EIF: All case studieshttp://www.eif.org/news_centre/audiovisual_library/case_studies/index.htmNo description availableCopyright European Investment BankEIF: All case studieshttp://www.eif.org../../../eib.org/img/logo_s_en.gif http://www.eif.org/news_centre/audiovisual_library/case_studies/index.htmen Mon, 18 Mar 2024 20:00:16 +0100 Mon, 18 Mar 2024 20:00:16 +0100 120 Hybrid Greentech: optimising energy storage assets http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/hybrid-greentech-denmark.htm?media=rss&language=en “About 20 years ago, I watched a documentary about hydrogen fuel cell busses in Iceland and knew immediately that I wanted to work on alternative forms of energy for the rest of my life,” says Rasmus Rode Mosbæk, founder and CEO of Hybrid Greentech, based just outside Copenhagen. Rasmus and his company have since specialised on energy storage: “We offer both the expert advice, like a consultancy, and a virtual power plant facility.” With the ambition of increasing the penetration of (often un... Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/hybrid-greentech-denmark.htm One.five: looking for the right solution http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/onefive-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en Achieving sustainability in all aspects of our existence is going to be the challenge that defines this generation. If someone is still around to look back in, say, 50 years’ time, it’ll be today’s decisions that will have unlocked sustainability. And while many of those decisions come at the political level, some will argue that, equally, innovative businesses can make a difference, coming up with solutions that make trade and commerce - and subsequently society - more sustainable. That’s pa... Wed, 27 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/onefive-germany.htm Morpheus Space: making space for everyone http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/morpheus-space-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en “Space is critical infrastructure for our society, with many different applications. From earth observation to communication, space helps us connect the world and understand it better. To figure out climate change, agriculture, transport…” explains Daniel Bock, CEO and co-founder of Morpheus, a company that is redefining space mobility. ACTION IN SPACE, FLEXIBILITY ON EARTH Daniel and his team are developing an all-in-one satellite mobility platform that includes the hardware with their scala... Tue, 28 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/morpheus-space-germany.htm Neggst: neggst generation eggs http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/neggst-generation-eggs.htm?media=rss&language=en “We’re passionate foodies from Berlin who care about our health, environment, food science and animal welfare.” “If you consider everything from the crops to the breeding of chickens, just one egg needs around 200 litres of water for its production,” says Veronica Garcia-Arteaga. That’s quite a number, especially as eggs tend to move in dozens. “Our aim is to reduce that by 80%.” PROTEIN-RICH REPLACEMENTS Veronica is co-founder of Berlin-based Neggst, a company that is working on a very inter... Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/neggst-generation-eggs.htm AVA Ocean: reinventing seabed harvesting http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-ava-ocean-norway.htm?media=rss&language=en Ava is an old biblical term that means ‘living, breathing’. When used in the context of an innovative Norwegian ocean technology and seafood company, it refers to the living, breathing ocean. “There are so many high-value resources lying on the seabed. We believe that if we are to close the food gap, we need to utilise those high-value resources in a sustainable way,” explains Øystein Tvedt, CEO of Ava Ocean. Founded in Ålesund, Norway, in 2016, Ava Ocean is developing new ways of harvesting ... Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-ava-ocean-norway.htm Lunar Outpost: technology in space, impact on earth http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/lunar-outpost.htm?media=rss&language=en “When it comes to understanding our universe and what’s around us, the better we understand where we live, the better our understanding of where we fit into it,” says Julian Cyrus, President of Lunar Outpost. “From a long-term perspective, in terms of the sustainment of the human species, being able to reach out into the universe and establish ourselves off of earth could provide longevity and stress our planet less.” SUPER-ROVERS Based in Luxembourg, Lunar Outpost is an advanced technology c... Fri, 27 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/lunar-outpost.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Antoaneta Stefanova http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-antoaneta-stefanova.htm?media=rss&language=en Back in the day, schooling and then vocational training or university pretty much defined the kind of professional life you’d follow. But in the rapidly changing world we live in today, it’s becoming increasingly common for people to jump ship and change career paths. That often requires developing a new skillset however, which can be anything from challenging to outright daunting. But not for everyone. TAKING A DIFFERENT DIRECTION Antoaneta Stefanova, from Sofia, Bulgaria, went to a maths h... Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-antoaneta-stefanova.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Velislav Tsenov http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-velislav-tsenov.htm?media=rss&language=en Velislav Tsenov, from Vratsa, graduated with a degree in IT and business administration from the American University in Bulgaria. “I’ve always been keen on programming and at undergrad, I wanted to do computer science, but there was a lot of misalignment, so I dropped it and focussed instead on business management.” IT COME HOME That interest in IT never left him, however, and soon made a come-back. “In my first job, I always had to do techie things, so I had it in mind, but I never dedicated... Mon, 23 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-velislav-tsenov.htm Next Gate Tech: smart analytics & automated data management for the financial industry http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/lff-next-gate-tech-luxembourg.htm?media=rss&language=en “I saw huge discrepancies between the technology and innovation used in front office work compared to back office.” We’ve all heard that in today’s age, ‘data is king’. But how does that translate into practice? How does it play out on the ground? Occasionally you come across companies that have been built on this very premise and illustrate the point better than any description could. Next Gate Tech is one of those companies, offering data management, analytics and insights through their Sof... Fri, 13 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/lff-next-gate-tech-luxembourg.htm Jua: extremely accurate weather predictions http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/jua-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en “We believe in a better way of technology-driven decision-making and modelling the world around us.” “What drives us emotionally, what we will put decades of our lives into researching is the idea that we can significantly improve how humans interact with the environment,” says Jua co-founder and CEO Andreas Brenner. GREATER PRECISION NEEDED Andreas explains that with old-school technology, weather forecasting is limited to general geographic area information. “But customers want to know: for... Wed, 6 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/jua-germany.htm cylib: next generation battery recycling http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/cylib-next-generation-battery-recycling.htm?media=rss&language=en “I think we need to change our mindset in general. We need to change our habits.” “We break down the battery into its raw form, so that we can then re-use it again to make new batteries. That way we don’t have to keep mining for new minerals,” explains Lilian Schwich, co-founder and CEO of cylib, a start-up company based spun out of RWTH Aachen University. GROWING NEED FOR BATTERIES As the green transition picks up speed, the number of electric vehicles (EVs) has exploded, with Europe seeing ... Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/cylib-next-generation-battery-recycling.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Federico Bono http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-guarantee-pilot-federico-bono.htm?media=rss&language=en “Most degrees focussed a lot on computer science and engineering. I wanted something different, and I found that at EIT Digital.” “The project has different phases,” explains Federico Bono, from Treviso, Italy, as he describes his Masters studies. “First a kick-off in Tallinn, the first year in Milan Polytechnic, a summer school in Madrid, and then a second year in Stockholm.” A true European project if you will… WHERE SCIENCE MEETS BUSINESS Federico is doing a double Masters degree, focussin... Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-guarantee-pilot-federico-bono.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Christian Siman http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/christian-siman-romania.htm?media=rss&language=en “I think I will work in AI. A lot of this master is in AI. It’s a huge, growing field, and I’m really getting into it. Humanity has a lot to profit from AI. Automated processes can go faster than with human input.” Christian Siman grew up in Cluj-Napoca, studied in Nice, is attending a summer school in Ljubljana and will head to Stockholm in September. It’s the kind of truly European story that brings a smile to anyone’s face. BUILDING ROBOTS To be more precise, however, what is sending Chris... Mon, 17 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/christian-siman-romania.htm Mov’Art: the art of movement http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/movart-luxembourg.htm?media=rss&language=en “I think that, since covid, people tend to take more care of themselves,” says Fabio Teixeira, co-founder of Mov’Art, a studio dedicated to personal training and posturology. “We offer comprehensive support, from A to Z.” Along with co-founder Charlie Depaepe, Fabio set up Mov’Art in late 2022. Mov’Art, whose name comes from the expression ‘art of movement’, is all about postural correction, weight-loss, and improving mobility and muscle strength, working with everyone from 11 to 75 years of ... Mon, 3 Jul 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/movart-luxembourg.htm Adler Ortho: alleviating pain http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/adlerortho-italy.htm?media=rss&language=en “People like my grandmother just tended to sit around, not doing much. Today, 75-year-olds can still be very active.” AGEING EUROPE Osteo-arthritis and osteo-arthrosis come with age, and where life-expectancy is higher, these conditions can be quite common – like in Europe. That creates a very large market for artificial joints that can be used to alleviate painful conditions. Adler Ortho is an Italian company specialized in design, production and commercialization of joint prostheses and oth... Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/adlerortho-italy.htm SAPOTEC: energy always and everywhere http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/sapotec-austria.htm?media=rss&language=en We sometimes forget how critical electricity is in our lives, taking for granted its omni-presence. And in that respect, power cuts can be anything from annoying to even very disruptive. But in certain fields, like healthcare for example, or major data centres, power interruptions can be absolutely devastating and are simply not an option.   SAPOTEC is a company based in Salzburg that lives and breathes that space of emergency power supply. That’s the power systems that kick in when the main ... Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/sapotec-austria.htm Petsitting: like a member of the family http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/petsitting-luxembourg.htm?media=rss&language=en Dogs used to work pretty hard, in security, farming, hunting… and some still do. But most of our four-legged friends live like kings today. This explains, at least in part, why people are willing to invest more and more in services like doggy day-care and next level pet-sitting. This is a market opportunity that Amandine, originally from Strasbourg, has tapped into in Olingen, on the outskirts of the city of Luxembourg. EMPLOYEE TO ENTREPRENEUR After 10 years in the communications and print w... Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/petsitting-luxembourg.htm aedifion: decarbonizing real estate digitally http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/aedifion-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en “With our advanced AI-based control algorithms we help to operate buildings sustainably through a simple digital upgrade to squeeze out every last bit of efficiency” The buildings sector continues to have a significantly large carbon footprint, with heating and cooling systems, electricity consumption, and of course the manufacturing of construction materials such as cement, steel, and aluminium driving CO 2  emissions. While efforts to generate cleaner energy are in full swing, part of the s... Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/aedifion-germany.htm codary: start ‘em young! http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/codary-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en “There’s up to 100,000 open IT jobs in Germany alone, waiting to be filled because we don’t have enough potential employees with the necessary skills.” Just as reading and writing were the foundation for education and communication in the past, coding is becoming the fundamental language for technology and innovation.   CODING FOR KIDS “Digitalisation of schools is seriously lagging behind. We saw how schools struggled to reach kids during the pandemic… There are often no laptops for teachers... Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/codary-germany.htm Sunroof: a world run on sun http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/sunroof-sweden.htm?media=rss&language=en “Energy infrastructure tends to be very old. We need to be able to adjust to consumers producing their own cheaper energy.” Volatile energy markets and skyrocketing electricity prices have led many European consumers to consider renewable sources of energy to meet their needs. And the European solar industry is looking to play its part in satisfying consumer demand as well as contributing to Europe’s long-term sustainability goals. INTEGRATED ROOFTOP SOLUTION For Stockholm-based SunRoof, the ... Mon, 17 Apr 2023 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/InvestEU/case-studies/sunroof-sweden.htm Oazer: emission-free transport http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf-oazer-sweden.htm?media=rss&language=en Oazer, based in Umeå in northern Sweden, is a company that provides hydrogen systems adapted to subarctic and arctic climates to customers who want zero-emission hydrogen solutions, building a network of refuelling stations across their geographical market and offering a viable green alternative to battery- and fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. “In places like northern Sweden, distances are huge. When it comes to heavy duty, long-distance transportation, battery-powered transport isn’t good enoug... Fri, 24 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf-oazer-sweden.htm Calyxia: biodegradable micro-capsules http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-blue-economy-pilot-calyxia-france.htm?media=rss&language=en “Microplastic pollution is a ticking time bomb. Microplastics don’t degrade for hundreds of years - they accumulate, and we are producing two million more tonnes every year; 210 species of fish are already polluted; 90% of water is polluted. We will reach a point where this concentration is catastrophic for the environment, biodiversity and human health. That’s why we need immediate action to identify the sources and eliminate them,” says Jamie Walters, CEO and co-founder of Calyxia, a Paris-... Thu, 9 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-blue-economy-pilot-calyxia-france.htm Nextil: green dyes that make a difference http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-innovfin-smeg-nextil-spain.htm?media=rss&language=en “Sustainability today is a must. Social as much as environmental. That’s why we spend a lot of time and energy working on developing Greendyes ®, our completely sustainable dyeing technique,” says Manuel Martos, CEO of Nextil Group. Based in Madrid, but with production facilities in the US, Portugal, and Guatemala, Nextil Group is a big player in the textile industry, that offers a broad range of products within five different divisions (luxury, sports, intimate, swimwear and, medical) and se... Tue, 7 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-innovfin-smeg-nextil-spain.htm Freddy met Curry: zero waste food http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-easi-freddy-met-curry-belgium.htm?media=rss&language=en “Consumers are changing and becoming much more concerned about what they are eating, the origin of the products they are consuming and their carbon footprint,” says Jeremie Lambin, CEO of Freddy met Curry, a sustainable caterer in Brussels that specialises in zero-waste lunch making and delivery services. A business engineer by way of background, Jeremie was born and raised in Brussels by parents with a strong inclination towards sustainability and low waste. “I always had a strong draw to en... Wed, 1 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-easi-freddy-met-curry-belgium.htm Qualinx: small size, low cost, low power, always on http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/investeu-qualinx-netherlands.htm?media=rss&language=en With the explosion of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and the rapid digitalisation of the world around us, semiconductor technology has been catapulted to the forefront of the EU’s strategic objectives. It’s a very