Beyond Profit: Redefining Business for a Regenerative Future

Date: Thursday, February 26th, 2026, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CEST 

With her Klaus Töpfer Sustainability Fellowship at RIFS, Adina Deacu is exploring a redefinition of business as “an entity that solves social issues and creates social value in a financially sustainable way.” This framework challenges traditional profit-driven models and aligns with regenerative principles that prioritize ecological balance, community resilience, and human well-being.

To further this research and enrich her upcoming book, the online conference “Beyond Profit: Redefining Business for a Regenerative Future” will:

1. Showcase real-world examples of regenerative business models.
2. Highlight diverse social issues across different geographies.
3. Foster connections among mission-driven entrepreneurs.
4. Generate additional case studies for the upcoming book.

Conference scope

1. Feature 10-minute presentations from 12 entrepreneurs from different geographical areas operating regenerative businesses.
2. Include a panel discussion on measuring social impact and pivoting strategies once the issue a company was set out to resolve through its business model is resolved.
3. Emphasize regional diversity to illustrate how social challenges vary globally.
4. Challenge the traditional obsession with scaling by highlighting context-specific, sustainable solutions.

Programme

Opening Remarks (10 min) – Introduction to the Beyond Profit framework.
Speaker Presentations (120 min total) – 12 speakers, 10 min each.
Panel Discussion (40 min) – Metrics for social impact & pivoting strategies.
Q&A with Audience (30 mins) – The audience is encouraged to ask questions to the speakers