Sustainable Scotland: The start-up keeping green travellers plugged in
Start-up Electrek Explorer connects eco-conscious travellers with EV services and our outstanding natural resources, with a little help from the Geovation Scotland Accelerator Programme, writes Ilona Amos
Anew Scottish startup is aiming to help tackle the climate crisis through a special digital atlas, promoting low-carbon travel, eco-friendly accommodation and wildlife tourism.
Electrek Explorer has created an interactive navigation tool to help people explore Scotland’s nature reserves and scenic routes, while also providing information on electric vehicle (EV) charging points and hotels with provision for EVS.
The atlas is currently being developed into an app called Natnav, which will also reveal hidden sites, scenic drives and cycle routes.
Entrepreneur Elaine Ford set up the new firm with support from an accelerator programme run by Geovation Scotland – a joint initiative between Registers of Scotland, Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry.
Earlier this year, Edinburghbased Ford was named as Accelerateher’s Rising Star for 2021, which recognises female company founders with great early-stage business ideas.
Electrek Explorer’s web-mapping platform brings together Scottish nature reserves, guiding users who want to explore nature sites and find out which parts of Scotland’s land and sea are designated protected areas.
Users can also toggle information on EV charging points to help plan their “electrip”.
Electrek Explorer’s motto is: “Adventure that supports wildlife restoration is our passion.”
Its mission statement reads: “We share a vision of a world with restored, biodiverse landscapes, but which integrate human activity as a part of nature.
“In this vision, to reduce impact, people are using low-carbon vehicles and supporting a dynamic rural economy growing on the basis of restored natural capital.”
Electrek Explorer is one of three companies that have recently completed the year-long Geovation
Scotland scheme, which has now reopened for applications.
Kenny Crawford, business development director at Registers of Scotland, said: “Geovation Scotland supports some of our country’s brightest innovators in finding new ways for our data to be used to deliver economic and social benefits.
“This includes helping to tackle the climate emergency.
“We are delighted to see this latest cohort of entrepreneurs and hope that being part of Geovation Scotland has provided them with the support they need to continue to grow their businesses, and ultimately play their part in supporting the wider Scottish economy.”
You don’t even need to own an EV to make use of the nature atlas. Electrek Explorer also shares
To reduce impact, people are using low-carbon vehicles and supporting a dynamic rural economy growing on the basis of restored natural capital
EV and bike hire locations and, for those explorers who like to go off-grid, solar-power adventure solutions, including tips for eco van travel and camping. It aims “to connect carbon-conscious explorers with nature sites through road trips, trails and activities”.
Commenting on the support she has received from the scheme, Ford said: “Financial modelling, pitching, and policy have all been super-useful. As well as valuable UX and UI support throughout the accelerator.
“The support from the full team along the journey has been fantastic.”
Geovation Scotland, was launched in 2019, and supports Scottish-based location and property technology start-ups. It offers involved access to a wealth of data, mentoring and resources, as well as grant funding.
The programme also supports the Scottish economy, with yearone having seen the companies involved raising more than £400,000 of additional funding, £100,000 of investment and creating 15 full-time jobs.
The two other entrepreneurs who completed the programme in the past year are Zishan Ashraf, founder of Homey – a pre-sale property renovation company, and James Cooper, founder of Impactful - a guide to local food scenes with a focus on independent producers and sustainability.
This year, applications for new start-ups looking to join the Geovation Scotland Accelerator Programme close on 30 August.