airen Foundation, a non profit organization dedicated to creating holistic solutions to issues Nigerian women face, starting with maternal and infant mortality. She has a degree in Economics from Calvin University, Michigan.

[AUDITABILITY]

The Accelerate2030 team has extensive experience in impact management and reporting, having managed complex logframes with partners in development agencies, and a dedicated impact management team. 

At project inception, we will set up a plan to track the progress based on the project plan and KPIs outlined here. This information will be shared with the community in the final report and the community will be able to measure the activities and success related to the proposal.  

Some of the metrics we will follow are:

• of companies reached through the sourcing campaign (target: 450+ through A2030 + outreach to Cardano community)
• of Geneva ecosystem stakeholders reached through communication campaign (2000+ IH & partners newsletter)
•  # of Geneva ecosystem stakeholders participating in event 
•  # of stakeholders participating in focus groups
• Insights into models of collaboration with IH network

We aim and will consider it a success to make Cardano known to the impact finance community in Geneva and at key UN organisations. The goal is to lead to further collaboration and coordinate innovative finance and acceleration models for startups in developing countries and on the Cardao blockchain. 

Successful implementation could also lead to collaboration with impact finance and UN organisations that could provide some of the resources to support the hub going forward. 

We will also consider this a successful project if it opens up a doorway for a closer collaboration among Cardano community and Accelerate2030 and Impact Hub network, in order to explore how Cardano community hubs can be scaled through a collaboration with our network. 

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SDG Rating

SDG Goals

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all 

Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 

Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development