Our Story

How far have these pineapples traveled to get here? What do the kitchen staff do with the leftovers from the buffet that is still half full at 11 a.m.? Is there microplastic in the shampoos, and why is the jam packed in tiny plastic packets?

For quite some time, I, Lilith, co-founder of ChargeHorizons, had been pondering these and many more questions until I found the courage to voice them aloud. As I continued to observe the world around me, I could no longer remain idle. My passions for travel and sustainability led me to speak with hotel and flat owners, and before I knew it, I had embarked on a journey that continues to this day and will hopefully last long into the future. But to truly understand how it all began, we have to start at the very beginning…

Going deeper into sustainable tourism, it was not easy to figure out which problems to tackle first. From all the research, I derived a basic pattern:

When interviewing travelers, I was told again and again that it was too complicated to travel “green” and that they did not understand what each certificate meant. They were left without orientation, unable to distinguish greenwashing from honest environmental engagement. Hoteliers and flat owners, meanwhile, saw travelers’ growing awareness of sustainability management but often did not know what to improve first or how to communicate their efforts transparently.

I also interviewed many travelers, talked to artists who were similar to me and traveled a lot, and took contact with hotel owners. When interviewing travelers, I was told again and again that it was too complicated to travel “green” and that they did not understand what each certificate meant. They were left without orientation, unable to distinguish greenwashing from honest environmental engagement. Hoteliers and flat owners, meanwhile, saw travelers’ growing awareness of sustainability management but often did not know what to improve first or how to communicate their efforts transparently.

In spring 2020, I got in touch with many certifiers recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and decided to work with those who carry out thorough, reliable analyses of accommodations. Aware that small hotel and hostel owners may not be able to invest in full certification, I designed our ChargeHolidays Dreamcatcher, giving travelers transparency and helping accommodations take concrete, positive steps.

This phase already had its ups and downs. What helped me overcome doubt were countless inspiring encounters — for example Luis from What3Words, a partnership from the start because we both saw how well travel and modern, sustainable navigation fit together. Or Tutaka, a marketplace that complements ChargeHolidays with sustainable hotel products. It has always motivated me to see what collaboration can achieve.

As winner of the chemistry special prize in 2017 at “Jugend gründet”, I had already gathered insights into founding a company. From day one, integrating sustainable management into the DNA of my business mattered. I sought exposure to as many models as possible: I met DarkHorse, a company built by 30 co-founders, researched social enterprise forms abroad, and finally connected with the Purpose Foundation — a relationship that shaped the steps ahead.

I was thrilled to be accepted at HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management for batch 2 at Digital Space and yooweedoo. In both accelerators I met inspiring founders and could work deeply on my own project. Often it felt like a step backwards: rethinking ideas, re-entering research, forming hypotheses, and often killing my darlings. But that was the only way something new could emerge.

For far too long the project was theory with great features and polished screens — everything stayed a mock-up. Until I finally asked Jeroen, my training partner in Rock’n’Roll acrobatics and cheerleading, whether he would help not only catch me in stunts but also breathe life into the project. He studied computer science; I offered a bit of app programming experience. That “bit” became full-time work and a passion project — for both of us.

Founding a company sometimes feels like raising a child: so much to shape, and you always want the perfect decision (spoiler: there often isn’t one). Choosing a name was huge — post-its, messages back and forth, neologisms — until we decided.

Choosing the legal form was similar. We agreed quickly on values; when I explained social entrepreneurship and steward-ownership to Jeroen, he was on board. In September 2021 we signed with the Purpose Foundation, becoming a steward-owned company that reinvests for the common good.

In November 2021 we launched our first prototype — proud of what we had built yet hungry because so many ideas were still unbuilt. It felt wonderful to run first demos and show something people could try.

Since then we have incorporated a lot of feedback, added features for business travelers and performing artists, joined Village Capital’s Green Village Campus Accelerator, and run workshops at countless events. Beyond the heart of the company — our ChargeHolidays app — we are proud to grow education: awards and grants for Travelucation, gamifying sustainable travel in our Sustainable Travel Detective Club, and teaching children how to become sustainable changemakers.

We are still building; the idea backlog will never empty. Visit our blog for more and to stay up to date.

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Finishing this piece, I realize those experiences were not just a journey — they were a roller coaster exciting enough to buckle up for another round. This time, I invite you into the car with me.