To establish Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures within the startup and innovation ecosystem, I developed a CSR and innovation format that brought together startups, founders, investors, NGOs and media representatives on a shared platform. The initiative connected sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation to raise awareness of plastic pollution in the oceans while fostering the development of innovative solutions. Through a strategic partnership with The Royal Jungle Startup and the creation of distinctive awareness installations, the project established Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures within the startup and innovation ecosystem across the DACH region.
Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures were created to address plastic pollution from two different perspectives: raising public awareness and fostering innovation. The challenge was not only to increase visibility for both initiatives, but also to position them credibly within the startup, media and innovation ecosystem. Success depended on bringing together founders, investors, NGOs, media representatives and corporate stakeholders on a shared platform while creating alignment around a shared purpose.
– Millions of tonnes of plastic waste threaten oceans, ecosystems and habitats worldwide
– Limited awareness of Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures within the German startup and innovation ecosystem
– Startup ecosystems primarily focussed on digital business models rather than sustainability challenges
– Need to connect CSR, innovation and entrepreneurship in a credible and meaningful way
– Diverse stakeholder expectations across NGOs, startups, investors, media and corporate representatives
– High expectations regarding visibility, credibility and public perception of both initiatives
The objective was to establish Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures within the startup, media and innovation ecosystem, raise awareness of plastic pollution and create a platform for developing new solutions. By connecting NGOs, founders, investors and corporate stakeholders, the initiative aimed to combine social responsibility, innovation and entrepreneurship while strengthening Sky’s positioning as a purpose-driven and innovation-focussed organisation.
Sky Ocean Rescue
– Position Sky as a responsible brand within the Sky Group’s Europe-wide CSR agenda
– Strengthen credibility and social impact through partnerships with NGOs
– Establish Sky Ocean Rescue within the startup and innovation ecosystem
– Raise awareness of plastic reduction in everyday life and business environments
– Increase visibility through stakeholder engagement, media relations and thought leadership activities
Sky Ocean Ventures
– Establish Sky Ocean Ventures within the DACH startup and innovation ecosystem
– Position the incubator as a platform for solutions addressing plastic pollution
– Build and connect a network of founders, startups and investors
– Generate innovative concepts and business ideas through startup pitches and collaboration formats
– Foster knowledge exchange, cooperation and partnership opportunities between startups, corporations and NGOs
Driven by the conviction that social responsibility and innovation create greater impact together, I developed the idea of establishing Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures within the German startup and innovation ecosystem. To bring this vision to life, I created a collaborative platform that connected founders, investors, NGOs, media representatives and corporate stakeholders around a shared mission: raising awareness of plastic pollution while fostering innovation. In partnership with The Royal Jungle Startup and BMW Welt, I transformed the concept into a high-profile event format that combined sustainability, entrepreneurship and thought leadership.
– Developed the strategic CSR and communications concept for positioning Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures within the startup and innovation ecosystem
– Established a strategic partnership with The Royal Jungle Startup and BMW Welt to bring the concept to life
– Secured executive sponsorship from CEO Carsten Schmidt and key stakeholders across Sky Deutschland and Sky UK
– Created the “Upcycling Couch” and “Throne of Bottles” as distinctive awareness installations to visualise plastic pollution and strengthen emotional engagement
– Designed an event platform combining startup pitches, networking, expert discussions and sustainability storytelling
– Integrated Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures as core elements of the event experience
– Connected startups, founders, investors, NGOs, media representatives and corporate stakeholders on a shared platform
– Positioned sustainability and plastic reduction as innovation topics within the startup ecosystem
Awareness Through Experience
Upcycling Couch and Throne of Bottles transformed plastic pollution into a tangible and memorable experience
Startup & Innovation Ecosystem Activated
Founders, investors, NGOs and CSR experts connected on a shared platform
Innovation Network Established
Sky Ocean Ventures connected startups, investors and sustainability innovators
Positioning Through
Purpose
Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures positioned within the DACH innovation ecosystem
– Established Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures within the DACH startup and innovation ecosystem
– Raised awareness of plastic pollution as an everyday societal challenge across business and consumer audiences
– Brought together more than 800 participants from the startup, innovation and CSR communities at a single event
– Developed the “Upcycling Couch” and “Throne of Bottles” as distinctive awareness installations and central symbols throughout panels, startup pitches and networking activities
– Featured CEO Carsten Schmidt in a keynote positioning Sky as a company combining innovation and social responsibility
– Facilitated media interviews and stakeholder discussions to increase visibility for Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky Ocean Ventures
– Organised a high-profile panel featuring Frederic Michel (Head of Sky Ocean Ventures) and Marco Vollmar (WWF Germany) on innovation-driven solutions to combat plastic pollution
– Created the awareness question “How does it feel to sit on a pile of trash?” to encourage personal reflection and engagement with the issue
– Extended the impact of the initiative through the international reuse of the Upcycling Couch at stakeholder events in Berlin, Brussels and the Sky UK headquarters
Highlights from the “The Royal Jungle” event series:
Further information and references relating to this case are available upon request.
The following competencies were applied throughout this project and reflect the core areas of my expertise.
