FlickTalks: ESG Reporting Renaissance
Guest: Stefan Grbovic | Date: December 18th, 2024
Welcome to FlickTalks, the spin-off from The FinanceFlick that brings you front-row seats to the world of sustainability’s biggest players. This week, we’re talking to Stefan Grbovic, a multilingual Italian-Serbian trailblazer who’s turning ESG headaches into streamlined solutions. With a background in physics and a knack for strategy, Stefan’s the guy who bridges big ideas and bigger impact. As CEO of TreeBlock and co-founder of EAGE, he’s not just playing the game – he’s rewriting the rules.
From Physics to ESG Mastery
Stefan’s leap from physics to ESG was no accident. He saw the writing on the wall: sustainability is more than just a buzzword; it’s a multi-layered field where science meets strategy. Using his technical chops, he’s tackling everything from energy to social responsibility, creating a playbook for meaningful change.
Breaking Barriers with TreeBlock
Founded in 2021, TreeBlock is the lifeboat for European businesses drowning in ESG regulation. Stefan’s team has cracked the code on the EU’s new directives –CSRD and CSDDD– developing software that simplifies compliance and keeps companies ahead of the curve.
Here’s the kicker: raising pre-seed capital in Europe is no walk in the park. Stefan calls it:
“Chewing broken glass,” and he’s not wrong.
But despite the grind, TreeBlock pulled in some solid chips – funding that besides keeping the lights on, it’s pushing them steadily toward the Seed stage.
ESG Trends and Challenges
Stefan’s seen the ESG landscape evolve, and he’s got his eye on two key trends:
↳ 2025–2026: ESG Standardization: The EU’s push for audited ESG ratings is a seismic shift that’ll bring much-needed clarity to the market. This move will set the foundation for consistency across industries, eliminating the ambiguity that’s plagued the space.
↳ 2026–2027: Renewable Energy Communities (in EU): Still niche but on the rise, these communities could reshape how local energy markets operate. The model promises localized, sustainable energy solutions that empower smaller players to join the transition.
Innovation at the Intersection
Through EAGE, Stefan’s connecting the dots between sustainability and tech. Right now, the association focuses on Italian startups, with offices in Milan and the South of Italy. It’s a hub for turning isolated ideas into collaborative breakthroughs. Looking ahead, EAGE has plans to expand into the UK and possibly the US, opening up a global stage for its mission.
Resources for the Playbook
For anyone serious about sustainability, Stefan’s go-to reads are:
↳ Speed and Scale by John Doerr: A no-nonsense roadmap for tackling the climate crisis.
↳ The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov: A sci-fi twist that challenges how we think about tech and humanity.
Wrapping Up
Stefan is actively shaping the ESG landscape – steering it with calculated precision. From locking down pre-seed capital to cutting through Europe’s regulatory red tape, his moves are a playbook in strategic execution. He’s proving that sharp vision, paired with tactical know-how, drives both transformation and profitability. If ESG is the future, Stefan is already there, leading the charge.
That’s it for this edition of FlickTalks. Next time, we’re diving into more stories about the visionaries reshaping sustainability. Got someone we should spotlight? Let us know – we’re always hunting for the next big thing.
Until next time,
FlickTalks
