2025 Global Innovation Challenge Winners
EnKoat
“EnKoat is more than just a coatings company, we’re an advanced materials company focused on reducing carbon emissions through sustainable material innovation within the built environment. Our advanced thermal and weather barrier system extends roof life by 10–20 years and reduces building energy usage by up to 30%.”
— Matthew Aguayo, CEO and Co-Founder, EnKoat
Ecorich Solutions Limited
“Ecorich Solutions is producing organic fertilizer that is 70% cheaper than conventional alternatives for smallholder farmers. Our AI-powered, solar-driven WasteBot turns household waste into high-yielding fertilizer in just 24 hours—all while capturing and sequestering carbon emissions.”
— Joyce Rugano, CEO and Founder, Ecorich Solutions Limited
Ultropia
“Ultropia’s ultrasonic drying technology enables the electrification of laundry systems while reducing energy use by up to 80%. By eliminating the need for gas lines and operating with a lower electrical load, our solution aims to significantly reduce installation and operating costs and has the potential to make efficient, sustainable laundry more accessible to under-resourced communities.”
— Amy Swanson, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultropia Corporation
About the Venture For ClimateTech (V4C) Global Innovation Challenge
Want to join a community committed to building climate solutions for people and the planet? Take the first step by participating in the 2025 Global Innovation Challenge. Our mission is two-fold: To find and spotlight the most impactful and equitable climate tech solutions from around the world that will reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and to help teams jumpstart their development trajectory.
Reducing GHG emissions, such as carbon dioxide and methane, is critical to tackling climate change and creating cleaner, healthier communities. Emissions have continued to rise globally across sectors like industry, transportation, energy, and waste. Startups and entrepreneurs can play a key role in creating innovative solutions to address this. To this end, Venture For ClimateTech (V4C) is excited to launch the 2025 V4C Global Innovation Challenge, a broad call for early-stage climate tech applications. Up to three challenge winners will be selected.
Examples of possible solutions include, but are not limited, to:
- Grid/Energy (renewables, efficiency, smart grid integration, thermal energy storage, grid resilience and modernization)
- Transportation (EV charging, public transit, traffic efficiencies, micro-mobility)
- Buildings and Built Environment (construction materials, electric furnaces, HVAC)
- Decarbonizing Industry (carbon capture and sequestration, hydrogen, waste heat capture and reuse, thermal energy storage)
Climate tech innovations and companies created by women and by those who are part of the communities most affected by climate change are strongly encouraged to apply.
V4C is a program of For ClimateTech (FCT), which is administered by NextCorps and SecondMuse and supported by NYSERDA. V4C is focused on advancing the climate tech landscape by helping founders bring more sustainable solutions and products to market that can benefit everyone.
Do you have an early-stage climate tech solution that will reduce GHG emissions? Are you looking for recognition and introductory access to the V4C and NYSERDA communities? Apply to the Global Innovation Challenge by March 31, 2025.
The Prizes
We aim to provide strong and inclusive incentives that can benefit all applicants while ensuring that our finalists and challenge winners are well-supported in their entrepreneurial journey. See our full rules and terms here:
Eligibility
We work with innovators who are at the early stages of setting up their businesses and developing their climate tech solutions and products. To be eligible to win this year’s challenge, applicants must:
- Have raised less than $1M in private money to support their solution, product or business. Grant and non-dilutive funding does not count towards this limit.
- Have a solution that is at least at a proof-of-concept stage (sufficient evidence and validation to indicate that it has the ability to generate meaningful impact)
- Have a solution or product that has a clear, articulable impact in reducing or avoiding greenhouse gas emissions.
- Have a solution or product whose application is not limited to coastal environments.
- Have a solution or product that is tech-enabled (hardware and/or software) and addresses a clear market problem.
Core values
The following beliefs underpin the Venture For ClimateTech Global Innovation Challenge. Our participants and their corresponding solutions should:
#1 Prioritize Communities
Include and prioritize communities that have historically been left out of the conversation around climate tech, innovation, and early-stage startups.
#2 Innovate & Have an Impact
Acknowledge that both innovation and impact are critical to solving the climate crisis.
#3 Collaborate
Highlight and collaborate with efforts and initiatives seeking to advance climate justice that are already in place.
#4 Build Opportunities
Work across sectors to create opportunities to build more holistic solutions for solving the climate crisis (both tech-enabled and other strategies/methods).
The Process
About us
Venture For ClimateTech is a high-touch accelerator that provides early-stage companies with non-dilutive funding, along with one-on-one mentoring, access to investors, and educational sessions to prepare them for first customers, pilot runs, and investment. The program has two components: The formal six-month accelerator that culminates with an in-person showcase pitch during Climate Week NYC, and the annual Global Innovation Challenge.
Meet Our Judges
2024 Global Innovation Challenge Category Winners
Future of Buildings
Future of Transportation
Future of Energy
Women in ClimateTech
