Can you introduce yourself briefly?
 

Louis Collinet, 35 years old, father of two children. I have three passions in life: family/friends, sports, and Tapio. A lover of nature, I strive to align my values with how I invest my time. I believe this is what can make people happy.


What was your educational journey at Solvay Brussels School?

I have a Master in Business Engineering and an Executive Master in Fiscal Management at Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. My thesis was with Olivier Witmeur, who is now an investor and chairman of our board. It was a solid program where I learned how to learn.


What aspects of your training at Solvay have been the most helpful in your professional career?

Understanding that anything is possible. When you think you'll never succeed, you can actually achieve it with time and determination. Also, daring to dream big. I believe there should be more practical experience in the curriculum to confront the real world earlier.


What was your path after completing your studies?

I went to Colombia to promote our national product, chocolate. I launched a chocolate brand for the Colombian market called Joséphine. I stayed there for three years. Then, I returned to Belgium and worked for three years at Deliveroo. I wanted to gain experience in a company with deeper pockets and learn. After that, I left to launch Tapio five years ago.


Can you tell us the story behind the creation of Tapio?

I was frustrated to see that the biggest existing problem (climate change) was not being addressed. I learned that a good project starts with a good problem—one that you feel deeply about and that can motivate you for years. For me, it was obvious. I was surprised that no one was tackling it. Today, things have changed, and many people are addressing it, but five years ago, few startups were interested.


What inspired you to found Tapio, and what problem were you trying to solve with this company?

Initially, I wanted to redirect money to what was truly important: climate transition. That was the starting point. Then we evolved and pivoted a lot, and Tapio was born.


Can you briefly explain Tapio's mission and how your solution stands out in the market?

Our mission is to accelerate the climate transition of every organization by providing the tools they need to measure and reduce their CO2 emissions. Our solution is unique because it creates an ecosystem of players collaborating to speed up the climate transition. We aim to break down the barriers to collaboration, as we need an ecosystemic response to an ecosystemic problem. A great example of this was the Tapio Day we organized on November 19 at the Solvay Brussels School, bringing together key players in sustainability.


How do you think Tapio contributes to a more sustainable future and better management of environmental resources?

If we succeed, grow, and gain new customers, the impact is positive for everyone. That’s the most important aspect for me. If a business privatizes benefits while socializing losses or negative externalities, it’s a bad business model. The more they grow, the worse it is for everyone (except them). We’re aiming for the opposite: mutualizing both positive and negative externalities to provide a positive impact for everyone, including ourselves.


What are Tapio's main goals for the coming years, and how do you plan to achieve them?

We want to become the number one tool organizations use to reduce their CO2 emissions. We aim to be the category leader in a new software category and to have a significant impact.


In your opinion, how can Solvay students better prepare to face the challenges of today's professional world, especially in rapidly evolving fields like technology and sustainability?
Take action. Stop thinking about doing something and actually do it. Learn to test and iterate. Focus on small iteractions and fail fast rather than overthinking success.

 
Updated on November 28, 2024