By Derek Newberry
“Will society [and the private sector] respond in time to the sustainability challenge?”
That was the question posed by Andre Mariano of AxialPar investments at beginning of the 3rd Annual New Ventures Investor Forum on December 14th in Brazil. The forum included heavyweights like Wal-Mart Brazil, Stratus Investimentos, and ABN AMRO. And although the forum covered many topics, from regulations to the ecological impact of supply chains, the big question was sustainable businesses and innovation.
The New Ventures Forums help entrepreneurs receive business plan mentoring, management training, and access to global investors. The 2006 Brazil forum gave special awards and reognition to four companies with outstanding sustainable business models:
- Eletrocell develops hydrogen energy systems that it hopes will instigate the next energy revolution in Brazil (the first one being biofuels).
- Florestas Cosmetics makes beauty products from Brazil
Derek Newberry, Research AnalystDerek is staff writer for NextBillion.net and a Research Assistant with the New Ventures team where he studies the impact of small- and medium- sized-enterprises (SMEs) on environmental and social conditions in emerging economies.
