| • Saturday, November 21, 2020 •
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Dear ,
This year has been challenging for all of us. We hope that this newsletter may bring you some bright and inspiring news in the midst of everything going on!
P.S. Read through the entire email to discover a surprise at the end! 😉
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Six new projects we're supporting
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Six amazing impact entrepreneurs caught our attention this fall. Since we're implementing a strategic pause in new applications, at least for 2021, and we're transitioning to a new funding acquisition model (more info below), we wanted to choose more
projects than usual.
These six projects are radically innovative and have the potential for profound local and global impact. We have talked to everyone already and are thrilled to have them become a
part of our Stardust family.
Dabba Consigne Grenoble, France
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| Dabba offers a reusable takeout container service where people can bring their dabba box to any restaurant in the network. Their mission is to eliminate waste within the restaurant takeout process by:
- Providing reusable glass containers (deposit system)
- Washing the boxes
- Supporting all local players in their waste reduction
Dabba is above all “a community of restaurateurs and professionals committed to fighting against disposable packaging.”
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| Tigoun is a
startup that has created the first long conservation bag for sub-Saharan African farmers that is both efficient and ecological.
- Lasts up to one year with less than 1% loss
- Protects against insects and mold
- Preserves the crop quality
- Zero chemicals required, 80% biodegradable, and 80% made of renewable materials
By reducing cereals post-harvest losses in the area, Tigoun could resolve 1/5 of malnutrition cases in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Sustainabro New Hampshire, USA
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| Sustainabro (name and brand pending) is a personal care startup, founded by two students, with a focus on bringing sustainable products to people looking to reduce their impact on the environment.
Their first product is a sustainable replacement for the standard plastic single use deodorant stick. The design is simple, easy to use and durable, featuring high quality reusable housing with deodorant pod replacements, cutting out all plastic.
With a podcast launch as well as social media and blogs, the founders will gather a following of like-minded young people and use them as a launch group for their products.
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Mindkit is an organization whose mission is to promote mental wellbeing in France and empower people facing precarious situations to boost their mental wellbeing by combining mental fitness activities such as: fitness, yoga + meditation, and emotional + stress management workshops.
Mindkit affirms that mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness and it should be accessible to all.
They are specifically targeting young people, young LGBTQIA+ people, and women.
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Suppli provides a reusable takeout container service that allows food vendors and consumers to go eco-friendly without a huge price markup.
Food vendors get an attractive, high quality option for eco-friendly takeout containers that don’t break the bank. Consumers get attractive, high quality containers—and an opportunity to enjoy their takeout without feeling guilty about the amount of waste it produces.
Suppli’s mission is to help consumers live their values, and to support businesses to operate more sustainably.
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Renaissance Upcycling Paris, France
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Renaissance Upcycling is an upcycling app that allows users to give their clothes a second chance, offering an alternative to textile overproduction.
The innovative AI technology included in the app ensures a perfect design and fit. Designs are then sent to upcycling experts (local seamstresses) who upgrade the client’s clothing with guaranteed quality and durability.
Renaissance’s user experience modernizes and democratizes clothing customization, contributing to a fashionable, zero-waste future for all.
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Strategic pause & transition
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The Board of Directors has officially approved a strategic pause in any new grant funding for Spring 2021 (with option to extend into Fall 2021). The COVID-19 situation and financial uncertainty has caused a disturbance in our typical funding chain and we are focused on shoring up Stardust's viability for the long term as we
transition to a DAF/Impact Fund model.
We at The Stardust-Startup Factory know that our why (our purpose) is massive. We know that our microgrants are modest amounts of money, and we know that we fund just a handful of projects.
We need to do our part to "democratize" innovation. Our unique niche is to be there for those who, like Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade, take a risk, step off from the cliff.
Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) can execute a wide range of investment structures. Stardust started out using a traditional charitable giving model. Now, we are repositioning to be a boutique DAF, that is human-centered and future-focused.
Stardust’s Impact Investor community makes angel-type philanthropic investments. We connect impact investors with mission-aligned projects/founders and serve as the pre-seed pollinator for early-stage startups that could have global impact.
Keep an eye out on your inbox and follow us on social media to
>> get notified as applications re-open and contact us if you want to
>> learn more about philanthropic investments!
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How would you describe Stardust?
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We asked a few members our Stardust family to give us 3-4 words that made them think of Stardust. ✨ Here's what they came up with:
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We're super excited to launch these—we've been wanting to create new t-shirt designs for years! Buy one for yourself, for a friend, for your dog... and support your favorite nonprofit!
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Buy a tee or sweatshirt + give an extra gift
Bonfire makes it easy to add an extra donation when you check out.
Contribute at least $20 to our 2020 Holiday Campaign to be entered our annual raffle. This year we are giving away a tee or sweatshirt of your choice.
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| With
love,
Camille Babington &
L. Jean Palmer-Moloney
Co-founders of The Stardust-Startup Factory
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