Pulling together for green transition

TEXT: TIMO MANSIKKA-AHO | PHOTO: KAROLIINA VUORENMÄKI

The climate change has come to a point where there is simply no time left for waiting. On the other hand, the 9 200 billion euros that are annually needed in climate solutions create a significant business opportunity for many. While green transition seems to be running with two engines, the secret to success lies in the ability to ensure that they are pulling towards the same direction.

From the planet’s point of view, the time to act is right now”, Terhi Vapola, Founder and Managing Partner at Greencode Ventures, agrees. “Green transition requires big things on a short notice, which translates into significant investments in scalable technologies.”

Vapola is, in her own words, “a big believer in technology” and she sees innovations on that front as the only way to cut down CO2 emissions fast. As time is running out, achievements are needed quickly. This limits the available options for scaling new technology to software and digital solutions.

The lack of time also calls for brisk moves. This turns the focus on small start-up companies where neither old assumptions nor rigid internal processes get in the way of wild ideas and smooth progress.

On the other hand, innovative businesses need resources for the next leap of growth. That is where Greencode Ventures comes in.

“We want to support green transition by investing in companies with the best capabilities to develop scalable technologies for it”, Terhi Vapola says. “Our comprehensive knowledge of both climate issues and business management helps take those companies and their work further.”

Connecting ideas with resources for the most efficient outcome

This brings the large, established companies back into the picture. While their development processes may be too slow for the current demand, their financial resources can step into a major role in commercializing innovations created by nimble start-ups.

“The strength of the start-ups lies in the ability to challenge the current ways of doing things and to harness digital tools to creating and scaling better solutions”, Terhi Vapola mentions. “At the same time, big companies can open doors to a lot larger markets and customer groups. Green transition needs both kinds.”

Greencode Ventures connects these two worlds, providing insight and experience about how the business opportunities of green transition can be utilized in a smart way. By establishing investment funds, it also provides chosen ventures with significant amounts of capital.

The big question is, where we can find solutions that are efficient and environmentally friendly – but also significant enough to make a difference?

Terhi Vapola points out that while the task at hand may sound almost insurmountable, solutions can be found closer than one might initially think.

“Digitalization and especially AI already enable many things that can be used as platforms for new implementations. The fastest way to innovate is to bring new ideas into existing infrastructure. The most important thing for every one of us is to realize the opportunities that we already have.” |

Read more at greencode.vc