CEO Spotlight: Doconomy
Over the last year Doconomy has been busy growing and developing their mission to drive global climate action. As part of a new series from CommerzVentures, here is an insight from CEO & founder Mathias Wikström into what they have been up to and where they are going next…
Doconomy raised one of Climate FinTech’s largest ever series A in around a year ago, making tremendous progress since. Can you share with us some of those achievements?
Over the last twelve months, we have doubled our number of clients and offices; we now provide our services in twenty-five markets across the globe and we are proud to have a team of over one hundred change-makers distributed around the world and a reach of over seven hundred and fifty million users through our partners.
Beyond Doconomy’s own growth, we can look at the phenomenal development of the wider climate industry. Public awareness and understanding of the issues we are facing is encouraging breakthrough innovations at rapid rates that can build a more sustainable future for all. Doconomy’s growth twinned with industry interest has enabled us to plan for a more sustainable function in regard to materials and processes going forward and shape new relationships.
Have you seen the sensitivity of the public and financial institutions evolve over the last twelve months with regard to their own carbon emissions?
The biggest evolution of attitudes has been with financial institutions. Banks are increasingly understanding the role they can play in the transition to a net zero economy. This recognition is being combined with increasing regulatory guidance from governments.
Financial institutions still need to fully realise the power they have as enablers and directors of capital to where it is most needed for immediate and long term impacts. Solutions to the climate crisis need the fuel of investments and now banks are becoming the vehicles for positive change.
Looking at the year ahead, which challenges and opportunities are you paying the most attention to?
Our inability to understand the urgency of the climate situation continues to be a huge challenge. It seems that we all agree on the extent of our impact but yet there remains an inability to comprehend our time remaining to make an impact.
The opportunity for this to change is in climate literacy and partnerships. Climate literacy is at the core of everything, and all understanding. On top of this, we need to continue to use the existing ecosystem of trust to drive positive change as well as growing with new collaboration. When new partnerships are forged, new solutions will see the light of day. Unorthodox partnerships can mitigate a crisis that we all created together - working with the expected and unexpected partnerships.
Along with your co-founder along with Johan Pihl, as CEO of Doconomy, how do you maintain a special relationship with your investors?
Getting the right investors on board from the start is one of the most critical decisions that startups have to make. At Doconomy, Johan and I have always looked for positive change and longevity. Working with some of the best people we know in the industry, such as the team at Commerzventures, has contributed to our rapid development.
As they support and advise us in avoiding the traps in both rapid growth and the sector, it is essential that we have a special relationship with our investors. Beyond providing financial support, our investors contribute important experience-based operational skills and expertise. To us, our secret weapon is our eclectic mix of investors as they bring a wide range of resources to the table, and we are very pleased to have Commerzventures seated next to us.
Our investor relations are very close and active. When building the infrastructure for a resilient tomorrow it is not the challenges ahead of you that determine your success, but rather who you have by your side. The strong commitment of Paul Morgenthaler and Patrick Meisberger to our journey is a true testament to that statement.