complex, technical field, with a fairly limited pool of expertise in both Europe and globally. But its relevance to so many different aspects of our lives and economy has meant that public sector financing has been looking at this space with renewed interest. “Our aim is quite simple:... Thu, 19 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/investeu-qualinx-netherlands.htm Plan A: made-to-measure sustainability http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-dff-plan-a-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en “Decarbonisation is central to stabilising our economy,” says Lubomila Jordanova, CEO of Plan A. “Corporates contribute to the world’s carbon footprint so they must be part of the solution too. Our job is to provide the tools that will support them on their transformational journey.” Transitioning to a greener economic model is Plan A’s ultimate objective. The company’s SaaS (software-as-a-service) software offers an end-to-end solution for companies aiming to plan and implement a tangible de... Fri, 6 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-dff-plan-a-germany.htm Mito: frutti di mare innovation http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi_mito-italy.htm?media=rss&language=en Molluscs are perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind when talking about climate change, but the impact is very real. These marine creatures, a great source of protein and at the same time a key ingredient of local Italian cuisine, are becoming scarce, their numbers dropping fast. “In 2014, Italian production was more than 75,000 tonnes. Today it’s less than 25,000,” says Paola Landri, biologist and one of the directors of Mito. “There are many reasons for this, we can’t really put the ... Wed, 7 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi_mito-italy.htm Envigas: sustainable biocarbon http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf-envigas-sweden.htm?media=rss&language=en “We need to find solutions. Otherwise, you just give up. If we do nothing, it will definitely go wrong. This is our contribution,” says Lars-Gunnar Almryd, CEO of Envigas. “When you grow old, looking back, you’ll ask yourself, did I try to contribute? That’s one of the drivers for me. I think it’s exciting to find new solutions that can contribute to the big picture as well as the small scale.” Based in northern Sweden, Envigas is a large-scale producer of biocarbon, helping the shift towards... Mon, 5 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf-envigas-sweden.htm AION: circularity as a service http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-aion-norway.htm?media=rss&language=en “We used to work in renewables when we were told they wouldn’t fly,” says Runa Haug Khoury, CEO of AION, underlining her long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability. AION’s purpose is to industrially scale a circular plastic economy. The company, based in Oslo, provides flexible and traceable end-to-end services in the field of circularity on plastics with a documented sustainability effect for its customers. “We call it ‘circularity as a service’,” she adds. Working with its par... Thu, 3 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-aion-norway.htm Submer: datacenters that make sense http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-submer-spain.htm?media=rss&language=en Saying that we’re living in an era where data is king could be considered a bit of an understatement. But as data grows, so do the demands of data management and the infrastructure behind it. Submer is a company that provides solutions for datacentres, beginning with cooling, and spanning across to affect change in nearly every other element of IT infrastructure - from scaling, to power, to energy and memory. “With the exponential increase of power density in recent and future server chip mod... Thu, 3 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-submer-spain.htm OroraTech: saving the planet from space http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/sia-ororatech-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en Climate change generates extreme weather events with devastating consequences like wildfires. “Droughts and rising temperatures are causing wildfires that are burning areas the size of India every year. Our Earth has a fever,” says Thomas Gruebler, co-founder and CEO of OroraTech. “18% of global CO2 emissions come from wildfires. The best way to fight climate change is through precise temperature data because it’s all connected to temperature. If we use this data efficiently, we can do a lot ... Wed, 24 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/sia-ororatech-germany.htm Helio: shared workspace+ http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf-helio-sweden.htm?media=rss&language=en “I think that the speed of change in a company today, and they rate at which companies can grow demands new ways of thinking in relation to office space,” says Patrik Åström, CEO of Helio. “People want flexibility. They want to be able to focus on the business, not handling the office and facilities.” That’s when Helio steps in, offering high quality shared workspace, complete with hotel-style design features, catering, food & beverage facilities and other perks like fitness space. “We of... Tue, 5 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf-helio-sweden.htm EcoG: integrated charging http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/ecog-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en “Electric vehicles (EV) on the road become greener the more integrated EV charging is with the grid,” explains Joerg Heuer, CEO & co-founder of Munich-based EcoG, a company that provides ‘EcoG universal core’ for electric vehicle charger manufacturers to significantly reduce time and cost of charging station development, manufacturing and maintenance. The technology can be used by the charging industry for remote device management, by charger operators to increase their services utilizati... Fri, 1 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/ecog-germany.htm Juvinum: weathering the storm http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf-juvinum-sweden.htm?media=rss&language=en “To put it mildly, it was a disaster,” says Carl-Viggo Östlund, co-owner of Juvinum, referring to the COVID-19 crisis that hit the hospitality sector in 2020. “Sales went down to almost zero for about 4-5 months, picked up a bit in the summer and then stopped again completely for 4-5 months. 2020 sales were less than half of a normal year, and 2021 was only marginally better.” Juvinum, based in Stockholm, is a family-run business that Carl-Viggo and his wife Caroline acquired from her parents... Tue, 21 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf-juvinum-sweden.htm Protera: the future of food http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/protera-france.htm?media=rss&language=en “We’re from a transitioning generation,” says Leonardo Alvarez, CEO and co-founder of Protera. “We care a lot about the impact we’re having in the planet. We need to move towards a more sustainable society, a better future. And we’re confident that proteins can help us to get there.” Leonardo is referring to food waste, the first industry problem they are addressing with Protera’s technology, increasing shelf life and reducing food waste using proteins. “One-third of food produced worldwide i... Mon, 13 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/protera-france.htm Wright Educational Solutions: green school education http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-skills-education-wright-educational-solutions.htm?media=rss&language=en “Kids are spending too much time on their screens. They miss out on interaction with other children, on savouring the outdoors and endless opportunities for discovery that nature provides. We’re giving them that chance to reconnect with each other and with nature, develop their social skills and enjoy learning through their natural environments,“ says Gyongyver Pillich-Wright, founder of Wright Educational Solutions. Gyongyver is a qualified teacher trainer, specialised in neuro-language coac... Mon, 23 May 2022 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-skills-education-wright-educational-solutions.htm Wizz for Kids: teachers with ideas http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-wizz-for-kids-romania.htm?media=rss&language=en “If you start early, no matter what the kids end up doing later, if the base is structured, they’ll be ok wherever they go, whatever they do,” says Andra Ciorba, Manager at Wizz for Kids. Andra used to work in a private school for ten years and recently became pregnant. During that period of maternity, she started to set up workshops for very young kids and their mothers, relying on her double expertise as a mother and a teacher. “Parents want more workshops. They want to engage in more exper... Wed, 23 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-wizz-for-kids-romania.