Punt-Chamues-ch, July 5, 2023 - The first edition of Impact Days Engadin was a great success, attracting the participation of 60 investors, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from different alpine regions, including Ticino, Engadin, and the Austrian Tyrol. The event, also supported by the Mercator Foundation, took place in La Punt-Chamues-ch, Engadin.
"This event is the result of a valuable collaboration between Impact Hub Ticino, Impact Hub Tyrol, and InnHub La Punt, with the aim of creating a network of people committed to generating positive social and environmental impact in the various alpine regions," explains Carlotta Zarattini, co-founder of Impact Hub Ticino.
Thanks to the Impact Days, local investors had the opportunity to discover 5 out of the 8 projects that participated in the first edition of the Impact Club incubator, in addition to the 9 projects that will begin their incubation journey this year. Furthermore, 3 fresh projects from the pioneer accelerator:impact, promoted by Impact Hub Tyrol, were presented. During the event, there was also an engaging conversation with Charly Kleissner, who shared his experience as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley and impact investor.
"We wanted to spend two days in Engadin to invite the teams not only to interact with the local ecosystem but also to create opportunities for exchange and collaboration among themselves," says Catie Burlando, incubator manager.
During an intense day, the projects tackled the important topic of aligning individual values with those of the team and the project, guided by Angelica Morrone, an angel investor and mentor, who, together with Mirko Bianchi from SI FA!, will guide the incubation process for this second edition.
And it is in this alpine context that the 9 teams selected by the Impact Club jury (out of 75 candidates) were presented for the second edition of the Ticino impact incubator. The incubation journey will begin on August 26 and conclude at the end of January 2025. The selected projects come from 7 municipalities in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, with 50% founded by women and 45% being non-profit organizations.
The selected projects, in alphabetical order, are:
Ayu Tastemakers: Transforming local ingredients into spicy vegan preserves.
Bottega di Gandria: A social gathering place to promote cultural heritage, local products, and quality of life in Gandria.
Crimagno Earth: Fully sustainable and fashionable footwear.
Crion: Provides a digital platform to book mountain experiences directly from local guides.
Innerwalk: Uses music to connect people with nature and promotes music therapy in the healthcare sector.
Manimatte: Produces natural wines, revitalizing vineyard terraces and supporting biodiversity.
New Ability: Engages people with disabilities in group activities that promote autonomy and integration.
Radio Gwen: The first independent radio station in Ticino. Promotes culture and contributes to social diversity.
Unlockedu: An educational platform that introduces younger people to the world of impact economy.
Good luck from the entire team of Impact Hub Ticino and Impact Club! We can't wait to introduce the projects and the wonderful people behind them to our community!
