On 21 May, the founders of our impact startups gathered at the ESADE Barcelona campus for a new edition of Impact Makers Day, an event curated by Ship2B Ventures to empower entrepreneurs rewriting business rules. In a context marked by pressing social and environmental challenges, this annual gathering has become a key platform for sharing insights, connecting with strategic allies, and rethinking how to scale impact effectively and sustainably.
Throughout the day, entrepreneurs and experts worked together around a core premise: overcoming the main challenges that prevent impact startups from reaching their full transformative potential. We did so through the real experiences of those who have walked this path, by applying practical tools, and by drawing inspiration from a community that doesn’t just aim to improve products or services, but to reshape entire systems.
Big Jumps: Overcoming scale-up barriers in impact startups
The day began with a session focused on the most common barriers startups face as they scale—access to finance, strategic partnerships, internal structures, international expansion, and leadership.
Javier Torres, Director at Repsol Impacto Social, presented Motor Verde, a pioneering large-scale reforestation project that combines environmental impact with rural economic development. Backed by a €100 million fund in partnership with Portobello Capital, the initiative not only sequesters CO₂ but also revitalises economies in depopulated areas, an example of how to scale through a systems-thinking approach.
Timo Buetefisch, CEO of Cooltra, shared how he scaled a sustainable mobility solution across nine countries with over 30,000 vehicles (85% electric). He offered key insights into adapting organisational structures as a company grows: “Founders must sometimes ask themselves if they are still the right people for certain roles, ” highlighting the importance of evolving leadership.
Both speakers agreed that scaling impact requires more than capital. It calls for strategic vision, resilient structures, and an organizational culture deeply rooted in purpose.
Purposeful exits: When one chapter ends, another begins
In this panel, Lucas Carné (co-founder of Privalia, now leading 011h) and Elena Betés (founder of Rastreator, now behind Emooti and Dide.org) shared their personal experiences navigating startup exits.
Exiting a startup means closing a vital chapter, redefining purpose, and reconnecting with what truly drives you. Understanding the founder’s journey, personality, leadership style, and relationship with success and risk is essential to approaching this transition with clarity and intent.
Lucas spoke of his journey from entrepreneurial success to environmental impact. He is now leading a startup that seeks to accelerate the transition to sustainable construction. Elena described how she reconnected with her values to launch new ventures in mental health and early education.
Both highlighted that a meaningful exit is not just about maximising economic value; it must integrate emotional dimensions, lasting impact, and alignment with one’s personal mission. A powerful insight for anyone leading an impact startup, where the “why” matters as much as the “how.”
Practical workshops: Tools for scaling with purpose
In the afternoon, participants split into three smaller groups to engage in hands-on workshops, applying methodologies designed to unlock growth with purpose:
Systemic change: Jean-Claude Rodríguez, Ashoka Fellow, facilitated a workshop on understanding social problems at their root and how to design deep and durable solutions. The session combined tools like the problem tree and the Ashoka 5Rs framework (Resources, Rules, Roles, Relationships, and Results) to help participants analyse systems from a multidimensional perspective. This enabled them to rethink interventions with a focus on structural transformation.
Inorganic growth: Albert Gallart, Global VP Strategy & Digital at Evidenze, led a session on inorganic growth strategies. Drawing from his experience overseeing mergers and acquisitions in the health sector—including the merger between Dynamic and Grupo Pulso, and the acquisition of Portuguese CRO Keypoint- Albert explored the potential of acquisitions, mergers, or alliances as strategic levers for impact startups. Participants shared reflections and clarified doubts about pursuing these pathways while staying true to their mission.
Exponential growth: Javi Creus, founder of Ideas for Change and creator of the Pentagrowth model, led a session on the five levers of exponential growth: connectivity, empowerment, platforms, data and purpose. Through founder-to-founder exchange, each participant identified key areas in their business model to accelerate aligned and sustainable growth.
This edition of Impact Makers Day reaffirmed the strength of a growing community of founders committed to changing the world through purpose-driven innovation. From circular economy models and regenerative ecosystems to transforming health and care systems, each venture demonstrates that building a business with impact is not only possible but necessary, urgent, and profitable.
At Ship2B Ventures, we remain committed to supporting entrepreneurs who dare to challenge the status quo, design new rules, and scale solutions that improve the world.