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Jana Kudlickova http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-jana-kudlickova-spain.htm?media=rss&language=en “The tech industry is very relevant right now and it is growing, creating opportunities as everything is going digital. I thought, why not me? Why not try it as a career?” says Jana Kudlickova, who lives in Alicante, Spain and has recently made a complete shift in the direction of her career. Jana, from Ružomberok in northern Slovakia, studied Slovak and English philology. Around ten years ago, however, she moved to Spain: “I love languages and I’m always looking to learn new ones, that’s why... Mon, 21 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-jana-kudlickova-spain.htm Celeris Therapeutics: AI-driven protein degradation http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/celeris-austria.htm?media=rss&language=en "It's about benefiting people, about contributing to alleviating incurable diseases - that's the reason we all get up every morning," says Jakob Hohenberger, co-founder of Celeris Therapeutics. CelerisTx is a global acting biotech company with promising assets and results. CelerisTx uses AI-driven technologies to design molecules to degrade proteins that cause diseases like Parkinson's and various cancers. "Currently, very few pathogenic proteins are 'druggable,'" says Jakob. "The main approa... Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/celeris-austria.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Alexandra Vîstraş http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-alexandra-vistras-romania.htm?media=rss&language=en “What I like most about theatre is its capacity to transmit emotion, and the fact that it’s very real. Essentially when you watch a performance, you can’t watch it twice. Every performance is unique,” says Alexandra Vîstraş from Sibiu, Romania. Alexandra has a passion for the arts and has been active in this field since she was a teenager: “When I was in high school, I attended my first few performances at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival and I guess that opened my appetite to start g... Fri, 18 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-alexandra-vistras-romania.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Jose Luis Cuenca http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-jose-luis-cuenca-spain.htm?media=rss&language=en “I love learning. What I don’t like so much is the studying part. It’s like football I guess: you love playing in the games but don’t enjoy training so much,” says Jose Luis Cuenca, from San Martin de Valdeiglesias, just outside Madrid. For most of the past year, Jose Luis has been juggling a full-time job, pursuing a university degree and attending a bootcamp all at the same time. “I get up really early, at 4 or 5am. That gives me a few hours to study before the working day begins,” he expla... Fri, 11 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-jose-luis-cuenca-spain.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Roberto Henriquez Perozo http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-roberto-henriquez-perozo-spain.htm?media=rss&language=en “Business-specific knowledge is one thing,” says Roberto Henriquez-Perozo, “but with data-analytics, you can leverage your position. Data analysis, extraction, cleaning, interpreting, machine learning, AI… it helps you digest information and convert it into actionable decisions. If you have an expertise, and you add to that data analytics, you can put the two together and become a real expert.” Born and raised in Venezuela, Roberto moved to Spain “for nationality and opportunity”. He interned... Thu, 3 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-roberto-henriquez-perozo-spain.htm Elsa Science: digital therapeutics http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-innovfin-elsa-sweden.htm?media=rss&language=en In 2017, almost 20 million people were living with rheumatoid arthritis, and there are more than a million new cases diagnosed each year. “Our goal is to help people living with a chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis to live life to its fullest,” says, Sofia Svanteson, CEO and co-founder of Elsa Science, “because rheumatoid arthritis generally results in a poorer quality of life and this is something we want to improve through research, education and motivational support.” Sofia has b... Tue, 1 Mar 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-innovfin-elsa-sweden.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Victoria Marmili http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-victoria-marmili-spain.htm?media=rss&language=en “With front-end developing, you have to be flexible, to think like the user, who is human, but also connect to the back-end which is code,” says Victoria Marmili, an Italian national originally from Argentina but currently living in Malaga, Spain, where she has just made a career change, launching into the world of coding. “I had learned some really simple coding in school and loved it, but when it came to choosing a career path, no other girls chose IT. So, if I wanted to study IT, I needed ... Thu, 27 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-victoria-marmili-spain.htm Behring: Pure for Sure http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf_behring_france.htm?media=rss&language=en “Essentially, our mission is to provide eco-responsible and quality hydration, available to all,” says Grégoire Genot, President of Behring Water. “We want to make available pure and natural water without the need for plastic. I think it’s disturbing that water is offered almost everywhere using public utilities and yet we all go around buying bottled water! A bottle of water could travel 800km to reach you, and even if you opt to recycle it, it will have to travel 800 more. Our products bact... Mon, 3 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf_behring_france.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Joanita Mateus http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-joanita-mateus-portugal.htm?media=rss&language=en Data analytics is a field which is growing rapidly, particularly with the development of artificial intelligence and machine-learning. “There’s a lot of demand for expertise in this field,” says Joanita Mateus, 39, from Lisbon. Joanita holds a degree in educational psychology and used to work with children with disabilities, but with the onset of the pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis, she had to switch jobs and moved to a back office position at a supermarket chain. “We had a team work... Mon, 3 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-joanita-mateus-portugal.htm Gigglebug: Nordic playfulness http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf_gigglebug_finland.htm?media=rss&language=en “Right from the start, this was always about spreading the ‘giggle bug’. It’s about cultivating positivity through family entertainment,” explains Anttu Harlin, co-founder and CEO of Gigglebug. “Our very first production starred a tiny character called Gigglebug who had the biggest gift of all: a contagious laugher that could unlock any situation. This character gave us the belief to start the company. If we could infect laughter through a cartoon character, the way that laugher infects socia... Thu, 23 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/egf_gigglebug_finland.htm S&E Guarantee Pilot: Vânia Costa http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-vania-costa-portugal.htm?media=rss&language=en “After the bootcamp, we all did several job interviews with companies. Within two weeks, I had three job offers,” says Vânia Costa, from Porto, Portugal. Vânia used to work in marketing for a machinery company within the mould-making industry, near Porto. “It was a completely different world,” she explains. “It’s not that I didn’t like my job. I just found it unfulfilling and wanted a change.”  