YPO is the global leadership community of more than 30,000 chief executives in 142 countries who are connected by the shared belief that the world needs better leaders. Each of our members have achieved significant leadership success at a young age. Combined, they lead businesses and organizations contributing USD9 trillion in annual revenue. YPO members inspire and support each other through peer learning and exceptional experiences in an inclusive community of open sharing and trust.
Their question was: how might we support impact entrepreneurs outside of our community in scaling up their innovative solutions to facilitate a circular economy?
The YPO Live: Plastic Waste Scale-A-Thon was an exclusive virtual scale-up program for startups reducing plastic waste to 10X their impact over six months with the kick-off weekend on 26-28 March 2021.
Program Design: Josine Bakkes & Florentine Achammer
Project Lead YPO: Polissena Brandolini d'Adda
Circular Economy Expert: Andrew McCue
Entrepreneurship Lead: Josine Bakkes
Mentor/Expert Lead: Florentine Achammer
Entrepreneurship Curation: Julia Wünsche, Asia Marti
Mentor/Expert Curation: Emma Hoch
Facilitation: Martin Wilderer, Josine Bakkes, Florentine Achammer
Marketing: Martina Novakova
Project Lead YPO: Polissena Brandolini d'Adda
Circular Economy Expert: Andrew McCue
Entrepreneurship Lead: Josine Bakkes
Mentor/Expert Lead: Florentine Achammer
Entrepreneurship Curation: Julia Wünsche, Asia Marti
Mentor/Expert Curation: Emma Hoch
Facilitation: Martin Wilderer, Josine Bakkes, Florentine Achammer
Marketing: Martina Novakova
ABOUT
Oceans are reaching their plastic breaking point. Therefore, we need solutions that will be scaled fast to avoid the point of no return. According to Science, 80% of ocean plastic flows can be reduced by simply using the existing technological solutions available today. Therefore, we need to invest in these innovations and accelerate their adoption.
The YPO Live: Plastic Waste Scale-A-Thon was a 6-month exclusive program where 10 selected startups fighting against ocean plastic pollution will have the opportunity to interact with the YPO network in their journey to tackle their biggest scaling challenge and maximize their global impact.
Oceans are reaching their plastic breaking point. Therefore, we need solutions that will be scaled fast to avoid the point of no return. According to Science, 80% of ocean plastic flows can be reduced by simply using the existing technological solutions available today. Therefore, we need to invest in these innovations and accelerate their adoption.
The YPO Live: Plastic Waste Scale-A-Thon was a 6-month exclusive program where 10 selected startups fighting against ocean plastic pollution will have the opportunity to interact with the YPO network in their journey to tackle their biggest scaling challenge and maximize their global impact.
Beginning with a 48-hour, digital kick-off weekend this 26nd - 28th of March at Central European Time, the selected startups got the opportunity to connect with successful and experienced entrepreneurs, experts and NGO’s as scaling mentors, curated by YPO. With their help and during the following 6 months a forum tribe of CEOs was assigned to each initiative in order to mentor, assist and share with them valuable experiences and expertise throughout their scaling journey.
At the end of the Scale-A-thon journey, startups had scaled and grown their impact significantly.
THE STARTUPS
Inspiring startups, that have an effective and long-term technological solution to the global ocean plastic problem and have a strong client base, a committed team and are ready to scale, were invited to apply to the program.
Inventions providing solutions through upcycling-, recycling-, collecting and restoring technological solutions.
After a curation of over 150 startups, 10 startups were selected to join the program:
Bower, Circolution, CleanRobotics, Erthos, Litterati, Plastic, Beach, Party, Purency, RiverRecycle, SIKLUS, Waterhaul.
Inventions providing solutions through upcycling-, recycling-, collecting and restoring technological solutions.
After a curation of over 150 startups, 10 startups were selected to join the program:
Bower, Circolution, CleanRobotics, Erthos, Litterati, Plastic, Beach, Party, Purency, RiverRecycle, SIKLUS, Waterhaul.
METHODOLOGY
A special Scaling Potential Canvas was developed in order to identify the startups' challenges-to-scale and work in collaboration with the YPO experts and mentors on solutions to the challenges posed.
A special Scaling Potential Canvas was developed in order to identify the startups' challenges-to-scale and work in collaboration with the YPO experts and mentors on solutions to the challenges posed.
There were a total of 8 challenge areas defined, which allowed a clear focus for the application of a working methodology, and the accurate sourcing of mentorship and experts in the areas accordingly.
PLATFORMS
How do you make sure that all participants feel a sense of belonging and have a place to thrive together? A learning experience was realized through the utilization of several online platforms to meet participant needs.
How do you make sure that all participants feel a sense of belonging and have a place to thrive together? A learning experience was realized through the utilization of several online platforms to meet participant needs.
MightyNetworks allowed synchronous communication between event hosts, startup participants, experts and mentors. Here all event updates were communicated, including briefings, learning materials, learning tribes and event agenda.
Miro facilitated the learning board for Startup Teams. Here they were provided with a 3-step guide on how to navigate the event, define their challenges, and keep track of their progress. Airtable
All platforms were mobile-friendly, and allowed an easy facilitation of communication.
Miro facilitated the learning board for Startup Teams. Here they were provided with a 3-step guide on how to navigate the event, define their challenges, and keep track of their progress. Airtable
All platforms were mobile-friendly, and allowed an easy facilitation of communication.
PROGRAM PARTNERS
The YPO Live: Plastic Waste Scale-A-Thon was a program ran in collaboration with a diverse network of community partners, ensuring a holistic support ecosystem in place for the selected startups.
