InnoBlog: A sidewalk experience – Land2Plant

The ideation started when we were studying at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. During the Energy for Smart Cities Innovation & Entrepreneurship Journey in Antwerpwe came  up with an idea that would then evolve to what is now Land2Plant. We wanted to create something meaningful, that could have impact on the energy sector, and most importantly, that gave real power to the people to fight climate change.

With a closer idea to what is now L2P, we applied to the EDPR University Challenge. We were selected among lots of European teams, and won the final in Madrid! That was the trigger.

In October we got to know about the programme. It looked like a good opportunity to test our idea and to get guidance from experts, all within EIT InnoEnergy, so we decided to apply and give it a try. We are happy that we did, it was an enriching and challenging experience. We were having sessions every one or two weeks, which allowed us to establish good group dynamics and get constant feedback and guidance on the work done. Sidewalk was the very first mentoring we received, and now, partly thanks to them, we are who we are.

From the very beginning everything was quite easy and smooth. The application was clear and straightforward., Despite our business idea being in a really early stage, we didn’t face any barrier that stopped us from moving forward. Our mentor, Nacho, was of great help. Even though we didn’t get to meet face to face, we were having meetings regularly and he guided us during these months. With him we shaped our business idea, we came up with a whole business plan and he was always available if we had any questions. He also brought us down to earth when needed! From the beginning to the end, it was a growth process for both the idea and the team.

Definitely! It not only provided the team time and space to work together, but also helped us access huge events such as the Smart City Expo in Barcelona, meetings with important stakeholders within the energy sector or opportunity to get feedback from experts in the field. Special thanks to our programme coordinators, Mar and Xavier for organising the last week of activities remotely due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

We are managing pretty well for now! It does require some discipline and commitment, and we have been through some ups and downs, but we’re learning a lot about organisation and teamwork. Apart from the full-time Masters and the Master’s thesis, we have the additional circumstance of residing in different cities. Therefore, group routines, commitment, a lot of communication and support has been vital to keep Land2Plant rolling!

Sidewalk is like a big bag full of super useful and handy entrepreneurial tools. Don’t be afraid if you feel like the business idea sounds vague in your head, or if you feel you’re lacking important roles within your team. Sidewalk will help you polish your proposal, understand what is needed and guide you with their professional team of mentors!

We highly recommend the experience, you will not only see your idea getting closer to reality, but you will also grow as a team and individuals.