Vânia’s passion has always been programming. “It’s what I love doing. I would spend hours of my fre... Thu, 23 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/s-e-vania-costa-portugal.htm Trunkrs: faster, greener, friendlier http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/trunkrs_netherlands.htm?media=rss&language=en “The thing about ecommerce is that, even if you live in a small village, the internet offers everything at your fingertips. It’s awesome,” says Jan Wijn, CEO of Trunkrs, a logistics company based in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands, that is out to improve the delivery services that make that accessibility so awesome. “We had two main ideas,” Jan explains. “We wanted to be consumer-centric and we wanted to be sustainable.” From his long experience working in logistics, Jan argues that logistics com... Tue, 30 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/trunkrs_netherlands.htm Anshar Studios: the sum of your choices http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/ccs-anshar-studios-katowice.htm?media=rss&language=en Video-game development is a very fast-moving industry. “Budgets are getting bigger, games more complicated; the quality bar keeps rising with advances in technology. Gamers expect more. Software and development engines are also becoming more sophisticated and powerful, and on our side, we need to develop our own tools. It’s happening also in other areas like cinema,” he adds. “For a small independent studio like ours, inventiveness, passion and creativity are crucial. It is the only way to st... Mon, 29 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/ccs-anshar-studios-katowice.htm Paul Fenech: Towards a low energy building http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/paul-fenech-malta.htm?media=rss&language=en Achieving climate neutrality is a goal that requires collective effort from all parties, be it governments, NGOs, small businesses, private households, public or private individuals. For this reason, the EIF and the Maltese government have teamed up to put together a pilot financing programme to incentivise investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, offering loans with very attractive terms. One such investment was made by Ing. Paul Fenech, from Ta’Xbiex, Malta, to improve the ene... Mon, 15 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/paul-fenech-malta.htm Kaffe Bueno: getting more out of coffee http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-kaffebueno-denmark.htm?media=rss&language=en “Attitude is all that matters. You need positive energy and a willingness to make it happen. If you see only limitations, of course you’re going to get stuck,” says Juan Medina, co-founder and CEO of Kaffe Bueno, a small company based in Copenhagen that aims to change people’s relationship with one of the most popular things in our lives: coffee. 9 billion kilos of coffee are consumed yearly worldwide and the residue is treated as waste, left to decompose in landfills, generating tons of harm... Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-kaffebueno-denmark.htm Music Estonia: supporting the Estonian music industry http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-ccs-music-estonia.htm?media=rss&language=en “This is an economically one of the biggest fast-growing sectors with lots of potential,” says Ave Tölpt, Director of Music Estonia. “The creative industries have a deep connection with tourism and a strong impact on other sectors. We saw during the COVID-19 lockdowns how people want to experience those emotions gained from culture, how important they are for their mental well-being – going to concerts, to the cinema etc. It’s a sector that needs to be supported, especially in a small country... Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-ccs-music-estonia.htm ApisProtect: in-hive sensors http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-apisprotect-ireland.htm?media=rss&language=en Protecting the global bee population is a no-brainer really. Their activity is vital for the environment, human health, and global food security, but bee numbers are declining and under continued threats, ranging from climate change and biocides to pathogens and suboptimal management practices. This is where ApisProtect comes in. Headquartered in Cork, Ireland, ApisProtect has developed an innovative system involving sensors, global communications, and artificial intelligence that helps beeke... Fri, 1 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-apisprotect-ireland.htm Micron Agritech: Reducing anti-microbial resistance http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-micronagritech-ireland.htm?media=rss&language=en Artificial intelligence and machine learning technology are developing fast and finding their way into every corner of our lives. It’s hardly surprising, then, to find it in…animal poop.  “Parasites are a major issue for livestock, and resistance to medication is a global problem,” explains Daniel Izquierdo, Managing Director and co-Founder of Micron Agritech. “To deal with this problem, farmers need to take dropping samples to a lab, and it can take 5 days to get results. Time is too valuabl... Fri, 1 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-micronagritech-ireland.htm Dream Act: For the responsible consumer http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/dream-act-for-the-responsible-consumer.htm?media=rss&language=en “As consumers, we need to make conscious choices, to know that selecting a €3 t-shirt has hidden consequences,” says Diane Scemama, co-founder of Dream Act. “Behind each product, there’s the raw materials, production line, manufacturing, shipping, and workers. Ultimately, this one simple act can potentially have huge repercussions. Our goal is to make sure that people are aware of that”. Dream Act is a social enterprise promoting responsible and sustainable commerce through its online platfor... Fri, 24 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/dream-act-for-the-responsible-consumer.htm Einride: autonomous freight transportation http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-innovfin-einride-sweden.htm?media=rss&language=en “There can be no sustainability without sustainable business,” says Robert Falck, CEO of Stockholm-based Einride, a company that develops autonomous electric vehicles used mainly for freight applications. Einride is best known for its ‘Pod’ an autonomous electric truck that is controlled remotely. It can be used in ports, airports, warehouses and wherever speedy delivery is needed. “Autonomous vehicles are perfectly suited to goods, it makes shipping safer and smarter – and our freight doesn’... Thu, 9 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-innovfin-einride-sweden.htm Shift Technology: transforming the insurance industry http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/shift-technology-france.htm?media=rss&language=en “Ask people what they think of insurance companies and nearly half the time they’ll tell you that insurance is an unavoidable evil and carriers are never willing to pay claims,” says Jeremy Jawish, CEO and co-founder of Paris-based Shift Technology. And much of this lack of trust is due to fraud. “Up to 20% of claims involve an element of fraud, which often goes undetected. Most individuals who try to defraud insurance companies do it because they are convinced that the insurance companies ar... Thu, 9 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/shift-technology-france.htm Charbon Studio: moving to the next level http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/charbon-studio-moving-to-the-next-level.htm?media=rss&language=en “People often ask why Charbon ,” says Eric Pecher, Studio Manager at Charbon Studio based in La Hulpe, Wallonia, in Belgium. “The name actually defines us in so many ways: Charbon ( coal in French) is rooted in Wallonia’s past, its economic development and defines our industrial heritage.  Charbon is also a shade of black vital to colour grading work because it enhances images, highlights details, which is very important in films. And it’s also the name of the cat of our founder, Michael Cinq... Tue, 27 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/charbon-studio-moving-to-the-next-level.htm Fernride: driverless technology http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/fernride-driverless-technology.htm?media=rss&language=en Driverless technology is a reality already taking shape in the logistics and shipping industries, accelerated by driver scarcity, the explosion of online commerce and the shift to electrification and reduction of emissions. “These industries are the backbone of global trade”, says Hendrik Kramer, CEO of Munich-based Fernride. “With volumes shipped around the world increasing by the hour and people expecting ever-shorter delivery times, autonomous driving technologies are the ideal solution fo... Fri, 23 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/fernride-driverless-technology.htm Accure: Intelligent batteries http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/accure-intelligent-batteries.htm?media=rss&language=en “Look around you, batteries are everywhere: in phones, computers, cars, power plants, planes. The 21 st century is built on batteries. I think they are amazing in the way they can pack all this energy, but they have one major shortcoming: their short operating lifespan. Optimize and upgrade them and you have the key to energy efficiency, decarbonisation and net zero,” says KP Kairies. KP is the CEO of Accure – which refers to accuracy and cure – a company dedicated to making batteries intelli... Thu, 22 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/accure-intelligent-batteries.htm Questo: mobile city exploration http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/questo-romania.htm?media=rss&language=en “Typically, in exploring a city, everyone is following each other to the same crowded, expensive places. In the end, we’re not explorers but followers,” says Alex Govoreanu, co-founder and CEO of Questo. “So we started to think about why people travel, and how they travel. Future generations like Millennials and Generation-Z – what do they have in common? Games. They have gamification mechanics in all the products they use. So we tried to bring the two together.” Questo, founded in 2017, is a... Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/questo-romania.htm How EFSI benefits SMEs in Europe - Finora Capital case study: Shiftworks (Estonia), events organisation http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-shiftworks-estonia.htm?media=rss&language=en “We need to be sensitive to what’s happening in society, constantly on the lookout, picking up trends, reacting to them, and making them visible and understandable for our audience. We want to be one step ahead, asking ourselves what’s around the corner and how can we introduce this to the market?” says Helen Sildna, founder and CEO of Shiftworks. Shiftworks is the company behind Tallinn Music Week (TMW), a festival held annually in the capital of Estonia since 2009. It has three main program... Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-shiftworks-estonia.htm Rohlik (Velka Pecka): eat well live well http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/resources/case-studies/efsi-erp-rohlik.htm?media=rss&language=en “Having groceries delivered to your door is great, but receiving them within 2 hours of placing your order and knowing that the content of your basket is the best premium quality food and ingredients you can possibly find - sustainably and locally grown - takes the concept to a completely new level. At Rohlik, we want people to eat well and live well. That’s our goal, making great tasting, awesome food easily accessible through a modern, easy to use and time-saving service,” says Tomáš Čupr, ... Fri, 9 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/resources/case-studies/efsi-erp-rohlik.htm Mi Cuento: personalised children’s stories http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/micuento-spain.htm?media=rss&language=en “Stories and education can change the world,” says Muriel Bourgeois, co-founder of MiCuento, a company based in Barcelona that makes personalised children’s books. “I love to tell stories and to listen, and have participated in lots of story-telling festivals. That’s really where you realise that stories are so much better when you personalise them. You get total silence, total concentration. The kids join you on the journey… I’ve always wanted all kids to feature in these stories, and that’s... Wed, 7 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/micuento-spain.htm NeuroNation: brain fitness http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/neuronation-germany.htm?media=rss&language=en Today, nearly 50 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s disease. With ageing populations, both the number of affected patients and the associated financial costs are on the rise. ”My grandfather had Alzheimer’s, my dad is showing early signs of it and there is a high chance that I will also develop it one day,” says Jakob Futorjanski, co-founder of NeuroNation, a company based in Berlin that develops cognitive training programmes to tackle brain degeneration. “There are genetic factors we ... Wed, 7 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/neuronation-germany.htm Okeenea: inclusive mobility http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/okeenea-france.htm?media=rss&language=en “Disabilities drive innovation. They push us to think outside the box, be creative, smart, consider the bigger picture, be more inclusive so that every single person, without discrimination, can enjoy the things some of us take for granted. Try walking down the high street with your eyes shut and figure out where the post office, doctor, bank are… good luck with that! Now add an audio beacon to locate the entrance and tactile paths and you can make it.  Accessibility and mobility have to bene... Wed, 7 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/okeenea-france.htm Apiary Book: Bee inspired http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/apiary-book-romania.htm?media=rss&language=en “Its simple mathematics: if bees disappear so will mankind,” says Bogdan Iordache, founder of Apiary Book. Originally a freelancer in IT and software development, Bogdan changed direction in 2014: “I was comfortable in my career, too comfortable really. So I decided to reinvent myself, go on a different journey, do good, be close to nature. I knew of biodiversity depletion, so beekeeping seemed the obvious choice. Trying to learn more, I got amazing support from the beekeepers’ community. The... Mon, 21 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/apiary-book-romania.htm SWORD Health: virtual physical therapy http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/cosme-efg-swordhealth.htm?media=rss&language=en “Sprains, tears and back pain are only a few of the musculoskeletal conditions (MSK) that cause disabilities that can ultimately turn life into a nightmare,” says Virgilio Bento, CEO and founder of SWORD Health, a company that seeks to help with recovery by acting a bit like a digital physiotherapist. “It’s not always easy to find the time to get to a physiotherapist. Now, imagine you could get your session done within a few clicks, in the palm of your hand.” This is what SWORD Health aims to... Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/cosme-efg-swordhealth.htm Tampieri: Finding ways to innovate http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/innovfin-tampieri-italy.htm?media=rss&language=en “We are entrepreneurs, we like to build ventures in new sectors and make a success of them. That means we also have a lot of data going back and forth, and in this age of global digital business, we need to find the best way to use it to offer optimal value proposition,” says Maurizio Sottili, CFO at Tampieri. Starting as an oil seed crushing enterprise, Tampieri is a family business that has grown into a group of five B2B companies active in sectors as diverse as medical devices, green energ... Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/innovfin-tampieri-italy.htm Sonarworks: personalised sound http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/bif-sonarworks.htm?media=rss&language=en “We built everything from the ground up. Most of this stuff has never been done by anyone else, and nobody else is trying to do it either,” says Helmuts Bems, co-founder of Sonarworks, a Latvian audio tech company on a mission to bridge the gap between sound creators and listeners. “Essentially we make sound personal,” Helmuts adds. “It’s about using data technology and machine-learning to better understand the end-user and tailor the sound accordingly. Within minutes, we will find a better s... Tue, 13 Apr 2021 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/bif-sonarworks.htm CGTrader: global 3D model marketplace http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/resources/case-studies/bif-cgtrader-lithuania.htm?media=rss&language=en In an increasingly online and digitalised world, many businesses need graphic design, augmented reality or 3D modelling to help build their online presence. But 3D modelling can be an expensive and time-consuming process – it can take anywhere from 2 hours to 2 weeks to create something – often using the skills of very specific designers. “This is where we come in” explains Dalia Lasaite, co-founder and CEO of Lithuanian 3D model source CGTrader. CGTrader offers a stock marketplace of over a ... Wed, 17 Mar 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/resources/case-studies/bif-cgtrader-lithuania.htm EKWB: liquid cooling http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-innovfin-ekwb-slovenia.htm?media=rss&language=en “I was playing video-games, I think it was Half-Life, back in the early 2000’s, and my PC was loud and overheating. My air cooled heatsink wasn’t working well enough. That’s how I found out about liquid cooling,” explains founder Edvard König. Taking it to the next level, Edvard created prototypes for liquid cooling which he then presented online, securing his first clients, turning his hobby into a career. “Your pc will run faster and better if it’s cooler. And water has quite simply about 4... Fri, 26 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-innovfin-ekwb-slovenia.htm Sandrine Preto: communications services http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-easi-sandrine-preto-reunion.htm?media=rss&language=en “The climate is great, it’s sunny, it’s safe, and access to material is much better nowadays than it was when I was younger,” says Sandrine Preto, who returned to her birthplace, the island of Reunion, in 2019 to set up her own communications consultancy. “What’s not to like?” Sandrine offers services to companies like advertising support, digital campaigns, video production, and social media and website support. “It’s great to be back from metropolitan France. Here I work on my own terms and... Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-easi-sandrine-preto-reunion.htm Links: digital future http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/links-croatia.htm?media=rss&language=en “With digitalisation, I think trends in customer needs are changing in terms of how they search for products, the service they seek, how they experience the products… With further development of virtual reality and augmented reality, the ability of customers to experience products without touching them will cause a dramatic shift in the market place,” says Vlatko Skarica Managing Director at Links, consumer electronics company based in Zagreb, Croatia. Links is a national leader in computer g... Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/links-croatia.htm Ecce homo: wear your true colours http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-ecce-homo-greece.htm?media=rss&language=en Sometimes you just stumble across gaps in the market and business opportunities. You could say that’s what happened to Panos Kapsomanis when he wanted to get his partner some decent underwear as a gift. “High quality underwear for the LGBTQ+ community simply wasn’t available,” he explains. “If you looked online, the only stuff you found was oversexualised and low-quality.” On the back of this experience, Panos decided to set up his own brand of high quality, simple, functional underwear that ... Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-ecce-homo-greece.htm Nortarts http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-nort-arts-turkey .htm?media=rss&language=en “Nort-arts is a reference to bringing together art and the north. I’m inspired by the north, by Nordic culture, and my family is also from the north of Turkey (Trabzon), and art is my passion,” says Hüseyin Bulut, founder and CEO of Nortarts, a small visual arts company based in central Istanbul. Nortarts develops visual arts ranging from video production to animation, for advertisments and other purposes, but also offers technological solutions, like developing apps for companies, or video g... Thu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-nort-arts-turkey .htm Nortarts http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-nort-arts-turkey.htm?media=rss&language=en “Nort-arts is a reference to bringing together art and the north. I’m inspired by the north, by Nordic culture, and my family is also from the north of Turkey (Trabzon), and art is my passion,” says Hüseyin Bulut, founder and CEO of Nortarts, a small visual arts company based in central Istanbul. Nortarts develops visual arts ranging from video production to animation, for advertisments and other purposes, but also offers technological solutions, like developing apps for companies, or video g... Thu, 11 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-nort-arts-turkey.htm Aerones: using robotics to help the environment http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-innovfin-aerones-latvia.htm?media=rss&language=en “We stuck to the problem, not to the solution” says Dainis Kruze, co-founder of the Latvian company Aerones; a robotic wind turbine inspection, maintenance & repair solution that enables a two to three man team to execute a range of services in hours that would otherwise take days. The concept of Aerones had originally started off as a heavy lift drone project, when Dainis and his co-founders Janis Putrams and Andris Dambis joined forces in 2015. “It was more of a hobby to begin with, but... Wed, 10 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-innovfin-aerones-latvia.htm Nikoleta’s Sweet Creations: the sweet side of life http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-the-sweet-side-of-life-greece.htm?media=rss&language=en “They told me not to, but you know, I’m pretty stubborn,” explains Nikoleta Dala, founder of Nikoleta’s Sweet Creations, a patisserie shop in Glykorizo, Arta, in Greece. “I used to make pastry a lot at home, like a hobby. It just snowballed really, and became bigger and bigger, until it got the point that I decided to set up my own business and open a proper shop. Both my husband and my father were reluctant in the beginning. They were afraid of the risk. But if you don’t risk, you don’t gain... Wed, 10 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-the-sweet-side-of-life-greece.htm Fado Filmes: film and destiny http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-fado-filmes-portugal.htm?media=rss&language=en “ Fado means destiny and it’s used to refer to the traditional Portuguese music that is typically melancholic and narrates drama, loss and saudade (nostalgia). I chose that name for our company because I felt that cinema was my destiny. It’s a beautiful word, easy to remember and it has a deep meaning,” says Luis Galvão Teles who, along with his son Goncalo, run Fado Filmes, a film production company in Lisbon. Fado filmes has been mainly active in film co-productions “We have produced over f... Thu, 4 Feb 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-fado-filmes-portugal.htm ebankit: digital banking http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/ebankit-portugal.htm?media=rss&language=en As more and more financial institutions go digital, ebankIT, based in Porto, offers an omnichannel online solution combining internet banking for retail and corporate teams, mobile customer solutions, contact centre support and other features. “It’s all completely integrated with the main core systems in the market”, explains Renato Oliveira, CEO and founder of the company. With digitalisation gaining pace, Renato decided to invest in a new product that would help banks and credit unions with... Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/ebankit-portugal.htm Creative Sound: inspiring film http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/ccs-creative-sound-france.htm?media=rss&language=en “You don’t watch a film only with your eyes, you watch it with your ears too,” says Cristinel Sirli, sound engineer and general manager of Creative Sound. “The sound adds emotion and connects you to what you see. If you cut off the sound, you will miss most of the movie but if you cut the image, you can still experience the movie just by listening. This is why we still have radio, right? Try watching a horror movie without sound - you won’t be scared. Our job is to enhance your cinema experie... Fri, 29 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/ccs-creative-sound-france.htm Louvis Panagiotis: Spartan organic honey http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-louvis-panagiotis-greece.htm?media=rss&language=en “We produce honey, royal jelly and propolis. These products are known for their nutritional and therapeutic values since ancient times. The nectar the gods consumed supposedly contained honey, which made them immortal!” says Panagiotis Louvis, beekeeper in Sparta, Greece. “My great grandfather was among the first honey producers in the region. One could say it’s in my DNA, running in my blood. I would like to turn this into a family business so I recently brought in my younger brother who is ... Fri, 22 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-louvis-panagiotis-greece.htm Transoliveira: stability in uncertain times http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi_cosme_transoliveira_portugal.htm?media=rss&language=en “We had a few difficult months. Basically we applied the brakes and our trucks stopped for three months from March to June,” explains Pedro Oliveira owner of Transoliveira, a road transport company in Oliveira de Hospital, in Coimbra, Portugal. Pedro started the trucking business with his father back in 1991 and as he explains, “Today we have a fleet of thirty trucks travelling all over Europe and we employ forty people. We transport mainly construction material like heavy metal, cement, iron... Wed, 20 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi_cosme_transoliveira_portugal.htm Spaceflow: digitalising buildings http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-innovfin-spaceflow-czech-republic.htm?media=rss&language=en Spaceflow is one of those companies that illustrate very well how the digital transformation is spreading to so many aspects of our lives; even buildings. Yes, buildings. “Approach to tenants has had to evolve to keep them engaged,” explains Pavel Jiranek, COO of Spaceflow. How? “By providing a digital platform that can connect the space ecosystem with the tenant community, resulting in increased ROI.” “Our mission is to connect buildings with their tenants” says Pavel, “As a result, Spaceflo... Mon, 18 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/efsi-innovfin-spaceflow-czech-republic.htm VetoPhylum: natural remedies for cats and dogs http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-easi-vetophylum-france.htm?media=rss&language=en “I grew up in the countryside and I have always been close to nature. Becoming a vet was a natural career choice for me,” says Frank Lefay, a veterinary with thirty years of experience who created and launched the VetoPhylum brand in December 2019. “I have always had a keen interest in herbal medicine for animal well-being and over the years it became clear to me that this was the way forward. So, after a degree in phytotherapy at the University of Lyon I applied myself to create my own produ... Thu, 14 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-easi-vetophylum-france.htm Viru Haigla (Pihlakodu): rethinking elderly care homes in Estonia http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/bif-viru-haigla-estonia.htm?media=rss&language=en “Elderly care will in one way or another relate to all of us. Life expectancy is increasing year on year, with the Estonian average now having reached 75 years. Proper services to care for the  elderly