Bern – The jury of the Bern University of Applied Sciences has decided to send the project called Olis Kohle to the Talent Pitch at the Volkshaus in Zurich. A total of nine partner universities select their best start-up for this event. It will be held this year on December 7.
Bern University of Applied Sciences(BFH) is sending its start-up Olis Kohle to this year’s Talent Pitch. On December 7, the best project from each of the nine partner universities will present its business idea at the Volkshaus in Zurich. Olis Kohle is named after 23-year-old Oliver Reinhard, who is studying agriculture, forestry and food management at BFH. He produces and sells charcoal in Waltalingen ZH in an environmentally friendly and resource-saving way, using Swiss wood sourced from within a 20-kilometer radius.
A total of 99 percent of the charcoal consumed in Switzerland for barbecue purposes is imported goods from all over the world, often from illegal logging and tainted with exploitation, it says on its website. In addition, much of this charcoal is produced using outdated processes that are harmful to the environment and carcinogenic. Reinhard avoids all this: “At Oli’s charcoal, all charcoal is made at high temperatures and with high-quality wood.”
According to a statement from BFH, the jury praised the fact that the plant, which is already in operation, processes only wood from side streams that would otherwise be thrown away. She also liked the scalability of the business model: the fact that it could also be used in agriculture, industry and other sectors helped the jury choose Oli’s coal from among the three nominees.
Oli’s coal has already been funded by the BFH Sustains program. Currently, the start-up is serving the BFH Department of Economics as a demonstration object in teaching. Oliver Reinhard is now receiving pitch training and, according to BFH, will thus be prepared for his stint on the big stage of the Talent Pitch. ce/mm
