Ambienta, one of Europe's leading and largest asset managers solely focused on environmental sustainability, and McKinsey & Company, global leader in strategic consulting, announced Enerbrain as the winner of the Rolando Polli Award 2023.
The Award, in its first edition, aims to help young Italian entrepreneurs by accelerating their ventures based on sustainable solutions. Rolando Polli was extremely passionate about both entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability, and the award intends to support companies that are poised for growth and longevity, while having a positive environmental impact. Ambienta and McKinsey would like to thank the 25 companies that applied to the Award and to congratulate the 5 finalists, which were invited to present at the final event held on January 26: Agricolus, Babaco Market, Cubbit, Enerbrain and Rifò. The evaluation committee has also decided to award a sixth company, Synergy Flow, with an honorable mention.
Given the relevance of the environmental issue and the potential of the business model, the jury has decided to award Enerbrain with a joint mentorship programme under which Ambienta and McKinsey will both provide their know-how and networks. Enerbrain's software and hardware solutions reduce energy consumption in buildings while also improving comfort: after being founded in 2014 and having entered I3P in 2016, Enerbrain was awarded "Start-up of the Year 2019" by the Incubator of Politecnico di Torino after the completion of its growth path and in 2021 the company successfully concluded a €5.2 million investment round for its international development.
Nino Tronchetti Provera, Founder and Managing Partner at Ambienta, commented: "Rolando has been a mentor in my professional life and a friend in my personal one. We shared a fervent passion for entrepreneurship and the Milan/London/Paris/Munich, 27 January 2023 www.ambientasgr.com strong belief that sustainability is in fact the most mega of all mega trends. I am proud to be able to continue his legacy and to put Ambienta's entrepreneurial and scientific know-how at the disposal of Enerbrain. I would like to extend my congratulations to all the companies in the race, small all-Italian jewels of sustainability and entrepreneurship."
Massimo Giordano, Managing Partner at McKinsey Mediterraneo, added: "Sustainability is a must-have for companies and can only be a value creation tool if it is truly embedded in their vision. Looking at the excellent companies we have met over the course of this Award, it is clear that Italy has all the right cards to become a prime player in this field. I'd like to echo Nino in congratulating these promising initiatives and in the warm remembrance of our Rolando, a true entrepreneur and sustainability pioneer."