It’s time once again for the Sustainable Brands Innovation Open (SBIO) — our annual competition for startups poised to make scalable, sustainable impacts. Each year, we receive submissions from hundreds of purpose-driven ventures innovating to shape the future of business, and we’ve selected 11 finalists for this year’s SBIO, presented by Target and co-sponsored by SicaSoft and Sprint— winners to be announced June 3 at SB ’15 San Diego.
Our semi-finalists — which produce everything from cricket flour baked goods and disappearing ink to sustainable air filtration solutions — will be narrowed down to four finalists on June 3. The top three will then take home a Grand Prize (5,000, consulting time with Fenton Communications, and a three-year golden ticket to SB); The Target Prize (a $1,000 Target Card and consultation time with Target’s Sustainability, Merchandising and Marketing teams); and the People’s Choice Award.
The 2015 SBIO Semi-Finalists:
- AquaProFeed — introduces high-grade protein feed for the global animal feed industry using black soldier flies that provide a truly sustainable alternative to fishmeal and soymeal.
- Baby Hero — (Public vote winner) provides fair-trade, organic, ethically made baby clothes that fund a Neonatal Survival Kit for babies in the most underdeveloped parts of the world and will reduce mortality by 40-50% in those regions.
- Bitty Foods — delivers high-protein foods powered by cricket flour.
- Blue Box Air— introduces an air filter that reduces a company’s air filtration costs by 50% and its filter CO2 supply chain footprint and filter landfill waste stream by 80%.
- Blue Planet Ink — printer ink that disappears after a few days so the same paper can be used over and over again, perfect for copy paper and temporary printing.
- Lanza Tech — enables regional production of low-cost energy by capturing carbon from gases as varied as industrial flue gas, gasified biomass wastes and residues, or biogas and CO2 streams resulting in a growing portfolio of low carbon commodity chemicals, omega-3 fatty acids, ethanol and hydrocarbon fuels, including jet fuel.
- MyKavach — a Bluetooth-enabled SOS accessory (fashion bracelets, pendants, pins and keychains) for women that would instantly notify the authorities and well-wishers at the touch of their fingers.
- Servli —"Expedia for foodservice" - an effortless way to connect chefs to all their local suppliers with just one click.
- Stuffstr — powers the circular economy by maximizing the value of every retail purchase by capturing key product information at checkout, tracking each item's resale value, and helping people easily repair, resell, donate, or recycle their stuff; provides retailers with precisely-timed re-engagement opportunities and unprecedented product lifecycle data.
- Treedom — a social technology firm fighting deforestation by engaging individuals and companies in fun and transparent tree-planting campaigns.
- YOGO — yoga mats with several design improvements that make them more compact, convenient, clean and grippy; made with sustainable, low-waste materials and create a positive impact in forests and forest communities through its restoration initiative.