Sustainable Solutions through Entrepreneurship

Malwina Kowalska Epidemiology, University Animal Hospital Zurich

More and more people are moving to cities. However, urban spaces are increasingly unhealthy due to air and noise pollution, leading to chronic stress. At the same time, urban green spaces often suffer from a lack of biodiversity, which is essential for animal life. This is where Plantipolis comes in: the startup founded by Malwina Kowalska and her business partner Simona Zahner supports the cultivation of biodiverse green spaces in cities that benefit people, animals, and nature alike.

As a trained veterinary epidemiologist, Malwina has recognized the close connection between human health and the environment. She is also passionate about preventing the dramatic decline of urban animal populations. Her goal with the startup is to make cities more livable for both humans and animals. Increasing biodiversity in green spaces promotes cooling effects and improved air quality while also creating space for physical and social activities, reducing mental stress. At the same time, animals benefit from expanded habitats, and healthy soils contribute to essential carbon sequestration.

Plantipolis analyzes green space locations for clients and recommends site-specific plants and infrastructure that provide optimal food, shelter, and nesting places for animals. While the current clientele mainly consists of sustainability-focused companies, Plantipolis aims to raise awareness of urban biodiversity and expand its reach.

Thanks to the 10 000 Swiss francs Innovation Grant, Malwina has been able to implement the following measures:

• Collecting high-quality data on the distribution of animal species and Swiss flora.

• Consulting experts for ecological insights.

• Collaborating with specialists for geographic modeling.

• Acquiring initial customers.

Future plans include developing an app to help green space managers and urban planners find suitable solutions, refining the analysis model to further automate manual work, and strengthening communication strategies to engage both inexperienced audiences and clearly convey the offered services.

Visit the Website of Plantipolis