7.5 EIT InnoEnergy Master school alumnae blaze the trail for women-run start-ups!

EIT InnoEnergy Master School has many fantastic examples of women graduates who embody leadership and entrepreneurship, pushing the glass ceiling. For example, three strong, entrepreneurial alumnae continue to lead the charge in their chosen fields – and shine a light for others to follow.

The Verdantips team of three dynamic women met in Stockholm during their MSc in Energy for Smart Cities programme, where they learned that combating climate change requires government, corporate, and individual action.

As we began to change our lifestyle to minimise our environmental impact, we realised how inconvenient it can be. Where can I find organic produce? Or restaurants which aren’t using plastic take-out containers? Which local clothing brands are using recycled materials? So, we created a platform that facilitates eco-living and conscious consumption by aggregating businesses, products, and activities that are better for the environment into one place.

We’ve been very supported by EIT InnoEnergy and been provided with an excellent technical education in top universities that also taught me about business and entrepreneurship. This opportunity helped me understand my career goals and interests and brought me to where I am today.

With a mission to reduce the waste of batteries from electric vehicles while providing more accessible and reliable energy storage solutions to homeowners, Laura cofounded ReLi with two other students while studying at EIT InnoEnergy for her MSc in Smart Electrical Networks and Systems programme. Their idea went on to win the first edition of the Battle of Green Talent, a start-up competition by EIT InnoEnergy that gave them access to incubation services. In essence, ReLi makes more sustainable and affordable energy storage solutions for residential buildings with solar panels by refurbishing batteries from electric vehicles.

Al BA f o R ns Chief Strategist, Chief Climate Officer & Co-Founder of Climatize

We need to keep pushing and fighting for more gender and culturally diverse representation in the workplace, and I’ve seen a huge improvement! I have met amazing women who are out there right now disrupting the energy sector.

A project that began in Alba’s first year of the MSc in Renewable Energy (entering the ESADE eWorks accelerator programme in 2020) has evolved into Climatize – a climate FinTech mobile app specialising in connecting climate-concerned individuals to impact investment opportunities. Climatize invests the spare change from consumers’ everyday purchases into crowdfunding climate tech projects so they can earn money while protecting the environment. Of her time studying, Alba says: “Both EIT InnoEnergy and ESADE - the Barcelona Pedralbes Business School - have been very supportive and provided invaluable connections within the industry. It’s empowering to make fighting climate change easier than ever before – and being able to align my values with my job means the world to me.”