Ever since we got the call from Johan L. Eliasson at the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Austria a few weeks ago, that we would be awarded Swedish startup of the year in Austria, we've been bursting with pride.

After reading the jury's motivation and accepting the award yesterday evening, at the Swedish ambassador's residence in Vienna, even more so. We're proud and thankful that the jury, comprising of representatives from the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Austria, Business Sweden and the Swedish Embassy, trust in our business model, market approach and in us as people.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has been involved in the selection process and for actually creating an own award category for us (!!!).

During the past four years only two awards has been given each year: Business of the year and Manager of the year. This year a third award was instated because the jury felt they wanted to recognise our work. This year's Business of the year is IKEA in Austria, manager of the year is Lars Hagström, STS Alpresor.

Here is the jury's motivation for the Most promising Startup Concept of the year 2012:

Usually the Swedish Business Awards ( Wirtschaftsspreis der Schwedische Handelskammer in Österreich) are awarded to companies with a measurable track record, in terms od profitability, expansion, market share and so on, but in the case  of The Good Tribe, the jury did not find these criteria applicable, since the company is so new.

The jury felt that the entire business concept of The Good Tribe captures the spirit of combining Swedish and Austrian business potential in a commendable concept from a new generation of environmentally aware entrepreneurs from Austria and Sweden. Its convincing display of thought-through business vision, and the bi-nationally well organized and credible market approach, helped the jury decide on awarding The Good Tribe the award of Most Promising Startup Concept of the Year.

Present yesterday evening were Gayathri Rathinavelu, Evelina Lundqvist, Alexandra Poetz and Michael Bauer-Leeb. Our dearest colleague Sandra Kinnaman Nordström was lecturing in Sweden and couldn't attend. Also on the photo above: Carsten Grönblad of Business Sweden, Swedish ambassador Nils Daag and Johan L. Eliasson of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Austria - and Pinky Ele of course!

Thank you all for a wonderful evening yesterday. We bet you recognise our pride on our beaming smiles.

Photo credit: Michele Pauty, APA. More photos here. Press release from The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Austria.