The Stardust Newsletter
summer edition
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| • Saturday, June 27, 2020 •
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Dear ,
Our goal with the nonprofit is to help emerging entrepreneurs make highly impactful
differences in their communities and the world by innovating in the areas of environmental sustainability, health, and learning.
As for our you, network of supporters and donors, we see the role that we play as being that inspiring and encouraging voice in your inbox, connecting you to these amazing initiatives and sharing their stories.
So thanks for sticking around and taking the time to scroll through our summer updates!
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Four new projects funded last month
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We are proud to present our 4 amazing Spring 2020 Stardust micro-grant recipients: Caeli Energie, SmartVrac, ProApia Biotech, and Ma Petite Maison
Verte.
They are all based in France, and although this was a total coincidence, we are thrilled to support impact entrepreneurs making a difference in Europe.
And as always, the projects we select have the potential to make global impact, as their innovations could be implemented anywhere and have the same effect.
Check out their projects below and let us know what you think!
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Caeli Energie is developing an innovative, residential air cooler with a low carbon footprint. The startup’s goal is to help people adapt to warming temperatures during the summer while raising awareness about climate change.
The $2,000 Stardust grant is funding attorney fees to become an official environmental impact company in France (entreprise à mission) as well as part of their annual B Corp Certification fees.
Rémi (pictured below), Stéphane, and Frédéric were thrilled to hear from us:
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| | "When we first went on Stardust website and looked a the different projects they supported, it was obvious that [...] they all shared one common feature: making the world more equitable and sustainable.
That’s why we are now particularly proud to be part of the Stardust community."
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Founded by business student and emerging entrepreneur Oriane Sentis, SmartVrac (vrac means bulk in French) is a startup focused on redesigning the bulk food system improving hygiene, security, customer flow, and its ecological footprint.
For the customer, SmartVrac offers an automated system offering a easy, practical, safe, and efficient experience. The shopkeeper then benefits from an eco-responsible grocery store equipped with pre-filled silos and simple and safe bulk food management.
The Stardust microgrant will help finalize the construction of the first fully functional SmartVrac silo prototype.
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| | "What an honor it is to be rewarded by The Stardust-Startup Factory and to benefit from a micro-grant that will allow us to finalize the development of the prototype we are building today with Guillaume,
SmartVrac’s CTO! Thank you to all the Stardust team!"
- Oriane Sentis, founder
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ProApia Biotech is the work of Rosa María Licón Luna, a veterinarian and beekeeper who has invented an innovative biotechnological device that helps bees fight parasites and decontaminates beekeeping equipment in natural ways (using ozone and hyperthermia).
Rosa's project is literally saving the lives of bees, the world's foremost pollinators, from environmental hazards and parasites. The Stardust grant will go towards building a stronger web presence and funding an upcoming crowdfunding video.
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| | "Getting a grant from Stardust is much more than funding support; it adds a huge amount of confidence that eco-responsible projects are the way to go!"
- Rosa María Licón Luna
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• Ma Petite Maison Verte •
Ma Petite Maison Verte ('My Little Green House'), founded by Benjamin Bajal and Anna-Ketsia Plesel, is a startup building energy-saving and affordable modular tiny houses made from an innovative cardboard material called IPAC®.
This material is 100% recycled and has the potential to drastically lower the carbon footprint in the construction industry. It is also produced local Parisian social centers by workers with disabilities.
Ma Petite Maison Verte will use the Stardust grant to partially fund their first prototype!
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| | | "We are excited to see that our innovative project to drive social and environmental change in the construction industry is getting international support."
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Our beloved Board member Ted Cope recently graduated from George Mason University with a Master's in Biodefense! Congratulations!
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Creopia Productions is a Vanadzor, Armenia-based film production company with a mission for social impact. Co-founders Sashka Avanyan and Lusine Poghosyan aim to use creative services to raise awareness around social issues as well as to generate jobs in the area of Vanadzor. Learn more on our website...
Using funds from our Stardust grant, back in March Creopia launched their Video Editing Training workshop with a first round of 11 students. Participants got a crash course in Premiere Pro basics that will allow them to edit videos of their
choosing to generate change in the community.
During the course they practiced the acquired skills on Armenian versions of videos about veganism as a part of Creopia's social impact mandate.
The company has been posting a great deal on their Facebook recently (go follow them!) and one awesome series they have is a featured member of the 'Creopia Creative community'.
Earlier in June they featured Lusin, Creopia's co-founder, who is also an excellent artist. Check out two of her pieces below. See more of Lusin's work...
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(More) new interns have joined the Stardust team!
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As part of our 2020 Outreach Plan, it was important to bring in some new skills and perspectives to help us spread our message and get more funding. Susan, Gabriela, and Blythe have been a huge help and we're thrilled to work with them this summer!
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G A B R I E L A
M A T H E W
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B L Y T H E
M I D D L E B R O O K
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Susan has been editing together videos that we'll be able to use for everything: our website, social media, outreach, and more. Stay tuned!
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Gabriela and Blythe are spearheading our plan in attracting major and minor impact investors. They have been doing some great research over the past few weeks and have recently begun networking and sending out communication.
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Calling all impact entrepreneurs needing advice 📢
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These are difficult times for small businesses! The Starburst Connection Impact Opportunity is a free, 45-minute consult call with a mentor or business person affiliated with The Stardust-Startup Factory's network. We're offering assistance in:
- Business leadership
- Branding and marketing
- COVID-19 pivot support
- Moral support
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| Have a
wonderful, restorative weekend,
Camille Babington &
L. Jean Palmer-Moloney
Co-founders of The Stardust-Startup Factory
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