Contribe, a Danish startup on a mission to revolutionise the shopping experience by giving all users the power to engage with on-brand impact projects with every purchase, has raised €1 million from Rockstart, Human Act Development, EIFO, and business angels including Morten Bæhrenz (founder of Rackbeat), Jonatan Hjortdal (former Legal Director at Preseed Ventures), and Maria Krogh (Chief People Officer at Rackbeat, former HR Director at Pandora).
Founded in Copenhagen in 2023, Contribe has, since late 2023, secured over 100 online stores as customers, and 100,000 people worldwide have used their solution. Their platform offers a “modern form of loyalty,” allowing customers to support causes such as plastic collection, carbon capturing, and women’s rights through their everyday purchases, all without any extra cost to the customer.
Co-founders include Christoffer Winther Bouet, Tobias Ørskov Madsen, and Lasse Viggo. The team brings together expertise from tech startups, consulting, and the legal industry, with a particular focus on tech, strategy, and sustainability.
“Contribe is built on the recognition that consumers, especially Gen Zs and Millennials, aren’t just interested in discounts and savings. They want to make a difference and leave a positive impact on the planet. Meanwhile, they’re not interested in boring ESG reports or empty eco-friendly claims,” said Christoffer Winther Bouet, Co-founder of Contribe.
Brands can now do good without the fear of greenwashing by partnering with Contribe as a verified partner. “Today, only a small percentage of companies actively support good causes. This is because there hasn’t been a solution that allows them to support green and social initiatives without sacrificing profit. Now we’re changing that,” stated Christoffer Winther Bouet, Co-founder of Contribe.
“At Contribe, we believe that every transaction is an opportunity to make a difference. Our platform allows businesses to create a win-win-win situation where customers can support causes they care about while shopping online, and companies are rewarded for making a difference,” commented Tobias Ørskov Madsen, Co-founder of Contribe.
In a short time, Contribe has acquired more than 100 customers, including brands like MessyWeekend, Copenhagen Cartel, Sinatur Hotel & Conference, and the Swedish brand Understatement. However, for businesses, it’s not just about having a good conscience. Businesses using Contribe can actually measure that it directly increases their conversion rates, order value, and repeat purchases while building a loyal community of impact-driven customers.
Now that they have secured investment from venture funds Rockstart, Human Act Development, EIFO, and several renowned business angels, they plan to scale the business globally.
“Our clear goal is 1 million users by the end of 2025. Right now, we’re building the future, and we believe that in 10 years, shopping with social sustainability will be a standard for all companies,” added Christoffer Winther Bouet, Co-founder of Contribe.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/08/copenhagen-based-contribe-bags-e1-million-to-make-businesses-engage-with-sustainability-focused-consumers/
