Innobound is a private innovation agency that supports entrepreneurs and SMEs in developing initiatives with ecological and social impact. Its mission is to turn ideas into real solutions for Europe’s major challenges.
We spoke with Thais Glod, founder of Innobound and ambassador for the European Climate Pact, about her career, the challenges of impact-driven entrepreneurship, and the keys to driving the green transition through innovation.
From metallurgy to impact innovation
Thais's journey began in Venezuela, where she trained as a metallurgical engineer and worked as an applied researcher in the mining and metallurgical sector. Her focus: to find cleaner technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of heavy industry.
A key figure in her path was her first boss, who encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental Management. “She opened my eyes to the real impact our lifestyle creates: cars, houses, phones, computers, the internet we use... everything leaves a footprint, and we’re mostly unaware of it.”
That realization led her to create an Environmental Management course for engineers, mentor over 120 sustainable initiatives, and found five impact-driven projects: Innobound, TRL+, Asociación Nosotras, Ahimsa, and Único. She has also been an ambassador for the European Climate Pact for the past three years. Her purpose, in her own words: “To leave the world better than I found it.
Regenerative innovation and green technology
As a Green Tech Scouter, Thais researches high-potential clean technologies that have not yet reached the market.
As a European Climate Pact Ambassador, one of her main commitments has been to raise visibility for over 100 innovative solutions that can help achieve the ambitious, but possible, goal of the Green Deal: making Europe the first net-zero continent by 2050.
“Sustainability is no longer enough. We’re now talking about regenerative solutions, those that don’t just reduce impact, but actually create positive effects,” she explains. Among these, she highlights regenerative agriculture, nature-based solutions (NBS), circular economy, and green building.
Innobound: the challenges of sustainable entrepreneurship
At Innobound, they support projects through the Rural ClimAccelerator program and their open innovation line Innolabs, helping advanced-stage solutions reach market and attract investment.
Among the main challenges faced by sustainable entrepreneurs, Thais points out two: impact measurement and market readiness. “Translating social and environmental value into economic terms remains a challenge,” she notes. Additionally, many deep tech technologies are technically ready, but not yet market-ready. “There’s often a language clash between science and business.”
That’s why at Innobound, they support teams with their investment strategy, combining public funding for early stages with private investment for industrial scaling. They also guide them through European calls for proposals, which are key for validating business models and gaining visibility.
Collaborating to innovate: real world impact
One of Innobound’s core pillars is co-creation. “Innovation happens at the edges of knowledge, where disciplines meet: art and science, cities and rural areas, research and market.” As an example, Thais highlights an industrial symbiosis project where waste from a mining cluster was transformed into raw material for other sectors.
For her, “our challenge isn’t technological, but mental. We need to shift from silo thinking to collaborative thinking. Reaching the Green Deal goals will only be possible through radical collaboration.”
Funding strategy for entrepreneurs
In her experience, a key challenge for impact startups is finding the right funding strategy. “Public funding is ideal for early stages, but to scale, private investment, such as corporate ventures or impact funds, is essential,” she explains. At Innobound, they help startups navigate this path by participating in European programs and bridging public and private support.
The key to growth and consolidation
When asked what differentiates projects that manage to consolidate, Thais is clear: “The key is people. A leader with a clear vision and a committed team makes all the difference. And having a strong support network can determine success or failure.”
The essential role of SMEs
For Thais Glod, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a critical role in the transition to a more sustainable economy. They represent 95% of all companies in Spain, meaning that without their involvement, the Green Deal goals will not be achievable.
However, she warns that one of the major challenges is to move away from siloed thinking and toward systemic collaboration.
Connect with the ecosystem and don’t give up: the key to impact entrepreneurship
For those who want to create real impact in sustainability, Thais offers a simple yet valuable piece of advice: get to know and connect with the ecosystem. “Research who’s who, what actors are doing what, take part in networks, and connect,” she says.
As ideas are shared, the environment begins to respond. And while the journey is not always easy, the key lies in persistence: having patience, trusting the process, and not giving up. Because good ideas, when aligned with a clear purpose and nourished through collaboration, always find their place.
