Back to the startup world: Marcin wants to build green solutions with software

When 27-year-old Marcin Zelent joined the Deep Green Innovators program, he didn’t bring a specific idea with him. What he did bring was a strong desire to return to the startup world – and to explore how he, as a software developer, could contribute to the green transition.

As a software developer, Marcin is far from an expert in sustainability. In fact, he knew very little about the green transition when he first signed up for Deep Green Innovators. What he did know, however, was that he wanted to return to entrepreneurship and do something meaningful for society – ideally by using software to build green solutions.

“I’ve previously been a co-founder of a startup. But when we realized it wasn’t quite working out, I took a full-time job instead. I’ve always had a passion for creating things, and when I saw the Deep Green Innovators program, it felt like the perfect chance to return to entrepreneurship while learning more about sustainability.” 

Although Marcin already had experience with startups, he also brought a software developer’s mindset: solving problems through logic and smart systems. That mindset turned out to be a great match with the program. 

“As a developer, I’m used to thinking in terms of solutions – especially when I run into complex processes that can be optimized. And the same applies to climate challenges. There’s so much we can make smarter, and that’s exactly what I’m diving into through Deep Green Innovators.” 

Facts about Deep Green Innovators

• What: 6-month innovation program - open for both students, professionals, researchers and current/former entrepreneurs

• Focus: Sustainability, idea development and interdisciplinary teamwork

• Includes: Workshops, access to research, team matchmaking, expert sparring

• Who can apply: Anyone curious about climate solutions – no idea needed

• Organized by: Aalborg University, Aarhus University and CBS

• Cost: Free

Searching for inspiration – and a Co-Founder

When Marcin joined the program, he didn’t bring a green startup idea. Instead, he was looking for sustainability-related problems that he could help solve. That inspiration came from the research cards presented during the program – research waiting to be transformed into new startups.

“Even though I didn’t come with a concrete idea, we had several sessions where we explored different research cards. These presented various open-source research findings related to the green transition. It gave me a clearer sense of where my skills could be useful, and I immediately started thinking in terms of solutions.”

Beyond finding inspiration, Marcin was also hoping to find one or more co-founders ready to embark on a shared entrepreneurial journey. While he’s comfortable behind a keyboard, he knew that a great startup needs interdisciplinary perspectives – something he says Deep Green Innovators is built to support.

“The networking aspect is a key part of Deep Green Innovators because it brings people together across different backgrounds. That makes it much easier to build a strong and diverse startup team.”

It didn’t take long before Marcin struck up a conversation with Benjamin – a fellow participant with a background in both business and sustainability. The two quickly became co-founders of a new startup, Viridate, which aims to make it easier for companies to report their CO₂ emissions.

“There are huge challenges around data quality and availability in sustainability reporting. Many companies rely on manual systems and lack proper oversight. We believe software – maybe even AI – can help automate and streamline that process.”

For people who want to build

For Marcin, joining Deep Green Innovators turned out to be exactly the right decision. He found inspiration, expanded his network, and formed a new startup with a like-minded co-founder. That’s why he doesn’t hesitate to recommend the program – with one key condition: you need to be motivated to build something.

“I would absolutely recommend Deep Green Innovators – the only requirement is that you want to create a startup. If you’ve got that drive, there are so many opportunities to build a green startup and meet both friends and co-founders along the way.”