Frankfurt, 17.03.2017. For the first time, the German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) will award prizes to projects that make a decisive contribution to achieving the United Nations' sustainable development goals. The Project Sustainability quality seal was awarded in 2017 to three forward-looking start-ups from the Rhine-Main area, among others: bettervest (Frankfurt), place2help (Hofheim) and Africa GreenTec (Hainburg).
Out of almost 250 applications, 67 projects were awarded prizes, which convinced the jury in the criteria contribution to sustainability, impact and originality. Three start-ups from the Rhine-Main area are also among the companies honoured:
The platform bettervest.com implements CO2-saving energy efficiency projects by bringing together small and medium-sized companies, associations and municipalities on the Internet with a large number of private small investors who can invest from 50 euros upwards. In return, they receive a sustainable return on their investment, which results from the energy cost savings. More than 50 projects have already been financed, including those such as those of Africa Greentec, which give African villages, schools and hospitals access to sustainable energy.
"We are very pleased that our work is recognised by the German Council for Sustainable Development and that we have received this important award. This motivates us to continue to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals here in the region as well as in the rest of the world," said Patrick Mijnals, founder of the bettervest platform.
place2help will soon launch a crowdfunding platform for the Rhine-Main area, which will bring together socially relevant projects with sponsors from the region. The special feature: place2help.org/rhein-main will not be a crowdfunding platform in its own right, but will bundle projects from different platforms, make them visible and co-finance them in cooperation with companies from the region. The aim is not only to make good projects possible, but also to give impulses for more innovation and co-responsibility in the region.
"With place2help Rhine-Main we want to show that crowdfunding can be an effective instrument of sustainable regional development", says Alexandra Partale, the founder of place2help. "Therefore we are very happy about the recognition by the German Council for Sustainable Development".
The social entrepreneur start-up Africa GreenTec builds and develops mobile energy solutions for the electrification of rural areas in Africa. The solar container has a capacity of 41 kWp and includes a battery system to provide power even when the sun is no longer shining. Africa GreenTec is an economically operating company, which aims to provide as many people as possible in remote areas with electricity, water and internet at fair prices and at the same time to abolish existing, old diesel generators. Currently the company is financing a solar container on the platform crowd4climate.org
"We are very proud of this award! The recognition strengthens our work and our concepts for sustainable development. The investment in the projects is a good opportunity to advance the issues of climate protection and the expansion of renewable energies in Africa. At the same time, crowdfunding offers a sensible investment and an alternative to conventional forms of investment. The potential is enormous. Africa is a large market", informed Charlie Njonmou, CEO of Mobile Solar Power Plants Africa - Partner of Africa GreenTec in Mali.
Further information is available at: www.place2help.org