Swiss Impact with Banerjis

Every year, millions of hotel towels get thrown away after just a few washes, ending up in landfills and feeding the world's textile waste crisis. 

But what if those "worn out" towels could become brand-new premium products instead?

In this episode of Swiss Impact, we sit down with Jim Tichatschek, CEO of Kushel, a company built on a radical circular economy model. 

Kushel takes used hotel towels that would otherwise be discarded and recycles them into high-quality, brand-new textiles, proving that waste isn't an endpoint, it's a resource.

We explore the science and logistics behind the circular process, the challenges of scaling a closed-loop textile business, and why the hospitality industry holds the key to reducing textile waste at scale. 

This is what true circularity looks like, less waste, more value, and a blueprint the whole industry could adopt.

🔗 Get involved: https://www.kushel.de/en

Explore more insights, research, and conversations from Impact Investing Solutions:

🌐 https://iisolutions.ch
💼   / impactinvestingsolutions  

Connect with our hosts:  
Sveta Banerjee:   / svetabanerjee  
Ben Banerjee:   / benbanerjee  

In this episode, we unpack a groundbreaking research paper written by Students at the Geneva Graduate Institute in collaboration with Impact Investing Solutions. 

 

You can read the full report here: https://forms.gle/RwKtvWycHQzbeGbw7

 

Is the impact investing sector spending more energy proving its impact than actually creating it? 

 

The report diagnoses why the industry is trapped in a "Credibility Sufficiency Equilibrium"—doing just enough measurement to look credible, but falling short of understanding real-world transformation.

 

We discuss why technical reporting is often a distraction from misaligned incentives, why Beneficiary Feedback is essential, and how AI for Impact can help us move from superficial reporting to genuine, human-centered change. 

 

If you are an investor, founder, or student of sustainable finance, this is a critical call to shift the industry's focus from appearance to action.

 

#SustainableFinance #ImpactMeasurement #GenevaGraduateInstitute  #SystemicChange #HumanCenteredImpact #SDGs #impactinvesting  #SustainableFinance #ImpactMeasurement #GenevaGraduateInstitute #SystemicChange #HumanCenteredImpact

 

00:00 Introduction
02:11  The Problem of Incentives
06:45  The Human Element: Why Beneficiary Feedback is Missing
07:52  Alphabet Soup & Homework: The Burden of Too Many Frameworks
11:31  Credibility Sufficiency Equilibrium Explained
15:10  The Founder's Dilemma: Survival vs. Deep Impact Measurement
16:39  Are Investors Burdening Those They Support?
21:37  Reaching People vs. Changing Lives
26:50  Support Tool, Not Silver Bullet
31:32  Convening for a Minimalist Standard

How can a tiny fish help eliminate one of Africa's biggest health challenges? 

In this episode of Swiss Impact, we explore the SAFMI Foundation's "Golden Fish Project" a groundbreaking, biological approach to malaria prevention. 

Malaria continues to impact millions, but the Golden Fish Project is tackling the problem at its source. 

By deploying Gambusia fish (natural mosquito larvae predators) in strategic water tanks, SAFMI is breaking the mosquito life cycle before the insects can even emerge. We dive into the science behind this method, the journey of building sustainable fish farms, and why this nature-based solution is a game-changer for communities in Sierra Leone and beyond. 

From the logistical challenges of scaling to the need for research-backed environmental safety, discover how this innovative team is proving that sustainable, low-cost solutions can save thousands of lives. 

Support the Mission:
SAFMI is actively seeking partners, investors, and donors to build necessary infrastructure, scale fish farms, and expand their impact.

📍 Learn more & contribute: https://safmi.com/

#MalariaPrevention #GoldenFishProject #SAFMI #GlobalHealth #SustainableSolutions #PublicHealth #Africa #SocialImpact #NatureBasedSolutions #SwissImpact #Innovation #DiseaseControl

00:00 Introduction 
02:07 Safmi Foundation and the Golden Fish Project
05:05 The Personal Motivation to Fight Malaria
08:41 The Misunderstood Impact of Malaria
10:35 The Special Qualities of the Gambusia Fish
12:48 Scaling Up the Fish Solution
15:26 Current Operations and Future Plans for Natural Habitats
17:21 Complementary Solutions and Challenges with Traditional Methods
18:30 Environmental Safeguards and Control Measures
20:38 Proof and Partnerships with Government and NGOs
22:31 Community Reception and Application Process
31:07 Broader Mission and Future Vision
33:26 What Keeps Artem Going
35:07 Who Should Reach Out to Safmi
36:06 Concluding Remarks

What does it feel like to go from raising €300,000 for a startup to having just pennies in your pocket and nowhere to go? In this powerful episode of Swiss Impact with Banerjees, we sit down with Andrew Funk, the founder of Homeless Entrepreneur, who turned his personal experience with hidden homelessness in Barcelona into a revolutionary model for social change.

