Innovation Showcase: How To Deliver More Sustainable And Inclusive Events - Innofest’s Impact Start-Ups

Speakers: Peter Scheer (Founder, Semilla Sanitation), Ahmad Mel (CTO, Skik Analytics), Soraya Mooijweer (Project Lead, Music Moves)

Host: Linda Vermaat (Director, Innofest)

As the events industry continues to evolve, the push for sustainability and inclusivity has never been more crucial. Four groundbreaking impact start-ups, having tested their innovations with Innofest under the Green & Inclusive Forward initiative, are addressing some of the most pressing challenges in the event industry. These start-ups not only prove that impactful solutions are within reach, but also open doors for festivals and events to embrace a greener and more inclusive event industry. Join us for an interactive session where we’ll share lessons learned, offer practical tips, and invite you to contribute to the conversation on how we can all make events more sustainable and inclusive.

The start-ups

When waste is not sorted optimally, it ends up in landfills, incinerators or polluting our waters. PLAEX Technologies B.V. offers a cutting-edge solution to this problem. Their AI-powered Garby bin automatically sorts waste. This innovative technology reduces residual waste by 70% and cuts waste collection costs by 68%, making it a game-changer for event sustainability.

Originally developed for space missions, Semilla Sanitation’s technology recycles grey, yellow, and black water into reusable resources, such as fertilizers. At events, this means that water from showers, toilets, and sinks can be treated and reused, significantly reducing the demand for fresh water.

Skik Analytics aims to make festivals more inclusive and safer by recommending personalized routes during an event. It has developed advanced tools that analyze crowd behavior in real-time, providing event organizers with crucial insights. These insights help optimize everything from queue management to overall crowd flow. By recommending personalized routes, Skik Analytics ensures that every attendee has an enjoyable experience, regardless of their needs.

Across the Netherlands, Music Moves offers a free 6-part program, covering topics such as connection, event organization and social entrepreneurship. Each year, they train hundreds of young adults who then organize music events for people who don’t typically have access to such experiences. Music Moves is part of ADE, where participants host official ADE events at locations like homeless shelters and care homes, bringing the joy of music to those who might otherwise miss out.