Commu App won an international ESG award - "Tinder for Good" makes asking for help and giving help easy

Global ESG Awards annually recognize organizations and individuals who promote innovations related to the environment, society, and good governance (ESG). The event brings together international business leaders, experts, and pioneers of sustainable development from around the world.

In the CommuniCare Impact Award category, solutions that bring tangible benefits to communities and end-users are recognized. Commu App was awarded in this category. This award was presented for the first time in the competition's history to Finland.

The award given to Commu is a significant international recognition of Finnish work to strengthen community through technology.

"It is wonderful to receive international recognition for the work we do to strengthen community. This award shows that building communities and making it easy for people to help each other are things that also matter globally," appreciates Commu's founder Karoliina Kauhanen.

Through Commu, one can ask for help with everyday small tasks or offer help in their local area. The most common forms of help include grocery shopping, lending items, moving assistance, pet walking, as well as companionship and support for the lonely.

"When help is found nearby with just a few clicks, a positive cycle quickly begins. One act of helping can lead to several new encounters and increase trust between people," Kauhanen summarizes.

Community is a shared responsibility - Commu brings neighborhood help to everyone's pocket

According to the competition jury, Commu makes helping visible and accessible. When people see others helping, it lowers the threshold to participate themselves. At the same time, communities are formed where people know each other better and feel a sense of belonging.

"I recently talked with a health center doctor who said that now a third of his consultations are related to loneliness. The situation is unsustainable. A doctor can't become a friend, and there is no pill for loneliness. Studies have also shown that loneliness is as deadly as smoking or obesity," Kauhanen emphasizes.

"Community is a shared responsibility. When people are given the opportunity to help each other and work together, stronger communities and safer everyday networks are created. Commu is built precisely for this purpose, to make helping easy and visible."

Commu App is free for individuals to download and use. Commu offers smart cities a digital platform to strengthen local community spirit, support mutual help between residents, and bring together residents, organizations, and local actors. The platform helps cities activate residents not only with neighborhood help but also through surveys, panels, and news, increasing participation and building stronger local communities at the everyday level. At the same time, it offers municipalities and cities a new way to collect grassroots well-being data and reduce social problems cost-effectively.

"When offering and requesting help is easily done in one place, community doesn't just remain a goal but transforms into concrete actions in people's daily lives," Kauhanen explains.

Global ESG Awards gala was held in Cannes in conjunction with the international real estate and responsibility event MIPIM. The event honored several companies and experts who have developed solutions for, among other things, combating climate change, resource efficiency, and responsible leadership.