 

Andrew pulls back the curtain on the "invisible" side of homelessness: working professionals who are still part of society but lack the stability of a home. We dive deep into his 150km "Great Walk" from Zurich to Davos, his "beyond incredible" philosophy, and how his organization is successfully transitioning people from the streets into full-time employment at companies like Amazon in as little as 26 days.

 

In this interview, you’ll discover:

• The Psychological Toll: Why losing your cell phone and hope are the final two stages of homelessness.
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• The 26-Day Turnaround: The exact model that helps "protagonists" rebuild their lives through project management and time management.
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• A New Perspective on Giving: Why a €3,000 targeted investment is more effective than traditional assistance-based charity.
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• Walking for Change: The story behind the 150km trek to the World Economic Forum to get the attention of global leaders.
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Whether you're an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, or someone looking for a spark of resilience, Andrew’s journey proves that with the right support network and a bit of "entrepreneurial spirit," no one is truly invisible.

In this episode of Swiss Impact, Ben and Sveta sit down with Violy, the co-founder of SIRSAK—the innovative winner of the Swiss Impact Spotlight Award. Based in Indonesia, where plastic waste often feels like an unstoppable tide, Violy and her team are tackling the hardest part of the crisis: low-value plastic.

 

From snack wrappers to coffee sachets, these materials are often ignored because they are difficult to recycle and hold no market value—until now. Violy shares her personal journey from a finance professional to a social entrepreneur after a life-changing visit to a landfill just five minutes from her home.

 

In this interview, we dive into:

• The Problem with "Invisible" Plastic: Why current systems fail when it comes to lightweight, multi-layered packaging.

• The Power of Data: How SIRSAK uses digitalization to track waste from a single household to a final recycled product, ensuring ethical supply chains.

• Social Impact: How SIRSAK provides social security and insurance to the "backbone" of the industry—the women and informal waste pickers often left behind.

• The Future of Circularity: Why recycling isn't the final answer, and how we must redesign our economy to include the cost of disposal from the start.

 

Join us for a deep dive into the heart of the waste crisis and the bold solutions being built on the ground in Jakarta and beyond.

How Women are Changing the World with Tropical Almonds | Season 11 Episode 08 | Talmond Foods. Elie Fink & Wolf-Rüdiger Daetz

 

Why Do Investors Say “Yes” When the Risk Is Real?

 

In this conversation, Elie Fink and Wolf-Rüdiger Daetz unpack what actually convinces an investor when spreadsheets alone aren’t enough.

 

From the risks of food production and climate uncertainty to the overlooked power of authenticity, purpose, and long-term vision, this episode explores why true impact investing moves at a different pace than venture capital.

 

We talk about why food systems matter, why fear often blocks capital, and why reconnecting business with meaning and even love may be the missing ingredient.

 

Learn more: https://www.talmondfoods.com/

Amazonas For Life. Carlos Nobre & Helena Lindemark

 

The Amazon’s "Last Corridor of Life" is Being Sold for Soy Farming (ft. Carlos Nobre & Helena Lindemark)

We are witnessing a critical moment for the Amazon rainforest. In this episode, we focus on a specific 30,000-hectare forest in Bolivia—a "living corridor" that connects the dry forests of Chiquitania to the Amazon biome. This land, home to jaguars and vital watersheds, is currently at risk of being sold to Brazil's largest soy company which plans to clear up to 80% of it for agriculture.

