Delft-based green startup Physee on Wednesday won the tenth edition of the international Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. Co-founder Willem Kesteloo got awarded 500.000 euro to further develop and market his product.
Physee came out on top in a final with four other sustainable businesses. They won with their PowerWindow, a fully transparent energy-generating glass. A coating collects light that would normally be reflected, and solar cells in the frame convert it to electricity.
Kesteloo: “The prize money will give our start-up a tremendous boost. The road leading from the lab to the market is a long one. Now we can expand our production capacity and acquire more knowledge for the purpose of making this a greener world.”
Green Challenge Fund
The 10th edition also included the launch of the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge Fund. By investing in potential winners and (former) competition finalists, the fund wants to help them to grow into successful enterprises that can really make a difference in the world.
The fund is managed by the DOEN Foundation, which is already investing in social and/or impact startups. For instance, it acquired a minority stake in Rockstart, and is supporting their Smart Energy accelerator programme.