Empowering Sustainability: Anna Sandgren's Entrepreneurial Venture with Unibloom

Anna Sandgren is an inspiring entrepreneur who has seamlessly blended resilience, strategic vision, and a commitment to sustainability in her journey. In this exclusive interview, we will explore Anna’s career, from her early experiences with risk-taking and challenges to her impactful roles in corporate giants like Unilever.

Anna founded Hera, a successful women's network at the engineering faculty at Lunds University in Sweden, and later created Unibloom, a predictive collaborative platform that allocates & optimizes financial investments towards best climate activities and projects over time and simplifies climate-related decision-making in consumer goods industries.

This interview delves into the motivations, challenges, and strategic insights influencing Anna's entrepreneurial journey. Anna's experiences provide essential lessons in adaptability, sustainable vision, and market understanding. The interview offers a glimpse into the world of entrepreneurship and sustainability and serves as a source of inspiration for those navigating these fields. Join us as we explore Anna Sandgren's remarkable venture with Unibloom and the intersection of business, financials, and sustainability.

Anna's Entrepreneurial Journey

Anna's entrepreneurial journey began at a young age, marked by challenges and risks. From selling cars at 13 and working at McDonald's flipping burgers to landing a job at a fast-scaling startup FinTech company at 16, her dedication and hard work led to significant accomplishments, including selling the company's product to big banks at 18, beside her studies to get a master in mechanical engineer & business strategy. Anna's inspiring story unfolds as she founded Hera, a women's network in engineering, and navigated the challenges of the financial industry during the Lehman Brothers crash.

Transition to Unilever and Frustration Leading to Unibloom

Anna transitioned from risky ventures, like supporting a gold mining exploration, to a decade at Unilever's Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. Frustrated with corporate decision-making complexities, she left Unilever and founded Unibloom. Recognizing a gap in addressing climate targets, Anna joined Zinc.vc to bridge the divide between sustainability goals and business drivers, aiming for impactful change by 2030. She advocates for better data and tools to validate solutions, believing it can accelerate the shift to a sustainable future.

Unibloom's Model and Co-founder Discovery

Anna identified a mere 12% digital adoption in climate data analysis, indicating a need for more tools for European companies to meet 2030 targets efficiently. She contrasts mission-driven companies like Ben and Jerry's and Patagonia with profit-centric ones, noting a shift towards sustainability due to regulations and customer demands.

Unibloom emerged to address complex problems, aiding sustainability teams in predictive decision-making. The Software-as-a-Service model facilitates seamless integration, consolidating climate projects for consumer goods industries. Anna and co-founder Vinny matched through Zinc, prioritizing climate goal alignment and commercial success.

Anna and Vinny, co-founders of Unibloom, connected at Zinc's incubator, delving into the 'Fifty Founders Questions.' Their collaborative journey began with a three-hour walk in Hyde Park, fostering a deep understanding of each other.

Reflection

As Daniel reflects on the interview he had with Anna, he learned three pivotal lessons that are fundamental to fostering sustainable entrepreneurship:

1. Resilient Adaptation: Anna's journey, from her early roles to navigating corporate complexities, exemplifies the resilience essential in sustainable entrepreneurship. Her ability to pivot, especially seen in founding Hira and reinventing herself post-Unilever, aligns with my mission to leverage every experience for impactful change.

2. Strategic Vision for Sustainability: Unibloom's genesis, born from Anna's frustration with corporate inefficiencies, underscores the importance of strategic vision in addressing complex challenges. Anna's pursuit of a tool that simplifies sustainable commitments mirrors my mission to implement innovative, eco-conscious practices with tangible impact.

3. Market Understanding and Opportunity Recognition: Anna's insights into the digital penetration gap in climate data highlight the need to leverage market forces for sustainability. Her recognition of addressing these gaps aligns with my goal to align with impactful, market-driven solutions for a sustainable future.

‍

Connect with Daniel Bowden and Anna Sandgren on LinkedIn.