From the 30th Sep – 6th October 2022 Accelerate2030 and Impact Hub Geneva-Lausanne will host the Sixth Accelerate2030 Scaling Week in Switzerland.

Scaling Week aims to connect entrepreneurial champions from across the Global South –  working on transformational solutions for the SDGs – with the Geneva and Swiss ecosystem for catalytic conversations about partnerships and funding, that could significantly scale the impact towards the SDGs they are tackling. The overarching theme of the week is ‘solutions driving the shift to the new, circular and regenerative economy for the SDGs’: both in terms of solutions coming from entrepreneurs and financial solutions that drive funding for such solutions.

The week is happening alongside the Building Bridges Week in Geneva  – the main moment when the Geneva financial community comes together with the development community and businesses to channel more funding for action towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

This year, a cohort of Accelerate2030 alumni champions working in food systems, healthcare or the intersection of the two, with international scaling potential and ambitions will convene in Switzerland. The cohort will include companies like SoluBio, a Brazilian biotechnology company founded in 2016 by experienced professionals with more than 20 years in the agricultural business. Since the beginning, the company’s main focus has been to deliver more sustainable and economic alternatives for agricultural activities. This lead to  the creation of the SoluBio Experience: a complete solution for the OnFarm bio-inputs production, offering industry standard integrated technology, equipment, inputs, quality control, training and technical assistance.

Join us at Scaling Week

During Scaling Week, Accelerate2030 will facilitate a number of events and touch points to enable strategic connections with our entrepreneurs, partners, investors, UN agencies, and the larger ecosystem.

Accelerate2030 at The ExperienCE – 30th Sep | 09:00 – 22:00 CET

The week will kick off at The ExperienCE – the national event of our pioneer initiative Circular Economy Transition (CET). This unique event will bring together entrepreneurs, civil society, and the public and private sector to create new opportunities for Switzerland’s transition to a more sustainable future. It will also celebrate the new home of Impact Hub Lausanne and the opening of Beaulieu Circulaire, Switzerland’s first innovation space dedicated to Circularity and Inclusion. Accelerate2030 Sessions at the event include:

Global Partnerships for the Circular Economy Transition

Together with local partners and stakeholders, we will explore what it takes to build global partnerships for the circular economy transition and the role the Swiss ecosystem could play in it.

Workshop with the Doughnut Economics on Regenerative and distributive enterprise design

We are excited to be partnering with the Doughnut Economics Action Lab team to bring some cutting-edge content aimed at entrepreneurs, on regenerative and distributive enterprise design as the next frontier for business.

Accelerate2030 at Building Bridges Week in Geneva – 3rd – 6th October

Building Bridges will feature a high-level Summit, over 65 community-led events, and a networking village. Most importantly, it will showcase concrete commitments, initiatives, and actions that make finance a key catalyst for change. This year, Accelerate2030 will be present at Building Bridges, hosting our main event as part of the program for the week.

Main Event – Accelerate2030 meets Geneva: Unlocking Financing for the Missing Middle – 5th October | 16:00 – 17:30

The aim of the event is to highlight the voices of entrepreneurs from the Global South and engage them in conversation with the Geneva ecosystem, particularly investors driving financial solutions and leaders from the development sector who affect the framework conditions for funding to be channeled to the SDGs. 

During the event entrepreneurs will showcase their innovative and regenerative solutions for the SDGs, investors will present their innovative financial solutions (including those enabled by innovative technologies such as blockchain and cryptocurrency investment platforms), and we will engage in a joint conversation with a panel representing all the different sectors to discuss the financial gap preventing promising solutions from scaling.

Speakers & panelists will include: Accelerate2030 Entrepreneurs, Christian Frutiger (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), UNDP, Cardashift, and Impact Investors

The event will be followed by a facilitated networking session designed to maximise real-life connections and partnerships to scale impact.

Other events at Building Bridges

Building Bridges Summit – 3rd October

The Summit is the marquee event that will kick off Building Bridges Week. It will include presentations and panel discussions with world-renowned speakers and out-of-the-box thought leaders that will address global challenges and articulate innovative solutions to advance sustainable finance.

Cardano Networking Soirée – 4th October

Accelerate2030 and the Cardano Foundation will co-host an evening event that establishes Cardano as a leading blockchain technology when it comes to impact among the Geneva ecosystem by showcasing concrete example of its use by entrepreneurs, investors, and other stakeholders.

Geneva Ecosystem Dinner – 5th October | 18:30 – 22:00 CET

This informal space will be a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to connect with program partners and important actors from the Geneva ecosystem. Invitees to the dinner will include representatives from the Canton of Geneva, country missions, investors, corporate, UN agencies and more.

To attend, please request for an invite below.