are increasingly needed, especially for those suffering from dementia and other health issues,” says Ermo Kosk, co-owner of Pihlakodu, a chain of modern elderly care homes with approximately 600 beds, based in Estonia. Ermo’s journey with Pihlakodu began in 2017 when he was approached by collea... Tue, 12 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/bif-viru-haigla-estonia.htm UNION Therapeutics: niclosamide against COVID-19 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/union-therapeutics.htm?media=rss&language=en Founded in 2011, UNION Therapeutics is a Danish bio-pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel medicines in the fields of both inflammatory and infectious diseases. “In the course of our research, we discovered that niclosamide has very interesting properties in that it reduces the ability of overactive cells to produce energy. We saw, for example, how it could also be used for both anti-inflammatory and anti-viral purposes, and we were keen to explore this mor... Fri, 8 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/union-therapeutics.htm L’école de la librairie: the future of bookselling http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-l-ecole-de-la-librairie-the-future-of-bookselling.htm?media=rss&language=en “People started thinking about what they wanted their future to look like and for some of us this period proved to be a turning point. In some cases it meant switching careers”, says Caroline Meneghetti, director of ‘L’école de la librairie’. “The profession of bookseller is an appealing one but it’s important to know that it is a highly demanding and difficult job. You have to be up to it!” Caroline knows what she is talking about - she has been working as a bookseller herself for more than ... Thu, 7 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-l-ecole-de-la-librairie-the-future-of-bookselling.htm Pizzeria Russo: pizza delivery at Réunion http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-pizzeria-russo-reunion.htm?media=rss&language=en Marc Russo, owner of Casa Mia, a delivery and take-away pizza stall, has more than 20 years of experience with pizzerias in mainland France. This came in handy when it came to starting a new venture in the southernmost part of exotic Réunion, in St Joseph, marrying Italian cuisine with French entrepreneurship. “I moved here with my family about two years ago. My wife is from the island and so we knew the place very well already, which made it easier to start a business from scratch. Plus, I f... Thu, 7 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/easi-pizzeria-russo-reunion.htm Ellive: olive oil from ancient Olympia http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-easi-piraeus-bank-greece.htm?media=rss&language=en “The olive orchards are literally just above the site of ancient Olympia,” says Manolis Zacharioudakis, founder and CEO of Ellive, a company that he set up with his sisters in early 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. “We had been working on the project for a couple of years, to trade in olive oil and by-products, so the timing was right. My sisters are both agronomists. They perform regular soil analyses to adapt the culture to exactly what the olives need, so that we can ensure low aci... Mon, 28 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-easi-piraeus-bank-greece.htm Qoorio: social learning network http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/qoorio-lithuania.htm?media=rss&language=en “There are so many people in the world, yet we tend to interact mostly with our immediate network. That’s usually up to 100 people. This network defines us. It has a huge impact on us as human beings. So we asked ourselves: Can we use technology to allow people to overcome this boundary of the immediate network and reach out to anyone in the world? Particularly when they have a challenge, don’t know how to act next, learning from someone who’s not in the immediate network could be a big advan... Tue, 22 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/qoorio-lithuania.htm Saude Viavel: growing hair beyond Portugal http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/saude-viavel-portugal.htm?media=rss&language=en “Hair transplants can change patients’ lives. For many, balding can affect self-confidence and cause anxiety and depression. It can be a vicious circle - and even worse for women. But hair also has an anatomic function, protecting from UV rays and skin carcinoma,” says Paulo Ramos, CEO of Saude Viavel. Saude Viavel (‘viable health’ in Portuguese) is a clinical group dedicated to the treatment of alopecia (hereditary baldness). The main business is transplants, but the group also deals with ot... Mon, 21 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/saude-viavel-portugal.htm Erasmus+ Masters Loan: Sven Celin http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/erasmus-sven-celin-croatia.htm?media=rss&language=en “Graz is a great city. It’s big, double the size of my hometown, but not overwhelming. People are very friendly and I’m really enjoying my time here,” says Sven Celin, Masters student in Computer Science and Software Engineering & Management at TU Graz, originally from Rijeka in Croatia. “I really enjoyed science and technology classes at high school, and always liked computers and everything around them,” Sven explains. “So after my first degree in Computer Science in Rijeka, I wanted to... Mon, 21 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/erasmus-sven-celin-croatia.htm Tarfin: Buy now, pay at harvest http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/tarfin-turkey.htm?media=rss&language=en Founded in 2017, Tarfin is an agriculture fintech start-up based in Istanbul that has developed a mobile application to address the financial challenges farmers face. “It’s an innovative business model for the Turkish market, providing farmers with farm inputs and instant working capital financing,” says Mehmet Memecan, CEO. Mehmet worked in the fertilizer business for several years before returning to Turkey. “When I came back, I saw how small-scale farmers faced difficulties in accessing fi... Fri, 18 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/Case_studies/tarfin-turkey.htm Puhelinhuolto: mobile repairs http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-cosme-puhelinhuolto-fi.htm?media=rss&language=en Tomi Autio is the owner and manager of Puhelinhuolto (Mobila Electronics), a company he founded back in 2010. Headquartered in Vanta with local service centres in Helsinki, Lahti and Hämeenlinna, the business specialises in repairing mobile phones and selling mobile parts in its web shop and wholesale businesses in Denmark, Italy and Poland. Repairing mobile phones didn’t use to be a big thing, when repair costs were as high as the cost of the phone itself. “Often it was just not worth it. No... Fri, 18 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-cosme-puhelinhuolto-fi.htm Batak Grill: covid delivery services http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-innovfin-batak-grill-croatia.htm?media=rss&language=en Batak Grill is a restaurant chain set up by Igor Smola and Slaven Stojic that offers a fine dining experience rooted in the draw of the traditional, local grill. “We wanted to bring something new to the market,” says Isabella Paver, Finance Director of Victus-Group, to which Batak Grill belongs, “offering the local grill but in a more modern way, catering for business lunches and celebrations for example. For this, we picked up the best chefs from the region and we’ve been doing really well. ... Fri, 18 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-innovfin-batak-grill-croatia.htm Garden Living: “Green makes you feel good” http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-cosme-garden-living-finland.htm?media=rss&language=en “Covid-19 hit. We went into lockdown and everything stopped. When Horeca shut down, all our orders to Horeca stopped immediately. But bills had to be paid - for all the stock of products we had bought for the entire season (April-October). That’s the point where you urgently need more liquidity,” explains Eva Wuite, founder and manager of GardenLiving. GardenLiving is “a green oasis, a one-stop shop for our customers” (both B2B and B2C) offering indoor and outdoor plants and garden related pr... Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/efsi-cosme-garden-living-finland.htm Sound Particles: sound in 3D http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/sound-particles-portugal.htm?media=rss&language=en “To put it simply, we use computer graphics techniques applied to sound. Instead of mixing sounds, we create 3D software, and position sound in a 3D space. For example, it could take days and huge resources to create the sound of a battlefield, with 50-60 sounds at the same time. With our software, in 15 minutes, you can generate more than 10,000 sounds and create a battlefield scene on a totally different level. It allows creatives to work with sound in a new way,” explains Nuno Fonseca, fou... Fri, 11 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/guarantees/case-studies/sound-particles-portugal.htm