In 2012, Hristo Aleksiev and Ilian Milinov conceived the idea for Playground Energy while sitting in a pub in Sofia. They aimed to harness the energy generated by children playing in outdoor playgrounds for a viable business. Their concept integrated fun, health, and education into the playground experience by converting kinetic energy from play into power for various elements like lights, sounds, Wi-Fi hotspots, and mobile device charging. With support from Eleven, an early-stage tech venture fund, and participation in the Springboard Hardware Accelerator in Cambridge, they refined their prototype and secured initial customers. However, scaling up and executing their vision in a dynamic global market, especially within the public sector, posed significant challenges. The case of Playground Energy illustrates the hurdles faced by innovation-driven, globally oriented startups. It highlights the need to align limited resources with vast business opportunities in a constantly evolving market, emphasizing the importance of strategic focus.
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Bryant, Martin (2012). Springboard partners with ARM, Unilever, Neul and Raspberry Pi to launch Internet of Things accelerator. https://thenextweb.com/news/springboard-partners-with-arm-unilever-neul-and-raspberry-pi-to-launch-internet-of-things-accelerator
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Tranæs, Torben, and Bent Jensen (2013). Children spend five times as long in front of TV and computer screens as they do exercising. Newsletter, Rockwool Foundation Research Unit, June. www.rff.dk/files/RFF-site/Publikations%20upload/Newsletters/Engelsk/Newsletter%20June%202013%20(2).pdf
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United Nations Development Programme (2012). Green economy in action: Articles and excerpts that illustrate green economy and sustainable development efforts. November 10. www.undp.org/content/dam/aplaws/publication/en/publications/environment-energy/www-ee-library/mainstreaming/Green%20Economy%20in%20Action/Green%20Economy%20Compilation%20Report.pdf
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