Stora Enso has chosen six startups to join its second Accelerator Programme, a joint startup initiative organised by Stora Enso, Aalto University Developing Entrepreneurship (Aalto ENT) and Vertical Accelerator.
The Accelerator programme provides an exceptional opportunity for disruptive startups and Stora Enso to actively ideate and innovate new solutions. This year’s programme focuses specifically on the circular economy, especially in regard to circular solutions, raw material management, packaging, separation and sorting, and energy.
“With global megatrends, the circular economy will play a significant role in business and society in the coming years. We are teaming up with startups to further explore how Stora Enso can best contribute,” says Malin Bendz, Executive Vice President, HR. “We have been greatly encouraged by our first Accelerator programme, which has resulted in two ongoing partnerships, with Sulapac and Trä Group, building on renewable solutions.”
The final six startups emerged from a rigorous and competitive selection process. After submitting a written application and video, more than 85 startups were evaluated and filtered down to the top 40. Reviewed by Stora Enso Scouts and Vertical, 20 of these startups were invited to Selection Days, a two-day event for presentations and intensive interviews. A shortlist of twelve startups presented to Stora Enso’s Group Leadership Team for the selection of the final six.
The startups invited to join the 2019 Accelerator Programme are:
- Effa http://effabrush.com
- RePack https://www.originalrepack.com
- Alucha http://www.alucha.com
- Bloom http://www.bloombiorenewables.com
- MiWa http://www.miwa.eu
- SFTec https://www.sftec.fi
Over the next few months, the startups will work side by side with Stora Enso participants, delving into and advancing know-how, capabilities, technologies and market opportunities. Co-location takes place at Vertical accelerator, one of the largest and most prominent startup communities in Finland.
Part of the bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper. We believe that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Stora Enso has some 26 000 employees in over 30 countries. Our sales in 2017 were EUR 10 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY). storaenso.com