Gloria found her startup team: Now ready to build a greener future
JUNE 6, 2025
BY ANDREAS BIRKEDAL ØRNTOFT
For months, Gloria Stefankovics searched for someone to join her startup idea. She posted on her university’s job bank, reached out on LinkedIn, and contacted students with tech backgrounds – but no luck. That changed the very first day she joined the Deep Green Innovators Program.
Within hours, a fellow participant with a background in software development reached out and wanted to join the project. Shortly after, a communications student also joined the team. Today, the three of them are co-founders of Carbonsight – a climate tech startup helping the construction industry measure and report CO₂ emissions in real time.
“It was incredibly difficult to find someone willing to join a sustainable project from scratch – especially someone with a software background. But through the Deep Green Innovators Program, you meet lots of like-minded entrepreneurial types, which is not only inspiring, but also helped me build the perfect team for my startup.”
From construction sites to climate vision
Gloria is 24 years old, originally from Slovakia with Hungarian roots. She completed her bachelor’s in Architecture, Technology & Construction Management in Aarhus and is now pursuing a master’s in Entrepreneurial Business Engineering at Aalborg University.
Her startup idea emerged while working as a research assistant at Aarhus University, where she explored methods for quantifying emissions in relation to project timelines.
“Today, most companies just use spreadsheets and rough estimates. I thought: why not create a tool that can actually measure and report emissions in real time?”
That’s what Carbonsight aims to do: a software solution helping contractors document and forecast emissions – and comply with the EU’s new climate regulations.
A program that matches people and ideas
Deep Green Innovators is a six-month innovation program for entrepreneurial talents across Denmark – whether they already have a startup idea or are just curious about sustainability and entrepreneurship.
The program includes a series of weekend workshops that introduce participants to cutting-edge research, offer practical tools, and most importantly: help participants find each other. The goal is to build strong, interdisciplinary teams across business, tech, design, and communications backgrounds.
“You don’t need to have an idea beforehand. You can draw inspiration from existing research – or join someone else’s project. That was the case with Carbonsight, for example, and it worked out really well.”
A team, a network – and a clear plan
For Gloria, the biggest takeaway from the program was simple: she found a team and a way forward. Together, the trio ran their own one-day hackathon to outline next steps and create a realistic roadmap for their prototype.
They’re already in dialogue with several of the larger construction firms in Denmark, who are all interested in piloting the product once it’s ready.
The program also gave them tools to better understand each other’s working styles through personality tests and communication strategies – critical for long-term collaboration.
"I’m good at thinking big, but I needed someone with a technical background to say: this part will take four months – this is the first step. I also needed someone who could assess the communication tasks involved. I found both through the program, and it has brought a lot of value to the Carbonsight project".
A clear recommendation – no idea needed
Gloria doesn’t hesitate to recommend Deep Green Innovators – even if you’re not sure what you want to build yet.
“If you’re curious about sustainability and startups, just go for it. You don’t need a clear idea – you just need the motivation to learn and create something.”
Facts about Deep Green Innovators
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What: 6-month innovation program - open for both students, professionals, researchers and current/former entrepreneurs
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Focus: Sustainability, idea development and interdisciplinary teamwork
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Includes: Workshops, access to research, team matchmaking, expert sparring
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Who can apply: Anyone curious about climate solutions – no idea needed
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Organized by: Aalborg University, Aarhus University and CBS
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Cost: Free
