Mentor Thais Glod: "Sustainable Development Must Be at the Core of All Innovation Efforts"

We’re back with our mentor interviews, and who better to kick things off than Thais Glod, our University of Helsinki mentor, who has just returned from her third pilgrimage to Santiago in northern Spain. Glod’s journey is as inspiring as it is unique, blending a passion for nature with a commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Originally from Guayana City in Venezuela, Glod is the eldest of four sisters. Now a world citizen living in Valencia, Spain—a city celebrated for its vibrant innovation scene—Glod’s story is one of constant growth and evolution.

“I’ve always loved nature,” Glod begins, her enthusiasm palpable. For the past two cohorts, she has been a key mentor in our incubator programmes, where she’s helped teams working with solutions focused on making our world greener. “I love working on various projects, all related to sustainability and the green transition, which has been my passion for a long time.”

Glod’s journey started in metallurgical engineering, a logical choice given her hometown’s industrial backdrop. “At 16, I had to choose my university path,” she recalls with a smile. “Initially, I wasn’t sure about it, but I grew to love it. During university, I joined a research centre and discovered my talent as a researcher. I enjoyed preparing experiments, finding resources, and sharing my findings.”

Upon graduation, Glod joined a major metallurgical corporation’s research centre as an applied researcher focused on environmental sustainability and cleaner production. “My role was to find and test state-of-the-art technologies and best practices to make productive processes environmentally friendly. I was privileged to have access to this big lab at an industrial scale to test top clean technologies.”

The pivotal moment came when her boss and mentor encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree in environmental science. “The programme was mind-blowing and sparked my passion for environmental care, especially given the high impact of metallurgical processes on the environment. It made me realise the importance of balancing comfort with environmental friendliness.”

That’s when her focus shifted to environmental sustainability, aiming for greener processes. “I worked on reducing the company’s footprint emissions, byproduct valorisation, and ideating better waste management. It was challenging but rewarding because I could see the direct impact of our actions on the environment.”

Today, the Biosphere mentor is a powerhouse of innovation and sustainability, striving to use innovation to better our world. In 2020, she founded INNOBOUND, an open innovation agency that matches technology and best practices from startups and spinouts to tackle green transition challenges, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. “We focus on creating sustainable business models that can thrive in these regions, putting innovation at the service of rural areas,” she explains.

Her recent partnership with EIT Climate-KIC on the Rural ClimAccelerator programme aims to bring innovation to rural areas in the Iberian Peninsula. “The response has been amazing. People are very supportive and sensitive to this topic. We have seen significant improvements in local economies and community well-being.”

Glod’s mentoring journey began long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but during that time, she played a crucial role as a mentor in the EUvsVirus programme, gathering close to 2,000 entrepreneurs in a massive hackathon and matchathon tackling pandemic-related challenges. Helping female entrepreneurs succeed has always been a priority for her, like working with women innovators in the UNDP and 4YFN programmes in the MENA region and the EIC Women Leadership Programme. So when she heard about Biosphere, our entrepreneurship programme focused on sustainability and green tech, she knew she had to be involved. “I loved the name and theme of Biosphere. Mentoring is incredibly rewarding because it allows me to stay at the cutting edge of innovation and learn from the amazing projects I mentor.”

When asked about success in an incubator, Glod is quick to respond. “Success means having a validated business model, understanding your clients, and having a clear path forward. It’s about moving from a rough idea to a minimum viable product and communicating effectively. Seeing a startup pivot from a less viable idea to a more sustainable and market-ready product is a clear sign of progress. It’s not just about financial success but also about creating value and making a positive impact.”

Glod’s favourite part of Biosphere is the community. “The sense of community among the mentors and teams is unique. We support each other, share experiences, and celebrate each other’s successes. It’s a very active and beautiful community, which is inspiring and motivating.” She emphasises the importance of building close, supportive relationships with mentees, guiding them through their frustrations and hopes with kindness and professionalism.

Mentoring, for Glod, is a two-way street. “I learn a lot from my mentees. They are experts in their markets and technologies, and it’s fascinating to see the innovative solutions they come up with.” This process of mentoring gives her hope for the future, especially with Europe’s goals of becoming the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050 and reducing emissions by half by 2030. “I believe innovation is key to conquering this challenge, but it must be accompanied by a collaborative mindset. Overcoming the traditional silo mindset and focusing on radical collaboration is crucial. By fostering a culture of collaboration and open innovation, we can tackle the most pressing global challenges, such as climate change and resource scarcity. Sustainable development must be at the core of all innovation efforts, ensuring that we create solutions that benefit both people and the planet.”

Glod stresses the importance of sharing ideas with others. “Receiving feedback from diverse perspectives helps refine and strengthen initiatives. Thanks to my research background and entrepreneurial mindset, my specialty in mentoring lies in working with researchers and technical experts. Helping them understand the business world and speaking the language of business is a challenge I enjoy.” She believes that research and the business world align in many ways, as both involve forming hypotheses, testing, and drawing conclusions. “The rhythm may differ, but the principles are the same. For researchers, the key is to start making their ideas tangible, perhaps by drafting a business model or plan. Researchers often fear entrepreneurship, but the best approach is to pair them with business-minded individuals.”

Glod’s vision of entrepreneurship is clear: “Entrepreneurship is a skill, a mindset. It’s about being able to adapt, innovate, and create. It’s about seeing opportunities, taking risks, and finding innovative solutions. It requires resilience and a willingness to learn from failures. Successful entrepreneurs pivot and adapt their strategies based on feedback and changing market conditions. It’s a continuous journey of growth and learning.”

As Glod continues her journey with us, she expresses pride in her teams, who are committed and quick to implement feedback. “Mentoring is rewarding because your mentees’ success feels like your own. It’s about sharing knowledge and seeing them grow.”