And the winner is….

 

EIT InnoEnergy’s student start-up, Cybele Dryers, is going home with the grand prize of the third edition of the Battle of Green Talent!

 

Since October 2022, over 300 students from EIT InnoEnergy Master School and partner business schools have been competing in the Battle of Green Talent, an online entrepreneurial game which concluded on 28 April 2023. The game is a unique experience with two main roles: entrepreneurs presenting their green ideas, gathering students to create a team, and competing with other teams for the attention of investors; and investors competing between themselves to gather the most impressive investment portfolio.  

 

This resulted in 26 sustainable start-ups, created by EIT InnoEnergy master’s students competing during six months for a spot in the final and the main prize to receive real cash funding of €10 000 and a chance to enter the EIT InnoEnergy student incubator services. The winning investor, Rami Abou Younes, also known as Ray, from Grenoble Ecole de Management, has proven to be the best virtual venture capitalist. His tough questions, analyses and investments have not only granted him the top investor spot, he has also won an incredible €2 000 cash prize and the participation at The Business Booster, EIT InnoEnergy’s flagship event. 

 

During the final event, six finalist teams got a chance to show their start-up pitch and participate in a short Q&A with the audience. After careful deliberation by the EIT InnoEnergy jury, the winning team and the winning investor were chosen and revealed. Also, during the event, the audience could vote for their favourite team.

 

The winning start-up of the 2023 edition of the Battle of Green Talent is team Cybele Dryers! The innovative idea of Jennifer Ortiz (Master’s in Renewable Energy at  École Polytechnique) and Görkem Balyalıgil (master’s student at KTH Royal Institute of Technology) to improve profits and quality of life for South-American cocoa and coffee bean farmers through a sustainable dryer was the one that convinced the jury and made them win the €10 000 cash prize and benefit from EIT InnoEnergy's student incubator services! The audience clearly agreed with the jury because they also took home the fan-favourite award, an original Battle of Green Talent desk lamp, a symbol for their energy and creativity that gave flavour to this edition of BoGT!

 

Runner-up was Enersoul, who won a cash prize of €5 000 and will also have a chance to build their start-up on excess heat storage within EIT InnoEnergy's incubator services. To finish the stage, Bringing Energy Closer was awarded with the 3rd prize. They will also receive guidance from the EIT InnoEnergy student incubator services to further develop their business into a real start-up!  

 

Congratulations to all winners and participating students and advisors! You made yet another edition of the Battle of Green Talent a success!

 

A special thank you to our partner Venture Spirit and the external advisors.