Event Recap: Cleantech Innovation Challenge Shines Light On University Innovators

Fusen World, the brainchild of prolific startup founder and investor Christopher Klaus, is looking to invest in the next generation of college startup talent. That mission was on full display this week in Midtown Atlanta with the inaugural Cleantech Innovation Challenge.

Twelve startups, with roots at universities across the State of Georgia, pitched their ideas in front of a “who’s who” panel of the Atlanta sustainability scene. Alongside Klaus, judges included Chandra Farley (Chief Sustainability Officer of City of Atlanta), Jennifer Singh (Sustainability Catalyst at ATDC), Mike Kerrigan (Principal at Southern Company New Ventures),  and Ted Terry (Super District 6 Commissioner at DeKalb County Government).

The judges had their work cut out for them, since the top prize of $100,000 was on the line. Each startup team had exactly three minutes to explain their platform and their vision for growth in the Cleantech space. