ECOSTAR | Natural Talents by Kieran Conlan, Ricardo Water & Environment - June, 15th 2017 @Manchester

1. Promoting
entrepreneurship
and innovation
for biodiversity-based
business
 Dr Kieran Conlan | Ricardo Water & Environment
#ECOSTARHub
ECOSTAR | The Nature Accelerator
PROMOTED BY IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH:
CO-FUNDED BY:

2. 2
• Role of Universities and SMEs in entrepreneurial
business
• ECOSTAR | Natural Talents
• Join: get involved!
• Learn: online training
• Grow: The Nature Accelerator
Contents

3. 3
• Mission of our universities, supported by
SMEs, to encourage uptake of entrepreneurial
nature based business activity
• Enterprise creation increasing in UK
• Italy 7th for scientific paper production, but…..
• 24th country for Venture Capital Investments
(only about 0,003 % of GDP, in Ireland and US
is 100 times higher)
Role of Universities and SMEs in entrepreneurial
business
Source: OECD Entrepreneurship at a Glance 2016

4. 4
Survey results within 14 forestry/environmental departments in EU:
• Evaluation of university commitment to entrepreneurship education:
medium-low
• 80% of respondents consider that entrepreneurship could be a useful
field of study within their university curriculum
• 27% aware of specific courses made available by their university
(12% within their faculty/school)
• Lack of business acumen noted by industry and consultancy.
More info at: www.ecostarhub.com/reports/
Why focus on Entrepreneurship education ?

5. 6
Universities generally focus on different stages of enterprise development:
• HUB refers to co-working, networking and entrepreneurial community
building
• Incubators typically serve early stage enterprises (pre-customers and
pre-revenue)
• Accelerators support enterprises with existing customers and revenue.
HUB, Incubator or Accelerator ?

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Value of Nature

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• Opportunities in nature-based
business lies in:
• Decreased costs
• Reduced risks
• Enhanced brand
• Revenue generation
• Promotion of public services
The opportunity
Natural Capital Coalition

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How can we do business while preserving and
improving our Natural Capital?
Where and how can we create and develop
greatest positive impact?

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• It is an EC-sponsored impact hub
and accelerator………………..
• It promotes research-business networking and training
• It promotes entrepreneurship and innovation
• It focuses on business models that make profit by marketing and/or
promoting/enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services
What is ECOSTAR?

10. 12
University of Brasov,
&
Forest Design
University of Padova,
&
ETIFOR
ETSII Montes
(University Polytechnic Madrid),
&
NepCon
Forest Trends Association,
Ecosystem Marketplace
Manchester University
&
Ricardo Water and Environment
The partners:

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How does ECOSTAR work?

12. 14Apply on: www.ecostarhub.com/join/
1. Join a growing ECOSTAR network
70 so far… join us!

13. 15
2. An EU-wide online learning programme
www.ecostarhub.com/learn
• Accredited in 4
universities (6-8
ECTS)
• University and
business teaching
• Starting in October
2017, 150 participants.

14. 3. The Nature-Accelerator
• Select: 8 best startups teams out of
hundreds
• Accelerate: Hosting & acceleration
services for 3 months, mentorship and
networks
• Invest: Seed & follow up investments
Powered by:
www.ecostarhub.com/grow/
Based in Padova, Agripolis
Campus, 30 min from Venice.

15. What kind of start-ups:
Startups that focus on business models/solutions that
make profit by marketing & enhancing biodiversity and
ecosystem services:
• #Impact driven
• #Social Innovation
• #New technologies
• #Circular and bio economy
Bioeconomy is expected to grow up to a market value of EUR
40 billion and 90,000 new jobs in 2020. (EC, 2012).
www.ecostarhub.com/grow/

16. 20
SEED FUND SERVICE VALUE TAKES FUNDS
8
INVEST IN
15K 85k 6% 8
Europe and
Worldwide
per startup per startup
redeemable
equity
startups per year
www.ecostarhub.com/grow/
WHAT WE OFFER
A 3-month program and access to resources from ECOSTAR network, Fledge
and our leading industry partners to grow your business.

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Series LLC
Accelerator
US/Canada
LatAm
Africa
Food/Ag
Cleantech
Women
Our investor partner
Environment
Luni Libes
Entrepreneur in Residence
& Faculty

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Acceleration services
• Entrepreneurial online training. Based on The Next Step series of books. Provided by Fledge
(Starting from 1st May 2018).
• Access to Impact Investors, Researchers, and Mentors networks provided by ECOSTAR and
Fledge (400+ mentors worldwide).
• A series of social events: investors cocktails, field trips and team building activities.
• Two months’ acceleration services. 1-to-1 mentorship sessions, workshops & seminars, perks
from technical partners, meetings and other activities with Industry & investor Partners (From 4th
June till 31st July 2018).
• A demo day: The Program will culminate with a Demo Day where the teams are on-stage telling
stories of their impact. More like TED than a typical investment pitch night.
• Follow-on investments for most promising startups…….

