#031: Game Changers squared: mainstreaming 1000 sustainability solutions

​The Solar Impulse Foundation both celebrates and promotes game changing solutions and is a game changing organisation itself.  In Adam Woodhall’s Inspiring Sustainability interview with Willem van Hasselt we learn where they are on this exciting, and necessary, journey.

In 2003 global adventurer Betrand Picard decided to prove that you could fly around the world without use of fossil fuel. A 16-year-old Willem saw Betrand speak about his ambitions and was inspired to follow him in delivering a more sustainable world.  In 2016, flying the Solar Impulse 2, Betrand fulfilled his ambition, and then launched the Solar Impulse Foundation. In 2018, Willem fulfilled his, by joining the Foundation as Investor Relations Manager.
 
The Foundation established ‘The World Alliance for Efficient Solutions’ and in the interview we discuss how they are bringing together the main actors involved in developing, financing and promoting products, services and technologies that can mitigate climate change, protect the environment and create clean growth.
 
If you are an innovator, entrepreneur or investor in cleantech and environmental sustainability, and want to be a member of the Foundation, create your free account on their website. Then you can apply to become a ‘Labelled Solution’: (https://solarimpulse.com/members/subscribe)
 
Highlights of this episode:

• What was learnt from flying around the world using only solar power
• The types of cleantech ventures they are working with - from re-engineered wood to acid regeneration and from maritime to the building industry
• How far into the 1000 ‘Labelled Solutions’ they are
• Why profitability is essential for sustainability
• How Willem is inspired by the collaborative nature of sustainable entrepreneurs
• The ventures the foundation are looking to partner with
• Betrand’s three key things which he shared with Willem 18 years ago

 
Useful Links:
Solar Impulse Foundation online: https://solarimpulse.com/
 
Connect with Willem on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willemvanhasselt/
 
Follow Solar Impulse Foundation and Bertand on Twitter:
- https://twitter.com/solarimpulse
- https://twitter.com/bertrandpiccard

Cleantech Venture Day run by Cambridge Cleantech:
- http://www.cleantechday.com/london/
- http://cambridgecleantech.org.uk/
 
Cleantech startups featured:
- Bound For Blue (Rigid Wing Sail System) https://solarimpulse.com/efficient-solutions/bound4blue-wingsail-system-for-fuel-efficiency-in-the-shipping-industry
- REGMAX (Acid regeneration system for pickling steel) https://solarimpulse.com/efficient-solutions-design/regmax
- WooDoo (Reengineered Wood) https://solarimpulse.com/efficient-solutions-design/woodoo
 
United World College Singapore https://www.uwcsea.edu.sg/
 
Chapters:
[0:58] What is the Solar Impulse Foundation
[2:20] Examples of cleantech ventures on their platform and who they partner with
[4:00] The genesis of the venture
[8:38] The bigger picture of the foundation
[11:03] How they review if a solution is profitable
[12:20] Why it’s so important to be profitable
[14:24] Dealing with people who don’t care about the environment
[24:08] How Willem was inspired from a young age
[30:00] Bertrand’s quote that WiIlem lives by everyday



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