Nearly €220,000 awarded to entrepreneurs working towards a better world during ImpactFest

The Hague – November 7, 2024 – ImpactFest focuses on the combination between ‘doing good’ and ‘doing business’. The annual event in The Hague yesterday attracted 1,500 visitors from 35 countries. Here, not only are solutions our society needs discussed, new collaborations actually emerge and direct investments are made in promising entrepreneurs. Several entrepreneurs went home with a cash prize to take their mission-driven companies a step further.

Three emerging innovative entrepreneurs from The Hague

During the awards ceremony on the main stage, the winners of the annual The Hague Innovators Challenge were announced. An initiative that boosts local entrepreneurs tackling social problems. The winner ‘Best Innovator’ with a prize of €15,000 is Solvoz: this company developed a platform for optimising procurement processes in the humanitarian and health sector. The incentive prize of €5,000 goes to Rator: developer of an innovative convector radiator with integrated heat pump. In addition, Brute Bonen, a startup that produces sustainable coffee naturally in the forest, was awarded the public prize of €2,500.

“Our city can be proud of winners Solvoz, Rator and Brute Bonen. I think it is wonderful to see with how much dedication these entrepreneurs are working on their mission. We notice that more and more sustainable entrepreneurs are consciously choosing The Hague to establish themselves. In this way, the positive influence of our city is growing. And besides, startups and upscaling companies like these are an important contribution to the economy and employment.”

Saskia Bruines, wethouder Economische ontwikkeling bij de gemeente Den Haag

Rabo Impact Fund helps startups and transitions accelerate

With donations from the Rabo Impact Fund, Rabobank helps early-stage impact startups. These startups are the innovators of the economy and play a crucial role in accelerating transitions. For partner Rabobank, ImpactFest was the perfect stage to award seven cheques of €25,000 to Tarnoc, Primal Soles, Feelou, Lignitec, Hyer Power and Arctic Reflections. The seventh cheque was awarded as a blowout at the closing awards ceremony to promising startup CIWI, which is developing a new, clean adjuvant for water purification.

Improving access to justice with Access to Justice Fund

With this special fund, Pels Rijcken supports projects or activities that make it easier for people and smaller entrepreneurs to determine their legal position or obtain justice, regardless of origin, position or legal question. After a pitch round of nominees LEXGEN, Omnius and LISI, the jury designated LEXGEN as the winner with a cheque of €20,000.

The article was translated by Renée Tentori, editor of The Hague Online.