KOLDING, Denmark, Aug. 15, 2012 — Natural disasters are increasingly affecting the world's poorest populations, leaving the victims homeless and dependent on basic aid. Despite several re-housing projects, 1.2 billion people are currently living in slums and this figure is expected to double by 2030. The formation of EverShelter, a newly established company, in cooperation with Innovation MidtVest and Bestnet A/S was announced today. EverShelter will introduce a new innovative re-housing solution to improve living conditions for millions of people and initiate new standards for humanitarian shelter construction.
A unique cooperation
34-year-old Jakob Christensen, who holds a Master's Degree in Architectural Engineering, is the front man of EverShelter and has, through the initial process, worked together with Innovation MidtVest. Innovation MidtVest has supported the development of EverShelter and has now become an official partner in the company. Innovation MidtVest is one out of six Danish innovation establishments that is partially funded by The Danish Agency for Science Technology and Innovation. Innovation MidtVest focuses on the development of skilled entrepreneurial companies with potential for growth.
"After having read about the innovative concept in various media in summer 2011, we contacted Jakob Christensen," says Investment Manager Peter Smedegaard from Innovation MidtVest. He adds, "We became curious about the business potential and followed up by developing a purposive business plan." Consequently, it was published in the newspaper Ingenioren on November 2011 that Jakob Christensen was looking for an experienced commercial partner. Bestnet A/S responded to the article and after 6 months of exchanging ideas, they have now entered an official partnership with Innovation MidtVest and EverShelter.
Since 2004, Bestnet has had continuous success with sales, production and distribution of innovative products for humanitarian purposes in developing countries worldwide. "In Bestnet, we have with our 2015 strategy formulated a vision to deliver products and services that either will save or improve the lives of people in distress all over the world. The cooperation with EverShelter is perfectly compatible with this vision," says Torben Holm Larsen, Production and Supply Chain Director for Bestnet.
Bestnet A/S has gained an established lead position on the humanitarian aid market as producer and supplier of Netprotect®, a WHOPES-recommended long-lasting insecticide-incorporated mosquito net that protects against malaria. Bestnet also supports health ministries and NGOs all over the world that strive to improve the lives of others. The cooperation between EverShelter, Bestnet A/S and Innovation MidtVest creates an alliance with a unique potential for the realization of EverShelter's effective humanitarian re-housing solution, while establishing a solid foundation for a successful joint future.
The shared goal
EverShelter and Bestnet A/S will implement an innovative concept that evolves from an idea developed in cooperation with retired architect Claus Heding and is architecturally inspired by a Bolivian re-housing project. "The concept will revolutionize a market of temporary tent-houses that often are cast away as garbage and replace them with long-term and thoroughly considered re-housing solutions that are usable during temporary crises as well as future permanent housing," says Jakob Christensen, CEO for EverShelter.
Within a few years, the involved parties expect to accommodate several thousands of homeless people all over the world with the new type of shelter. Moreover, from a long-term perspective, EverShelter has the potential to initiate future local turnkey projects that can contribute to local economic growth and improve living conditions in poor areas on an even larger scale.
About the partners
For more information about EverShelter, visit http://www.evershelter.com or contact Jakob Christensen at Email / +45 3132 3363
For more information about Bestnet A/S, visit http://www.bestneteurope.com or contact Managing Director Trine Angeline Sig at Email / +45 2826 2600
For more information about Innovation MidtVest, visit http://www.innovationmidtvest.dk or contact Investment Director Peter Smedegaard at Email / +45 2711 4321
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