9 IMPACT PROJECTS
Impact Club 2023-2024
In 2023, we carefully chose 9 impactful projects out of 75 nominations in collaboration with the Club of investors and philanthropists from Impact Club. From July 2023 to February 2024, Angelica, Mirko, Catie, and a team of experts dedicated their efforts to engage with the selected teams in an incubation program. The program's primary goal was to cultivate, for each team, a sustainable business model that integrates social impact with a viable economic return. Here's a brief glimpse into the projects!
AYU Tastemakers
Gandria
They transform local ingredients into spicy ethnic and vegan preserves, including chili oil, smoked chipotle, Indonesian sambal, coriander chili and fresh sriracha. The team aims to develop a brand based on the values ​​of inclusion, diversity and innovation through new culinary proposals and partnerships with local agricultural producers and short supply chains.
Charissa Oey, Dirk Jakobs e Jeremie Blondel co-founded Ayu Tastemakers
Bottega di Gandria
Gandria
A social meeting point to promote regional products, quality of life and the cultural landscape heritage of Gandria. It has been active in the area since 2013 and organizes events aimed at deepening and spreading awareness of the place. The objective of the project is to help relaunch the local economic and social system and expand the offer for sustainable tourism.
Francesca Solari and Veronica Solari participate in the incubator on behalf of the Cooperativa La Bottega di Gandria.
Crimagno Earth
Corteglia, Castel San Pietro
A brand of footwear made with intelligent, sustainable and innovative materials such as coconut fiber, hemp, natural rubber and organic polymers derived from food production waste. The team aims to contribute to the reduction of non-renewable products in the footwear fashion industry, by marketing models made with an innovative design, in-depth ergonomic studies and high quality production. The entire life cycle of the product including its recycling is considered.
Cristiano Magnoni and Gabriele Blandina co-founded Crimagno.
Crion
Lugano
It offers a digital platform to book mountain experiences directly from local guides. Crion opened in mid-2022 and currently hosts 700 professional guides with verified credentials. The team aims to help increase economic opportunities in mountain and peripheral areas while facilitating safer access to the mountains.
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Carlo Gerbino and Matteo Pellissone co-founded Crion.
Innerwalk
Locarno
Innerwalk has been organizing sound trips in nature for locals and tourists in Ticino since 2019. More recently the team started creating music and sound therapy courses intended for the healthcare sector and accessible to a large number of people at the same time. It offers individual and group listening sessions, also to bedridden patients and those with serious motor/cognitive deficits. The team aims to reduce depression and create intimate and personal spaces of well-being and cohesion.
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Michela Di Savino and Alex Dawson are co-founders of this project.
Manimatte
Bellinzona
It produces natural wines by safeguarding traditional terraced vineyards, a local landscape heritage and biodiversity in the Bellinzona area. The team cultivates resistant grape varieties in peri-urban areas with the aim of breathing new life into viticulture and making it more sustainable. Furthermore, by organizing events, Manimatte aims to raise awareness and reconnect people with nature.
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Anna Maspoli and Luca Locatelli co-founded the Manimatte agricultural company in 2020.
NewAbility
Lamone
It involves people with disabilities in individual and group activities that promote autonomy, empowerment and inclusion. The main activities proposed include leisure, and artistic and culinary workshops. The team aims to contribute to greater accessibility, equal opportunities and active participation in society.
Giada Besomi, Camilla Suardi and Cristina di Peter are actively involved in the New Ability Association.
RadioGwen
Chiasso
The first independent radio in Ticino with over 15 years of history, present both as web radio and on DAB. Radio Gwen is specifically aimed at young people and minorities and aims to promote culture and inclusion. In order to increase its impact, Radio Gwen is becoming the first complementary radio in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland from 2025.
Andrea Palamara, Christian Ferretti and Muriel Hediger are part of the management of Radio Gwen.
unlockedu
Lugano
unlockedu is an educational platform that promotes personal finance among young people through interactive self-education tools. The goal is to improve long-term economic security and bring them closer to the impact economy through greater financial literacy.
Luz Dahyana Mariano Montero, founder of unlockedu, participates in the incubator together with Roberto Nicola Ponticiello.
Impact Club - the incubator
our team
The 2023-2024 incubator is curated by Mirko Bianchi, Angelica Morrone and Catie Burlando.
Mirko and Angelica designed the content and work tools for the incubator. In addition to guiding face-to-face sessions, they jointly establish development objectives for each team. They oversee activities throughout and after each session, ensuring the appropriate implementation of personalized insights for each project.
Catie coordinates the support and logistics for various incubator phases. She follows the projects on a weekly basis, ensuring the establishment of shared work processes, the achievement of the targets set for each module and regular communication with Angelica, Mirko and the Impact Hub Ticino team.
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Photo credits: Egle Berruti (thank you!)
