About Ecovante
Building the future of local communities, together.
We’re a social enterprise connecting the communities leading sustainable development with passionate contributors from around the world.
Our mission
Empower grassroots sustainable development of local communities by connecting them with passionate contributors from around the world.
For grassroots communities & organisations
Build sustainable, thriving economic opportunities and the systems that sustain them to enable long-term impact.
For passionate global citizens
Offer tangible, authentic experiences in partnership with local communities to work on impactful initiatives and learn about cultures.
Our vision
Advancing global progress on climate and biodiversity goals by building a community that creates a sustainable future together.
Climate and biodiversity goals are set globally but met locally. The communities closest to the land should lead that progress, with the partners, resources and recognition to do it.
Our values
Community at the center of everything
At Ecovante, we follow this same philosophy when building our social enterprise, seeking to first serve the members of our community and the ecosystem we build, generating social and economic returns that enable us to amplify our impact in the long term.
Reciprocity
NGOs and Trained Participants both engage in a process which certifies their ethics, interest, purpose, and shared passion for the project chosen.
Local Leadership
The people closest to the challenges are closest to the solutions. Communities define the goals; Trained Participants support them.
Meaningful Impact
Projects address real needs, track outcomes, and prioritise long-term benefits over short-term activity.
Ethical Integrity
We reject saviourism and practices which benefit trip goers at the expense of local communities.
Cultural Respect
Participants are guests. We prepare them to engage with humility, cultural awareness, and historical understanding.
Sustainability
Every project considers environmental and social sustainability.
Transparency
Our processes and certifications are open, clear, and accessible.
Trust
Built through consistent standards, rigorous evaluation, and deep respect for every partner involved.
Our company
Trust & transparency isn’t just something we ask of our partners
It’s how we’re building Ecovante itself. We’re currently a pre-incorporation social enterprise, evaluating Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) status, legally committing us to mission and profit alike.
- Social enterprise
- Pre-incorporation
- Evaluating PBC status
Incubated at the Harvard Innovation Labs
We’re incubated at the Harvard Innovation Labs, one of America’s best incubators, based at Harvard University, developing our certification standard and validating the model with real partners.
Spark grant recipient
Team management structure
A small, flat team where each person owns an area end to end, and decisions are made in the open with the people they affect.
Leadership is Service
Our cofounders are inspired by real experiences on the ground, and their primary role is to clear the way for the team and our partners, not to direct from above.
Startup culture
We move quickly, test ideas with real partners early, and change course when the evidence says so, without losing sight of who we serve.