 

We are joined by two powerhouse guests:

• Professor Carlos Nobre: A Nobel Peace Prize contributor and leading Earth System scientist who has spent decades warning that the Amazon is nearing a catastrophic "tipping point".
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• Helena Lindemark: Impact entrepreneur and founder of the 2022 Initiative Foundation, working directly with Indigenous communities to legally challenge this sale and protect the forest.
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In this interview, we discuss:

• The Crisis: Why the sale of this corridor to agribusiness could lead to ecological suicide, drying out the region by disrupting the "flying rivers" that transport essential moisture.
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• The Tipping Point: Prof. Nobre explains how we are on the verge of turning the Amazon into a dry savanna, which would release billions of tons of CO2 and potentially make the region uninhabitable for humans.
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• The Solution: How Indigenous nations are using legal action to stop the land use change and the rise of a "social bioeconomy"—using standing forests to produce chocolate, nuts, and oils instead of cattle.
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• Urgent Action: The legal battle is underway, but time is short. The Indigenous guardians believe this sale can still be stopped.
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Join us to learn why what happens to this one corridor in Bolivia will decide the future of our climate.

From Corporate Burnout to True Purpose: Daring to Live Authentically with Andreas Dudas | Season 11 Episode 6 | Dare - Andreas Dudas

 

"My life looked good from the outside, but on the inside, something was not right."

 

Have you ever felt successful but empty? Our guest today, Andreas Dudas, had it all: big titles, massive infrastructure projects, and a "big life." But after a 20-million-franc loss and a severe burnout, he realized that if you are not yourself, you cannot be trustworthy or truly successful.

In this episode, Andreas joins us from his farm in Switzerland to discuss his book, Dare: Attaining Greatness Through Authenticity.
We dive deep into the courage it takes to leave the "safety" of a career to follow your soul’s calling—even if that calling seems crazy to everyone else.

 

In this episode, you will learn:

The "Dare" Formula: The three pillars of finding your purpose: Clarity, Love (Courage), and Action.

Overcoming Fear: Why the biggest fear we have is the fear of being "nothing," and how to replace it with love.

Leadership Secrets: Why true leadership is simply about loving people and empowering their uniqueness.

A Daily Practice: The simple "I am Love, I am Peace" mantra that can change your energy instantly.

Andreas challenges us to treat the planet like guests rather than owners and to find the "Polar Bear" inside of us—the part of us that has a thick skin and isn't afraid to walk alone.

 

About the Guest:

Andreas Dudas is a mentor, author, and former corporate leader who helps individuals and organizations find inner peace and realize their unique potential.

 

Connect with Andreas:

Find him on LinkedIn: https://ch.linkedin.com/in/andreasdudas/en

Ocean Carbon Capture: How Kelp Forests Save The Planet | Season 11 Episode 5 | Ocean Quest - Juergen Roider

It’s incredible to see a serial entrepreneur like Juergen Roider pivot from the world of IT to become a reborn champion for the oceans. His bold vision, building a massive kelp belt to capture carbon and restore marine ecosystems feels like science fiction turned reality, and it’s exactly the kind of innovation our planet needs right now.

Did you know kelp absorbs carbon 20 times more efficiently than rainforests?
And with robots and AI handling the dangerous underwater work 24/7, this is a game-changer for scalability and global climate action.

In this inspiring episode of Swiss Impact, Juergen shares his journey from witnessing the apocalyptic reality of ocean pollution to founding Ocean Quest International, a global initiative using climate robotics, ocean farming, and kelp reforestation to heal the seas.

His message is both urgent and deeply human:

“Before we go to Mars, we must save our own home.”

This is high-impact stewardship at its best - science, technology, and purpose united for the planet.

For more information:
https://ocean-quest.international/

What if the solution to the world’s most pressing problems—food scarcity, mass migration, and desertification—was hiding in plain sight?

In this episode of Swiss Impact, we sit down with Karl Albrecht Waldstein, the inventor of Desert Greener and managing director of Seawater GmbH. Karl’s journey began 17 years ago in Spain, witnessing the devastating effects of desertification while standing next to an "endless abundance" of seawater. Since then, he has developed a revolutionary technology that mimics the natural water cycle to turn salt water into "blank sheet" distilled water using nothing but the power of the sun.

Unlike traditional reverse osmosis, which is energy-intensive and produces harmful waste, Desert Greener is a zero-emission process. It doesn’t just provide water; it creates a path for Green Hydrogen and Ammonia production, potentially replacing fossil fuels for a carbon-neutral future.

Join us for a profound conversation that bridges cutting-edge physics with spiritual wisdom. As Karl puts it: "We have to find a way that the seawater solves the problem, but it must be cheap or almost for free."

 

#WaterCrisis, #DesertGreener, #Sustainability, #GreenHydrogen, #ClimateAction, #Innovation, #CleanWater, #SwissImpact, #RenewableEnergy, #Agriculture, #ZeroEmissions