What happens to our great ideas? For those of us who aren’t driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, perhaps we simply leave our ideas for ‘the right person’ to develop. However, for those who DO spend their time and energy on making their great ideas a reality, there may come a time when they get stuck. And then what? Do frustration and too many “no’s” kill their motivation? Does the need to ‘pay the bills’ take priority, shoving the great idea to the back burner?

Starting a business or developing a prototype takes a lot of time—and tenacity. You need a support system…a chorus of encouraging voices reminding you that you’re onto something special and you can do it…you need resources…

Here is where Impact Hubs thrive!

Our February event played host to participants of the University of Basel’s BOOST Sustainability Challenge 2017 and FHNW’s Swiss Student Sustainability Challenge. Five of Basel’s brightest presented their ideas and projects, then posted a struggle they were facing. The guests then provided feedback and suggestions in an effort to help the project on it’s journey to fruition. And let’s hope they do. Each of the five projects has societal value and impact we can all get behind.

Blink offers mobility solutions to people in need by connecting volunteers with clients, furthering a community of solidarity, and by tapping into local, under-used resources, like wheelchair-accessible vans, therefore, furthering it’s economic viability.  Visit website

BuyAware is a social startup aiming to improve the ethical and environmental conditions in the electronics sector. Informing the consumer about these issues is key to evoke change. That is why BuyAware has created the first all-in-one rating system for electronic devices based on criteria spanning the entire product lifecycle.  Visit website

Youtrition uses a free, “renewable resource”—urine—as a basis for plant fertiliser. By using a filter, consumers, businesses or governments can not only eliminate the need for polluting fertilisers, but save money in the process.  Visit website

KimiBGood seeks to use a variety of communication channels to address sustainability myths, present scientific facts in language we can ALL understand, and introduce role models from the region as good examples.  Visit website

Desert Tree is a reforestation project benefitting a community in Morocco by planting native trees to help prevent erosion and desertification, even using rain water collected from rooftops as an added innovation. The climate benefits from the carbon-collecting power of trees, the ecology is more diverse, and fruit trees bring food and income to the residents.  Visit website

Carrie Aikman