Latvia-based Aerones was founded in 2015 by Dainis Kruze (CEO) & Janis Putrams, with friendly support from Andris Dambis. The company started with a focus on heavy-load drones, before pivoting to (non-drone) remotely-operated maintenance robots in 2019. "Aerones robots clean & inspect wind turbines so humans don’t have to" (note: wind turbines have a typical lifespan of 20 years, but better maintenance can prolong this). One issue you run into with wind turbines is (among others) that they tend to leak oil, which corrodes blades, increases wind resistance & pollutes the ground below. Aerones robots clean towers & blades by blasting them with a liquid detergent, while funnels beneath (the blades) collect the mucked-up liquid...

UK-based, Kelpi is manufacturing seaweed-based coatings for paper & card packaging. The firm’s bio-coating have a uniquely strong water & oxygen barrier, are resistant to grease & acid, & fully compostable/ marine-safe. The derived packaging materials share similar characteristics (but ultimately replace) plastic (packaging). Kelpi will use the funds to i) conduct manufacturing pilots for packaging for a global beverage brand, ii) cold & hot packaging/ treys for a food brand, iii) clients in cosmetics & iv) personal care, v) as well as polybags for fashion (the company is a finalist for the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize, alongside UK-based Notpla). Reducing plastic consumption is obviously important: only 9% of gets recycled, 11% is incinerated...