Leaders across education, workforce, climate, and impact sectors came together in Stockholm in the final event of our Global Impact Summits Series.
HolonIQ’s Global Impact Summits wrapped up the Europe region and the Series as whole in a thoughtful day of discussions, presentations and fireside chats with leaders, founders, investors and experts making a difference across the impact sector.
HolonIQ’s signature data-driven deep dive into the global state of impact highlighted thematics from global shifts in population growth and education needs, to advanced technology, capital markets and the climate crisis. Sessions at the Stockholm Summit picked up these themes, taking in the full education spectrum from early years to workforce development, through impact investing, green energy and unlocking the power of water.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals were in focus once again, this time as a stark reminder and challenge for all of us to note the reality of the work ahead:
“We are way, way, way behind in terms of the required pace of change to reach these SDGs. We would have to multiply the current pace of change by four if we wanted to reach those objectives by 2030. The role of my team is to figure out, can we do that?”
Cities, infrastructure, green energy and a changing picture in impact investing
Things are changing in the impact investment space, according to a fascinating panel with Anne-Louise Thon-Jensen (Vår Ventures) and David Frykman (Norrsken VC). After an early period in which ‘no one wanted to know them’, David noted that interest grew considerably when it became clear that the fund could make money, as well as drive impact outcomes. Both speakers highlighted their interest in solutions that are ambitious and ‘game-changing’, with global impact at the heart of what they do.
“We now believe that the companies we need to invest in, the winners of tomorrow, are the ones who have impact in their DNA.”
We also heard from Einar Bodström (ClimateView) on their work helping cities around the world to reach NetZero. Echoing comments from other speakers, he noted that it is important to not reinvent the wheel, but learn from other cities experiencing similar challenges, putting metrics at the centre to shift away from the ‘political’ arguments on climate action. He described global cities as a potential collaborative, cooperative network which can work together more effectively.
“The symmetry of cities has enormous potential with that network effect”
In the final session of the climate track, Jonathan Viner (10Digits AB/ Nordic EdTech News) moderated a panel with Patrick Möller (CorPower Ocean) and Markus Romeis (Otovo) on ‘powering green energy generation’, with insights from those at the forefront of wave and solar energy. Rather than putting solutions up against each other, they spoke about the importance of the overall clean energy picture, and how different solutions can work together for better over impact.
“Sustainability comes from having the benefit of reducing the overall cost of the clean energy mix and rolling it out on a big scale.”
HolonIQ’s Co-CEO Patrick Brothers also announced the Nordic Baltic Climate Tech 100, HolonIQ’s annual list of the most promising Climate Tech startups.
Innovation for equity and access, early years education and EdTech testbeds
Sharing practice and creating partnerships was a key theme in the education track too, which began with Thomas Davin (UNICEF, Office of Innovation) speaking about innovations which aim to achieve meaningful, sustainable change for millions of children worldwide. A later session with UNICEF’s Angeles Cortesi shared more detail on the impacts of the global learning crisis, and the need for wide-reaching solutions.
“70% of 10 year-olds in low and middle income countries are unable to read a basic text. That’s the reality of the catastrophe we’re having today”
“That’s the long-term effect of collaboration and trust. You need the researchers there. You need the companies and providers and developers of course, and then the schools, the teachers… you can add civil society to that as well.”
In a fireside chat with HolonIQ’s Co-CEO Patrick Brothers, Kahoot! CEO Eilert Hanoa shared the story of the company’s huge growth since 2013, from a ‘freemium’ model to commercialising and partnering with stakeholders and institutions all over the world. Now listed on the US Stock Exchange, Kahoot! has focussed clearly on the user experience, whether that’s keeping students’ attention in class, or increasingly how to engage a community of creators and help them reap the benefits of their platform usage.
Maria Spies also guided the audience through the Nordic Baltic EdTech 50, HolonIQ's annual list of the most promising EdTech startups from the region.
Eilert Hanoa (Kahoot!) in a fireside chat with HolonIQ Co-CEO Patrick Brothers
Follow 100 Days of Impact
The Stockholm Summit marked Day 69 of 100 Days of Impact and a global wave of ideas and inspiration for the future of impact. As each week unfolds, we’ve been sharing key themes and content from each summit, including speaker highlights, insights from leading organizations and the winners of our regional EdTech, HealthTech and ClimateTech 1000s.
Whether you’re participating or spectating from afar, find out the latest with #HolonIQSummits and by following @HolonIQ wherever you get your socials.
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