It marked a new beginning in Hringiðu's business accelerator when KLAK - Icelandic Startups and the City of Reykjavík hosted an introductory meeting at Reykjavík City Hall recently.
The goal was to introduce Hringiða to interested startups at an early stage with environmental protection as a priority.
In the accelerator, startups get help to shape their ideas, strengthen their network, get access to experienced mentors and finally present the idea to investors, but participation in the accelerator is free.
Jenna Björk Guðmundsdóttir, project manager for Ringing at KLAK – Icelandic Startups welcomed everyone to Reykjavík City Hall and introduced city councilor Alexandra Briem on stage, who represented the city of Reykjavík.
Alexandra reviewed Reykjavík's approach to Hringiða and the significance of the accelerator for innovation in the circular economy. It is worth noting that the City of Reykjavík is one of Hringiða's sponsors. Subsequently, she encouraged startups to participate in the accelerator. Jenna Björk took over and went over what Hringiða will offer to early-stage shoots this spring, which brought a lot of happiness.
Former participants in Hringiða, Guolin Fang, co-founder of Plogg-In, Óskar Svavarsson and María Kristín Þrastardóttir, founders of Sidewind, reviewed their start-up journey and how the accelerator had a formative effect on the companies.
The closing words of Ásta Sóllilja Guðmundsdóttir, manager of KLAK - Icelandic Startups and Jenna Bjarkar, project manager of Hringiða, were an encouragement to all present to apply in Hringiða.
Hringiða's goal is to build powerful companies in Iceland that are based on the concept of the circular economy, create valuable and interesting jobs and deliver results in environmental and climate matters in Iceland.
Hringiða is intended to highlight, promote and support new technologies and methods that really solve the surrounding issues in environmental and climate matters, with the view that at the end of the accelerator, the participants will be ready to present their solutions to investors and obtain funds that support projects which reduce emissions.
Hringiða is managed by KLAK - Icelandic Startups, which for many years has provided assistance in the development of business ideas and brought together a group of stakeholders with value creation as a guiding principle.
The sponsors are the City of Reykjavík, the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate, Orkuveita Reykjavíkur, Reykjavik harbour, Terra, Ölgerðin Brewery and the Federation of Icelandic Industries. Hringiða's partners are Rannís, Breið development, Evris, Iceland Ocean Cluster, Green by Iceland, Icelandic Intellectual Property Office, F6S and the Circular Economy Cluster.
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