A future in balance
We are Frederik Denning and Vladimirs Mihnovics, the founders of Sustainly. We founded Sustainly in 2023, because we wanted to build a meaningful software product.
We started by supporting life-cycle assessment specialists, but the scope grew over time, until today, where Sustainly supports a wide range of functions, with our product intelligence approach. We didn't do it alone, and to this day, people from more than 10 different nationalities have helped shape Sustainly into what it is today.
A word with the CEO
Frederik Denning on why Sustainly exists, what drives the team, and where we’re going.
Frederik Denning
CEO & Co-founder
What moment or frustration made you decide to start Sustainly?
I kept seeing critical business insights from compliance teams, especially sustainability, collect dust instead of becoming part of the data landscape that drives decisions.
What was the first “yes” that convinced you this should exist?
Early customers saved time and money while gaining ownership of their data. Even when we were just an LCA platform, SMEs saw significant savings and better outcomes than before.
What do you wish the industry did differently that Sustainly is trying to fix?
I wish decision-making felt more holistic. Sustainability matters deeply, but so does a wide net of non-financial data—chemical substances, circularity, and beyond. Traditionally it’s been too cumbersome and expensive, so it ends up being treated as compliance instead of a core business input.
What’s one customer moment that made you feel “we’re on the right path”?
We onboarded a long-time expert from a market leader and he instantly got it. The transparency, scalability, and ease-of-use pain points he had lived with were exactly what Sustainly addressed.
What traits do you look for in the people you invite to build Sustainly?
Hunger first and foremost. We love proactive people with a builder’s mindset. In the age of AI, many people can do a lot—few choose the right things to do.
What do you refuse to compromise on, even when it’s hard?
Work-life balance. I haven’t missed a single meal with my kids while building Sustainly. We push hard when we need to, but family comes first—for founders and employees alike.
What’s one thing about building Sustainly that surprised you?
How many times it has changed shape along the way.
What do you hope customers feel after working with you?
Relief and empowerment. We often replace uncertainty, double work, and siloed functions with clarity and momentum.
In 3–5 years, what would make you feel most proud of Sustainly?
That we kept our values intact while building an amazing growth company.
What should never change about Sustainly as it grows?
Our four core values: build something great, stay curious and hungry, level the playing field, and be a kick-ass place to work... without the startup bullshit.
What we stand for
We are building a product intelligence platform that is trusted, beautiful, and deeply useful. These principles guide how we build and how we work together.
Quality and beauty
We build software that is reliable, thoughtful, and a joy to use. Beauty reduces friction and helps people return to the product with confidence.
Stay curious
We keep learning, seek different perspectives, and make decisions based on feedback and data.
Level the playing field
Everyone should feel safe and supported, with equal opportunities to grow and contribute.
We’re a team, not a family
We celebrate wins together, but we respect boundaries and balance outside of work.
