2012 BERTI GREEN ACCELERATOR WINNERS

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

Breathing Buildings: A Cambridge based company which uses its patented e-stack technology to provide a cost effective, energy efficient alternative to traditional ventilation methods.

Judges' comments about Breathing Buildings

“The passion and drive of the team was infectious and I was really impressed by their knowledge of the market, their product and their pricing.” – James Caan

“Breathing Buildings has a simple, patented solution to provide natural ventilation in buildings, saving money and improving ventilation. As a thermodynamics guy, how could I not like it?” – Michael Liebreich

 

Firefly Solar: A Brighton based company, which design and manufactures off-grid, portable and permanent solar-powered generators. They provide power for everything from UK events to work connecting rural communities in developing countries to electricity and the internet.

Judges' comments about Firefly Solar

“The judges were unanimous in their selection of Firefly. Andy was exceptional and pitched very well. His ability to respond to the intense questioning of the panel was right on point and I have every confidence that through the Accelerator, Andy will lead Firefly to greater heights.” – James Caan

“Firefly have been going a few years, they have a range of standardised solutions at various power outputs. They are down-to-earth guys: they have been in the trenches, and they know what works. Winning the accelerator will help them scale up their processes and grow their market place” – Michael Liebreich

 

Valueform: A company which has developed biodegradable food packaging from straw; the first of many products in its quest to do away with plastic packaging.

Judges' comments about Valueform

“Valueform presented a really interesting proposition. The team are extremely bright and I’m excited to see how they grow through the programme.” – James Caan

“Valueform is an interesting early stage proposition: they have solved the problem of replacing plastic supermarket punnets with ones incorporating straw, using conventional packaging machines. The team is super-passionate about their vision and very impressive” – Michael Liebreich

 

Each of the winners will now receive six months of first class business support and expertise from Hamilton Bradshaw Impact Partners and up to £1million each from Berti Investments to help them grow and develop thier businesses.

Over 80 businesses applied for the programme. The final stage of the process was a dragons den style pitch to a panel of judges

 

Why we launched the Berti Green Accelerator?

The threat to our environment underpins the economic and social challenges we are currently facing both in the UK and globally. We see growth in the low-carbon sector as the solution to solving a plethora of issues. We believe that outstanding businesses demonstrating innovation, strong leadership and which operate in a profitable niche, can lead the way towards a clean, sustainable economy, which serves a triple bottom line: profits, people and the planet. We are seeking to support entrepreneurs who believe so too.

Many entrepreneurs lack the experience, expertise or knowledge about certain aspects of their business, such as financial or operational know-how. We recognise that what restrains many entrepreneurial businesses is not just access to capital and select networks, but primarily bespoke business support and expertise.

We have partnered with leading business advisers, Hamilton Bradshaw Impact Partners (HBIP), who share our passion and dedication to supporting businesses that benefit society.

What kind of businesses does the Berti Green Accelerator support?

The Berti Green Accelerator selects businesses based on the following criteria:

  • CARBON REDUCTION: your business’s ability to sustainably lower green-house gas emissions
  • PROFITABILITY: the ability to demonstrate that your business model is scalable, sustainable and can offer rewarding long term financial returns
  • INNOVATION: the ability of your business to identify a clear niche in the market
  • LEADERSHIP: the experience and expertise of your company’s management