Back the future with Year Here’s Crowdbacker 2021
What the world needs now is sustainability and inclusion — meet the new ventures tackling both.
This Thursday, 30th September, we’ll be launching the five new social enterprises our 2020/21 Fellows have been testing and building over the past four months — Heartstrings, Nudos, More Diverse Voices, Scoobi, and Bua.
These ventures are questioning what kind of world we want to live in tomorrow — whether that’s one with the same old systems or a place that’s more sustainable, inclusive, and just. From reimagining childcare and play, opening barriers to work and eliminating waste, Crowdbacker 2021 gets the problem solvers of tomorrow started today.
Two major themes have emerged this year from the issues our ventures are taking on — sustainability and social inclusion. As the recent ICPP Report indicated, temperatures will likely rise by more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels within the next two decades, leading to destruction and extreme weather. And whether it’s health and employment outcomes or education and the justice system, the stark reality of systemic inequality in the UK has been laid bare more than ever before. With these glaring issues mounting, the future may feel uncertain, but our new startups are taking it onto themselves to make outcomes brighter.
Read on to learn more about the five new ventures and their take on the crises they’re addressing, but be sure to tune in this Thursday night for their full pitches.
As well as pitches from our new ventures, you’ll also hear from Daisy Jacobs of Routes, who’ll be there to give an update on their journey since their own Crowdbacker pitch, as well as our keynote speaker skipper and ocean advocate Emily Penn.
Heartstrings
Heartstrings is a creative, cultural and conscious childcare service that provides workshops for 6month olds — 6year olds. Refugees Artists lead sessions exploring the customs and cultures from around the world through music, movement and mindfulness, building empathy and compassion.
Nudos
Nudos is the simpler, cleaner, greener way to wrap gifts. We’re on a mission to solve the problem of increasing amounts of single-use gift wrap ending up in landfill every year and to stop rubbish gifting.
More Diverse Voices
A communications agency that helps our clients speak to broader audiences, deliver better services and attract the best talent through inclusive language. We do this by increasing representation across society’s most important conversations by championing historically marginalised voices.
“Diversity and inclusion is finally on the boardroom agenda, but businesses are still struggling to make change. Although structural reform takes time, there are things we can all do right now: it is in all of our power to change the words we use. More Diverse Voices is a communications agency that helps the organisations find the right words, so together we can build a more inclusive, diverse and kinder world.” — Emily Horton, founder.
Scoobi
Scoobi curates ethical and sustainable toys that children love. Children can play with toys and once they’ve had their fun, swap them for a new batch. Scoobi’s recycling service for children’s items helps parents to declutter their homes.
“Our consumption habits are unsustainable on a planet that is fast running out of natural resources. At Scoobi, we want to change that starting in the toy industry. We are a rental subscription service for toys. We buy into a world where renting the things you love can save the planet for the next generation. Our mission is to keep toys in circulation for longer and preventing them from going to landfills. At Scoobi, we Rent, Re-Love and Recycle.” — Senthan Balachandiran, co-founder.
Bua
Bua is a marketing agency that trains and employs people with disabilities and neurodiversity. Bua aims to increase the number of people with disabilities and neurodiversity entering white-collar, creative work, providing innovative solutions for clients via employment and training.
“Unemployment and inclusion for disabled people is a pressing issue, particularly into salaried work, outside of tech. Bua tackles this issue by providing employment and training for disabled people into creative work. Let’s make the most of the talent we have and lead the movement for better diversity inclusion in our workplaces!” — Cat Snell, founder.
