Our History
Starting with an idea
A few years ago, Sigvald Harryson, then a management consultant and professor at three universities in Sweden and Denmark, began exploring the topic of decentralizing wind power production.As a passionate sailor, he discovered that a small 400-watt wind turbine could provide a modern, well-equipped 45-foot sailboat with all the power it needed.Since 2000, Sigvald has had solar panels on his boat, but they weren’t enough to make the boat completely self-sufficient in electricity.In 2008, he invested in a small wind turbine for his new boat “Blåöga,” which later became the inspiration for InnoVentum.If a turbine can provide so much power to a boat, why wouldn’t it work the same way for a household—and then enable a more sustainable lifestyle? Wouldn’t it be good for our planet if we all had the opportunity to generate green energy so generously given to us by Mother Earth?In true entrepreneurial spirit, Sigvald began exploring the international market for environment and technology, using his wide network of colleagues, friends, and university students to develop ideas for the new venture.After two years of market analysis, focused on market and consumer needs as well as product performance and business model, it was time to start building the company!
Shaping the company
2010–2011
Between 2010 and early 2011, a number of university competitions were held, resulting in several innovative product ideas, such as the Dali wooden tower and a turbine tunnel. Subsequently, InnoVentum received its first investments from a distinguished team that took the lead as investors and advisors. The investment included a first patent, a trademark, and a design program.The first full-scale installations were completed in early 2011 following extensive testing at Lund University’s facilities. InnoVentum has received significant media attention, with articles appearing in Ölandsbladet, Ölands Journalen, BLT Sydöstran, Innovation in Mind, Sydsvenskan, and Scania, as well as local news coverage on TV4.
The wooden tower appears at Turning Torso
April 2011
On April 29–30, 2011, InnoVentum held its first event, which took the form of the unveiling of the new wooden tower design. The event was co-organized by Tesla Motors Scandinavia and Estrima and was a success. Several innovative design concepts for wooden structures were presented and tested using two of the most extreme electric cars: the Tesla Roadster and the Estrima Biro.
InnoVentum goes international: ICDuBo in Rotterdam (Netherlands)
August 2011
Our Dali Urban solution was installed in Rotterdam at the site of the largest environmental exhibition, ICDuBo. The installation strengthened our partnership with a Dutch turbine manufacturer—now owned by a British company. Several new investors joined InnoVentum within a year of the lead investors coming on board. That year, InnoVentum’s estimated valuation had grown by 50%, based on demonstration plants.
First private customer
November 2011
Our first customer, Gunnel Nordqvist, became a pioneer when she chose to install a green energy solution on Öland in the form of the Beetle S. Following the installation of the Beetle S in November 2011, she received an upgraded turbine and purchased a solar energy system from us to generate green energy day or night, summer or winter. The local press wrote about Gunnel: Barometern, Ölandsbladet.
From exploration to production
2011–2012
During 2011–2012, awareness of InnoVentum began to grow, and we were featured on websites such as ArchiExpo, Klimatsmart, and the Swedish Ecotourism Association. We became members of the Swedish Wind Energy Association, and InnoVentum is now also listed in SWID (the Swedish Wind Industry Database). In 2012, we participated in exhibitions such as Hem & Villa in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Rencontre de Jardins on the French Riviera, where we created a permanent installation of the Beetle S. InnoVentum received increased media attention in Sweden and France, with articles appearing in Southeast, Les Nouvelles de Provence, Architecture Bois, ERA, Galore, New in Villa, and L’Essentiel de la Maison. Additional patent applications were filed and trademarks were registered. InnoVentum’s CEO participated in the ÅF Offshore Race (formerly Gotland Runt). In the fall of 2012, six new investors joined the company, which had doubled in valuation since its founding two years earlier.
InnoVentum on the French Riviera
September 2012
One of the highlights of the year was when InnoVentum attended the landscape design fair “Rencontre de Jardins” in September 2012. We set up an installation featuring the Beetle S in a beautiful park on the Côte d’Azur, which served as an exclusive venue for the annual event. Today, you can visit the park and see our installations whenever you like.
Copenhagen Business School Video Project
December 2012
InnoVentum participated in an entrepreneurship course at Copenhagen Business School, where a number of talented students presented their vision for InnoVentum. The result was several inspiring videos. InnoVentum participates in the CIEL initiative “Green Innovations in Cities.”
Expansion
December 2012
Armed with new sales skills, InnoVentum secured several major new installations, which in turn attracted a number of new customers. A Dali Performance was installed at Blekinge Institute of Technology over the summer. The installation was carried out on the roof of an award-winning timber-panel building. A marine version of the Dali Performance was installed in Gothenburg, in a picturesque location. Two GIRAFFE hybrids were installed in Malmö (more details under “The giraffe makes an impressive entrance”). A building permit for Dalifant moved to the next stage (more details under “Mila Fair & customer events: Dalifant in focus”). InnoVentum participated in a number of fairs and exhibitions, such as Mila Fair, Mossagårdsfestivalen, and Sustainable Energy Week. On the IP (intellectual property) front, InnoVentum pursued additional design and trademark registrations for the products. We are working on international expansion opportunities with a focus on Japan, European markets, and Kaliningrad in Russia.
