HeHop (France), Jelly Drops (UK), Fazla Gida (Turkey) and Zouri Shoes (Portugal) are the winners of the Social Innovation Tournament 2019, which took place on 24 October in Dublin, Ireland.
HeHop (France) and Jelly Drops (UK) received first and second prize in the general category. Fazla Gida (Turkey) and Zouri Shoes (Portugal) received first and second prize in the special category for projects focusing on sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12).
HeHop seeks to break the circle of violence. The new app will gather legal evidence essential to tackling all kinds of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, verbal) in professional, private and public life. Less than 10% of such attacks result in a formal complaint as victims fear that without proof they will not be believed.
Fazla Gida is a waste management platform that provides holistic solutions, enabling the reduction of waste at source. Sustainability is a recurring theme, gaining ever more importance in ensuring that the EIB acts in a responsible way when investing in projects around the world.
Jelly Drops are hydrating treats that enable people with dementia to hydrate more often and independently, since many people with dementia find eating easier and more intuitive than drinking. Dehydration is one of the leading causes of death for people with dementia.
Zouri Shoes collects plastic from the Portuguese coast and reuses it in the production of a cool and sustainable footwear brand. After the shoes reach the end of their useful life, the old shoes are turned into raw material for the production of urban furniture and blocks, thus making this a social and circular business model.
Positive CV (Finland) and Zouri Shoes (Portugal) will join the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship programme in the framework of a partnership between the Institute and INSEAD Business School launched in 2016.
EIB Vice-President Andrew McDowell, who joined us in Dublin at the final event, said: “All contestants in today’s Social Innovation Tournament have invested their lives and savings in innovative new businesses designed to overcome the world’s most pressing ethical, social and environmental challenges. The European Investment Bank is delighted to be able to support these entrepreneurs from across Europe and we wish them every success in the future.”
Fifteen finalists from 10 countries had initially been selected for the Tournament from 168 proposals submitted by applicants from 27 countries. The 15 projects participated in the SIT Mentoring Bootcamp, from July 10th to July 12th, where experts on business and social entrepreneurship offered them practical advice on improving all aspects of their projects and prepared them to pitch their projects.
This year’s edition took place on 24 October in Dublin, Ireland. The call for projects for the 2020 Social Innovation Tournament will start on 1st February 2020.
