An Umeå-based startup company is among the finalists in the Venture Cup Idea Hunt Region Nord, a national entrepreneurial competition that discovers and rewards innovative business ideas.

Proto Proto is an ethical design brand, founded in 2016 by Jeff and Anna Parry. The founders, who met while studying design in Australia, believe there is a huge gap in the market for a design-driven fair trade brand.

- The problem with fair trade today is that it caters to an incredibly narrow consumer group. Larger and more design-focused brands are starting to engage in ethical design, but mass production and unfair conditions for many of the suppliers leave a lot to be desired, says Jeff Parry, the company's founder and designer. He continues, "That's why we've decided to focus on 'artisans', skilled craftsmen in developing countries who want to take their products to a new and larger market."

Proto Proto connects artisans with famous designers and influencers to design and produce limited editions of products and accessories.

- Being nominated for the Venture Cup Idea Hunt shows that there are more people than us who are looking for products with a deeper meaning and more sustainable focus! says Anna, who wrote her Master's thesis on the topic.

Proto Proto will present its idea during the regional final in Luleå on 22 May.

The winner will take home 50,000sek and will have the chance to compete in the Swedish final in Stockholm on 12 September.

Proto Proto also works as a design agency and offers creative workshops in idea generation and design thinking to both startups and established companies in the region.

Contact:

Jeff Parry, Founder and CEO
jeff@protoproto.studio
070-678 09 03

Luke Insoll, Press and Communications
luke.insoll@gmail.com
073-051 70 06