The winners of the New Champions Awards 2024 are changing the world — here’s how

A complex intersection of challenges – climate change, geopolitical tensions and widening inequities – have pushed the world towards a defining moment over the past year. Yet, amidst these trials, innovators and leaders have emerged with bold solutions, proving that purposeful action can drive progress and inspire hope.

While global attention often gravitates towards major corporations or disruptive startups, mid-sized companies play a critical, yet underappreciated, role in shaping a sustainable and equitable future.

The New Champions community, comprising more than 90 high-growth mid-sized businesses from 45 countries, embodies this spirit of transformation. These dynamic organizations stand as pillars of resilience and adaptability, leveraging innovation to create meaningful societal and environmental impact.

The 2024 New Champions Awards celebrate the exceptional contributions of these companies, spotlighting their achievements in four key areas: Digital Innovation, Sustainability for Profits, Regenerative Business and Diversity as a Strategic Asset. Selected for their originality, impact and scalability, this year’s awardees exemplify the power of business as a force for good.

As we navigate an era of interconnected global risks, the New Champions Community remains at the forefront, equipping mid-sized enterprises to rise to the challenge and lead with purpose in an uncertain and turbulent decade ahead.

In India, where over 50% of urban commuters depend on buses, inefficiency and safety concerns severely impact public transport. Women are disproportionately affected, with 79% fearing harassment, as highlighted by a survey conducted by international non-governmental organization ActionAid.

Chalo Mobility is transforming this landscape with innovative technology that makes bus travel safer, smarter and efficient. Features like live tracking cut waiting times by 30%, panic buttons improve safety and cashless payments simplify commutes.

Chalo also supports bus operators with a complete back-end technology stack that optimizes fleet management and revenue. In Mumbai, the BEST Chalo App boosted bus ridership by 50% in a year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1 million metric tons – comparable to planting 34 million trees.

Across multiple markets, operators have seen a growth of 20-30% in revenue within 6-12 months of deployment.

Operating in 66-plus cities, Chalo demonstrates scalability and impact, digitizing fleets rapidly, like Mumbai’s 3,500 buses digitized in just 80 days. By enabling reliable, greener public transport, Chalo helps create better cities with enhanced public transport – both in India and abroad.

Environmental pollution and climate change demand urgent action, and Fujian Cyclone Technology Co., Ltd. is leading the way.

Cyclone Technology has always adhered to the path of green and sustainable development. It has recycled waste textiles and plastic bottles, putting them on the track of recycling and reuse, thus saving non-renewable petroleum resources, significantly reducing water and electricity consumption, and markedly decreasing carbon emissions, setting a benchmark for global sustainable development.

Utilizing independently developed recycling process technologies, Fujian Cyclone transforms waste materials into recycled fibres.

While promoting the green economy, it reduces the production costs of the enterprise through scientific and intelligent management.

It also adheres to technological innovation to enhance the utilization rate of renewable resources, as well as the production capacity and quality of recycled products, thus establishing a leading position in the industry and the market.

Beyond production, Fujian Cyclone actively advocates for the circular economy by participating in the recycling programmes of schools, governments and communities, and is committed to creating a greener and lower-carbon future for humanity and the Earth.

With pollinators essential for 75% of global food crops, AgroAmerica is tackling habitat loss and biodiversity decline through impactful initiatives.

Its strategy focuses on three pillars: establishing macro-sanctuaries with biological corridors to protect native bee habitats, environmental education workshops to promote bee conservation, and partnering to rescue and relocate bees.

AgroAmerica has invested more than $101,000 in this project and plans to invest $750,000 by 2030 to protect 30% of corporate forested areas as pollinator habitats, aligned with its PlanetA strategy to advance regenerative practices.

A key innovation is the Macro-Sanctuary BeeBox, a modular system developed with BeeHub. Unlike traditional hives, the BeeBox supports diverse native bee species – 30,000 honeybees, 2,500 stingless bees and 940 solitary bees – offering tailored nesting solutions integrated with local vegetation.

In Escuintla, Guatemala, the BeeBox tripled the bee population in one year, showcasing its potential to enhance biodiversity. AgroAmerica plans to expand macro-sanctuaries, promoting pollinator conservation and sustainability.

In its ongoing commitment to gender equality, Banco Montepio is proud of its Breaking the Glass Ceiling initiative, launched in 2022.

Despite women holding only 6% of CEO positions and 8.4% of board chairs globally, the bank is actively working to change this trend.

Today, women represent 58% of the company’s board and 67% of its C-suite, leading Banco Montepio to become a frontrunner in the Portuguese financial sector.

The initiative aligns with global standards, including the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and highlights the bank’s dedication to inclusion, diversity and sustainability.

Utilizing the UN Women’s Gender Gap Analysis Tool, Banco Montepio conducted Portugal’s first gender equality audit in banking, identifying opportunities for improvement.

The outcome? Best-ever financial performance and enhanced community investment. By empowering women in key leadership roles, they are fostering change and shaping a brighter future for all.

Septodont, a French family-owned business, has turned disability inclusion into a strategic HR priority, aiming to foster belonging and social equity, and for all to thrive.

In response to France’s legal requirement for companies to employ at least 6% disabled workers, Septodont implemented a three-part strategy focused on supporting current employees with special needs, advancing disability employment, and helping French mid-sized companies enhance their disability employment policies. By 2023, 7.43% of Septodont's workforce consisted of employees with disabilities.

The company’s innovative approach goes beyond compliance, proactively engaging with the French government and sharing its strategy with the Movement of Mid-Sized Companies. Septodont also created a guide with best practices, signed by the Secretary of State for Disability Workers.

Septodont’s actions demonstrate that disability inclusion not only supports societal progress but also leads to better business outcomes, fostering diverse teams and innovation. Their model has proven successful, benefiting both Septodont and the broader French business community.

This year’s winners are invited to join the New Champions Advisory Board for the 2024-2025 term, contributing to the strategic vision of our annual programme.

Focused on impact-driven peer exchanges, leadership gatherings and tailored engagement tracks, the New Champions network empowers businesses to scale their innovations and forge meaningful partnerships for the common good.

Discover how your organization can join this global community of purpose-driven leaders and help shape a better future. To learn about the application process and determine your eligibility, contact us newchampions@weforum.org

Together, let’s redefine what it means to lead with impact.