Unergy: How a platform permits anybody to put money into and devour clear vitality

Now that the Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem 2022 winners have been formally introduced, you’ll need to be taught extra about every successful group and the story behind every innovation. The Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem is a web-based competitors that awards money prizes to early-stage tech entrepreneurs fixing the world’s hardest issues. Since 2017, the competitors has awarded $3.25 million USD to 78 start-ups from 25 international locations.

We’re excited so that you can be taught extra concerning the 2022 successful groups addressing among the largest challenges we face by means of technology-based options.

In response to the rising urgency to reverse local weather change, we launched 5 new Local weather Impression and Regeneration prizes totaling $300,000 USD. These prizes acknowledge options that may scale back or take away greenhouse fuel (GHG) from the setting or regenerate depleted ecosystems.

Meet Unergy, a start-up based mostly out of Colombia that gained a $50,000 USD Local weather Impression & Regeneration Runner-Up Prize. Their resolution assists firms and organizations that need to convert to wash vitality, however discover it cost-prohibitive, by offering a simple platform for them to attach with traders who’re desperate to fund clear vitality initiatives in creating markets.

I sat down with Eduardo Ospina, the CEO and co-founder of Unergy, and Natalia Isaza, Unergy’s Chief Content material Officer. They shared how they’re making an attempt to democratize the struggle towards local weather change, how Unergy thrived through the pandemic, and their ardour for marrying expertise and sustainability.

What drawback is your expertise resolution making an attempt to unravel? Are you able to clarify how the answer works?

Eduardo: I believe the most important work for humanity proper now could be the struggle towards local weather change. At the moment, the world wants greater than $2.4 trillion of funding into clear vitality to keep away from a local weather catastrophe. Nevertheless, even with all of the work that’s being performed around the globe right this moment, the present degree of funding solely quantities to about 30 % of that quantity.

Now we have seen that, in Latin America, and in different rising markets, there’s a huge necessity for liquidity to finance clear vitality initiatives. For instance, photo voltaic vitality has a excessive return charge and good metrics to turn into a actuality, however organizations have been unable to afford it. Incessantly, firms that say they need to put money into clear vitality discover that funding prices are too excessive.

Alternatively, we see lots of people like us at Unergy which have the liquidity and the will to finance clear vitality initiatives, however don’t have a simple approach to do it. So, Unergy joins these two completely different teams to unravel the issue by connecting organizations who need to put money into clear vitality with individuals to place cash into their initiatives. It permits us to democratize and decentralize vitality. For instance, with Unergy, somebody situated in the USA or elsewhere will be capable of put money into clear vitality initiatives for firms in Latin America or in different rising markets.

Natalia: By our expertise, we permit any individual to be part of supporting vitality transformation around the globe. We permit the chance for individuals to spend cash on clear vitality not simply in Colombia, however in every single place.

What impressed you to develop this resolution?

Eduardo: I began the corporate with my two companions, Nicolás and Paola. We began Unergy as a result of we have been making an attempt for some years to promote photo voltaic vitality to firms, however we finally realized that the most important barrier—and the most important necessity—for clear vitality is financing. From there, we determined that somewhat than promoting clear vitality merchandise, we might assist finance them and assist join others who need to finance clear vitality with firms that want the cash.

We’re a pandemic firm. We have been engaged on the thought a couple of 12 months beforehand, however we formally began in March 2020 simply when the pandemic started. That ended up being an excellent factor. Earlier than the pandemic, firms used to have extra liquidity for initiatives and didn’t assume rather a lot about several types of monetary group. Because the pandemic, firms have began to essentially take into consideration how they’ll save and the way they could possibly be extra sustainable. Unergy is the very best match for that as a result of we’re providing financial savings. We’re providing sustainability. So, I believe it was an excellent second for us to open.

Natalia: I joined Unergy later. I used to be employed to enhance some processes in communication and advertising and marketing, and I simply actually believed within the concept. I linked with the mission and imaginative and prescient of the corporate, and I simply fell in love with the concept that we may assist present clear vitality to anyone.

What’s progressive about the best way you’re fixing the difficulty? What units your resolution aside?

Eduardo: I believe that it’s comparatively regular for these with numerous funding to need to put money into clear vitality. What is exclusive about Unergy is that we dream concerning the democratization and decentralization of fresh vitality. For instance, in Latin America, three huge gamers are the house owners of all the vitality in these international locations. What’s essential to us isn’t just financing clear vitality initiatives, but additionally permitting for retail traders and folks from around the globe to take a position.

How will successful a prize within the Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem aid you advance your enterprise?

Eduardo: We’re increasing proper now into Brazil, and into European international locations that want extra funding in clear vitality. The extra we increase, we can obtain an even bigger impression, so we might be utilizing all the cash on worldwide enlargement and sharing our aim of lowering the $2.4 trillion in funding wanted to fight local weather change.

What recommendation do you could have for different social entrepreneurs?

Eduardo: I believe it’s important to cross your private motivations with the aim of the corporate. Personally, I like what I do. I like to be right here, I like to journey, and I like to dedicate my life to fixing this concern as a result of I actually do need to make an enormous distinction on the planet. Since I used to be younger, I’ve been keen about inventing issues, about sustainability, about vitality and electrical energy. Then, after I was in College, I spotted that it wasn’t nearly inventing issues; it was about inventing issues with a goal and inventing issues with the ambition that it may impression the world in a really optimistic means. I believe being an entrepreneur may be very laborious for lots of people, however when you can benefit from the challenges it’s important to face to develop, and when you can benefit from the belongings you do, it’s higher.

Natalia: If you happen to can combine information of the continual replace of expertise with the will to unravel social or environmental issues, you can be the very best firm that may impression the most individuals. I agree with Eduardo that you have to join your private desires with the imaginative and prescient and mission of the corporate. And if you wish to be right here and proceed right here and be motivated, it’s important to be able to be taught daily. I need to do one thing for the world and for individuals, and I like to attach sustainability with expertise.

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Keep tuned for extra articles in our weblog sequence, that includes interviews with each Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem 2022 successful group!

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