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Programme organization: 1 month + 8 weeks
W1: Startup
W2:
Business
model review
W3:
Financial
Planning
W4:
Marketing
strategy
W5: Website
& social
networks
W6: Legal &
patent rights
WP7:
Investors &
Pitch
preparation
W8:
Demoday
and
investors
meetings
Social events, business and scientific mentorship, investors meetings
Online
Next Step
MBA
training
(Optional
from
Fledge)

20. 24
Launch
Deadline
Selection
Negotiation
Start
Run
Demo Day
Follow up
15th June
31° January 2018
4th June 27th July 2018
When? Programme organisation: 1 month + 8 weeks

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Example: Entrepreneurial SME innovating with natural
capital accounting
Growth to Acquisition

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Novel ways of paying for service improvements:
Welsh Government: ecosystem services & PES
Milford Haven and the Cleddau Nutrient
reduction PES scheme

23. Growth phases of an entrepreneurial company
1. Each stage is
essential and we
see this cycle in
many companies.
2. If you fail to
change then the
company is likely to
fail………or not
reach its potential
1
entrepreneur
Set up and
grow:
Client
relationships
and niche
offer are key
15-20 people:
First major
restructure
35-40 people:
Second major
restructure
Prepare to
sell
Sell and
integrate….
PHASE 2
PHASE 1
PHASE 3
PHASE 4

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Example: New tech solutions
 Consulting company supports
forestry conservation
 Based in Germany, core team
of 4
 Drones provide high
resolution imagery of
landscapes for sustainable
forest management,
detecting illegal logging,
landscape management
 Fixed wing drones provide
landscape mapping,
microcopters provide
panoramas and 3d models

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Example: Bergila
 Essential oils from wild plants
 Collection of wild plants strictly defined by environmental carrying capacity
 Links harvesting, traceability and economic exploitation of wild plants
 €1.6 M turnover
 Provides stable employment in a remote rural region with few opportunities

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Example: Libearty
 Bear sanctuary – rescues captive bears and rehomes in 69
ha of oak forest (provided by city of Zarnesti)
 Started in 2005, €1M turnover, 95 bears rescued
 Not a zoo, but does provide visiting opportunities
 Helps conserve a threatened species

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How to get involved:
• Join in to improve the value of nature!
• Be part of the first Nature-Accelerator!
• Join the mentors and investors’ network!
• Apply to our on-line training!
• Promote your startup!

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Partner

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THANK YOU!
#ECOSTARHub
info@ecostarhub.com
www.ecostarhub.com

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• Lead partner: University of Padova, TESAF
• Budget: 1 M € (100% funded)
• Duration: 3 years – 2016-2018
• Partners: 9 partners from 5 countries (USA, ESP, RO, UK, IT)
• Project type: Eramus+ Knowledge Alliance Project
• Goal: Promoting Entrepreneurship in the field of Marketing and Economics
of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (MEEB)
ECOSTAR in a nutshell

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• Business models that make profit by marketing and enhancing
biodiversity and ecosystem services
• Related to Market-Based-Instruments (MBIs) for biodiversity and
ecosystem services conservation
• Sustainable (reinvestment on the Natural Capital)
• Innovative & Successful
Business models

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ECOSTAR Work Plan
N° Working Package Lead
WP1 Coordination and management TESAF
WP2 Quality and monitoring plan CASCADE
WP3 Research and assessment of needs ETIFOR/TESAF
WP4 Development of curricula and training material TESAF
WP5 Trainings and business plan award UPM
WP6 ECOSTAR research-enterprise alliance and
fundraising
NEPCON
WP7 Communication and dissemination ETIFOR
WP8 Project management and quality evaluation University of Manchester

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• Market driven research and teaching
• Improve research ethics and deliver IMPACTS
• Enlarge the network with the business sector >
necessary for all EU funding (H2020, Erasmus+,
etc.)
• Improve business mind set of university staff and
students - creation of spin-offs?
What are the benefits for universities?

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Engage & recruit motivated and highly specialized
young researchers and students
Receive constant up to date on relevant sector-
specific innovations
Enlarge the EU network and get access to EC
research and education funding (also as SME)
Experience new business models
What are the benefits for the private sector?

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Funding projects that aim at:
• Boosting innovation in higher education & business
• Stimulating the flow and exchange of knowledge between higher
education and enterprises.
• Developing entrepreneurship mind-set and skills among PhDs and
researchers
Key features: UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS BALANCE, BENEFICIARY
ORIENTED, MEASURABLE IMPACTS
Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliance

36. www.ecostarhub.com/join/
1. Join the network

37. BUSINESS MODELS FACT-SHEETS
www.ecostarhub.com/learn/

38. REPORTS
www.ecostarhub.com/learn/

39. EUROPEAN ES MARKET OUTLOOKs
www.ecostarhub.com/learn/