From prototype to practice: How Leafy.earth is thriving after winning the At-Launch category at the 2024 entrepreneurship awards
Back in November 2024, Leafy.earth won the at-launch category of the Entrepreneurship Awards. Nearly a year later, we caught up with one of the co-founder Boyan to hear how things have unfolded since that defining moment.
Last year, Leafy was still something Boyan and Naud worked on in their spare time. With a background both at working in construction. The two of them spent weekends doing customer research and asking questions. The win at the entrepreneurship awards of the BK-Launch start up voucher, combined with other grants later this year, provided the financial breathing room and momentum to finally make Leafy their full-time focus in early 2025.
Leafy creates green facade panels that go beyond aesthetics. They integrate vegetation, birdhouses, and habitats for local wildlife. The panels are made of bamboo composite and filled with custom substrate mixes, designed for not only biodiversity but also functionality in the way it can cool the building. Leafy is now currently working with several partner companies and municipalities to bring a market-ready product to life and to place them on a larger scale.
Three major test projects will start in two to three months time across the Netherlands. In Delft, at The Green Village, in Rotterdam on a roof and in Amsterdam at the Marineterrein project.
At Boyan’s own home, test panels are being developed and trialed, often using his 3D printer to prototype parts, test substrate mixes, and refine installation methods. “I like to build step-by-step,” he says. “That way I can test and improve as I go.” Alongside this hands-on development, Leafy is building and its production and supply chain, collaborating with suppliers to prepare for larger-scale deployment. The first paid pilot in Rotterdam is scheduled for later this year.
Interest in green facades is on the rise, especially among municipalities and developers of logistics hubs and data centers. The latter are under pressure to reduce environmental impact and improve thermal management. Leafy’s panels could significantly reduce cooling needs in urban areas during hot summer months. They’re also working with students from Wageningen to develop a flora & fauna scan tool, which recommends ideal plant combinations based on local biodiversity and rainfall.
Looking back, Boyan sees the Entrepreneurship Awards as a true catalyst. “It wasn’t just the €10,000, it was the confidence it gave us to go all-in. It helped us buy materials, software, even a laptop. Things that sound simple but were absolutely essential at that stage.” Beyond the funding, the awards also connected them to a wider network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and potential collaborators, including Lignitec, the other 2024 winner, with whom they’re now exploring a joint pilot.
Mark your calendars because the next edition of the Entrepreneurship Awards will take place on November 20, 2025. We will keep you updated on when the registration for the netrepeneurship awards will open so keep an eye on our website and socials. Leafy is living proof that early support can make all the difference and we can't wait to discover who’s next!
Category: Entrepreneurship Awards