InnoVentum Explores Japan
January 2013 – ongoing
The initial exploration of the Japanese market began in early 2013, with the first visit to Japan taking place in March. With the support of Japanese expertise, InnoVentum made significant progress: numerous articles in the globally distributed Japanese magazine Landscape Design (in June and August 2013), our first distributor in Japan—Windy Ltd—extensive networks, and numerous installation plans.
Mila Fair & Customer Events: Dalifant in the Spotlight
February–April 2013
InnoVentum participated in a trade show with a different focus: the agricultural event Mila Mässan. Our largest wind turbine solutions took center stage: Dalifant and Endurance. We see great potential for these products in Sweden, and we are pleased that our proposals generated interest at the event. Our partner, Sparbanken Färs og Frosta, offers an attractive financing plan for these products, which provides our customers with a positive cash flow from day one.During this period, the first building permit application for Dalifant is nearly approved by the owners of Mandelmann’s Gardens—who are dedicated green enthusiasts and successful “eco-preneurs.” They are very excited about the upcoming installation—and so are we!InnoVentum also organized a number of meetings with potential customers: “Meet the Dalifant.”
The giraffe makes an impressive entrance
May 2013
2013 was the year of the Giraffe for InnoVentum: It took us less than six months from design to installation of the Giraffe at such a prominent location as the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest. We have also installed one in Västra Hamnen near Turning Torso. The Giraffe is a solar and wind hybrid with a charging station that can power everything from your electric car to your home—and can even serve as a bus stop in an urban setting or as a sunshade over sandboxes at preschools.
The giraffe received a lot of media attention: Sydsvenskan, Scania, the Hyllie website, and Nytt från Öresund—which all covered our installation in Hyllie, Malmö.
Green Vehicle Days
June 2013
As InnoVentum expanded, we made a concerted effort to spread awareness about sustainability and eco-friendly lifestyles. In an effort to draw public attention to green mobility in cities, we organized Green Vehicle Days. Green Vehicle Days was one of the largest electric vehicle events in the region, bringing together electric vehicle professionals, enthusiasts, decision makers, and the public to build a shared vision of a greener future for urban transport and infrastructure. We held an exciting photo contest as part of Green Vehicle Days. You can read more about the event here.Three new investors joined.
Additional investments support InnoVentum
July 2013
In September 2013, our main sponsors made a second investment in InnoVentum. We also welcomed two new investors, with more to follow. The investments provided greater scope for patent protection, the development of a sales organization, and working capital for further growth.
Malmö City's Business Award for the Environment and Sustainable Development
September 2013
In February 2014, InnoVentum won Malmö City’s business award for the environment and sustainable development. The jury praised InnoVentum’s innovative and design-driven approach to creating environmental solutions and renewable energy, as well as its successful collaboration with the City of Malmö in 2013.
Grants awarded for the development of InnoVentum's products
March 2014
Swedish Energy Agency The Swedish Energy Agency provided a grant of SEK 1.6 million to InnoVentum for future development and certification of GIRAFFE in Sweden. The grant is part of a support program for social and technological innovation.
Exciting electric vehicle events and opportunities with the UN
May–June 2014
Our German team organized an InnoVentum-branded car to participate in the WAVE – World Advanced Vehicle Expedition, the world’s largest electric car rally. The electric car was also part of the largest gathering of electric cars to date in Stuttgart.InnoVentum is participating in the UN Procurement Seminar in Copenhagen with the aim of learning more about the potential applications of our Dali PowerTowers in response to catastrophic accidents around the world.
Installation of the Dali PowerTower in the Philippines
July 2014
In 2014, InnoVentum focused on its slogan of providing “Power to the People”—particularly to areas in the Philippines still suffering from one of the most devastating natural disasters in modern history: Typhoon Haiyan. The first installation of our Dali PowerTower hybrid tower, which combines wind and solar energy with InnoVentum’s wooden structure, was installed at the Hills of Grace near Manila. The installation has been operational since July 2014 and provides green energy to a children’s village built and operated by the non-governmental organization Barnmissionen. Read the full description of the project here.
InnoVentum Guinness World Record
July 2014
In September, InnoVentum took part in the 2014 Öresund Electric Car Rally, followed by an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the largest parade of electric cars. The record involved more than 200 electric cars participating in the event, breaking the previous record of 160 electric cars (InnoVentum’s Nissan Leaf was one of them).
Giraffe 2.0 Becomes a Reality
December 2014
The long-awaited design release of Giraffe 2.0 was unveiled at Business of Design Week in Hong Kong, Asia’s largest and most influential design event, which attracts over 100,000 visitors each year. Shortly after the design release, a full-scale giraffe was installed in Malmö, Västra Hamnen (near the entrance to the America’s Cup Harbor). Even at this early stage, the giraffe proved to be a popular concept and attracted its first customer (installation in spring 2015)!
Green Cities of Tomorrow
May 2015
InnoVentum’s test and demonstration site for renewable energy technology in Malmö was inaugurated on May 5, 2015, at the event “Green Cities of Tomorrow”—which was held to celebrate InnoVentum’s fifth anniversary! You can read more about it here.