Once a year, the Swedish Norrsken Foundation selects the 100 most promising impact startups worldwide. In 2023, Hamburg is prominently represented in the Impact/100 list with three entries. 1Komma5°, Bluu Seafood and traceless materials made it.
The Impact/100 want to improve the world
The Norsken Foundation, which together with a number of partners compiles the Impact/100, is a non-profit and independent foundation that supports entrepreneurs in making a positive difference in the world. To earn a spot on the list, a startup must meet the following criteria, among others:
Positive global impact must be an integral and non-negotiable part of the overall concept.
The startup must have a scalable business model that combines growth with impact.
The startup must have launched at least one MVP and/or closed a funding round.
"Impact" is defined by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Over 700 companies were originally nominated. Among the top 100, 42 are from the USA, while Germany comes in second with 15 startups in the country score. There is no ranking within the list.
Grand appearance in New York's Times Square
A spectacular tribute to the Impact/100 took place on 16 August in Times Square in New York. The logos of the selected startups appeared in turn on a digital billboard, including the three from Hamburg,:
1Komma5° helps convert private homes and, more recently, commercial buildings to renewable energy. Lately, the company achieved unicorn status with a billion-dollar valuation.
traceless materials is developing a plant-based plastic substitute and has won many awards and received millions in investment.
Bluu Seafood develops fish from cell cultures to reduce the exploitation of the oceans. The startup is headquartered in Berlin, but production is to take place in Hamburg.
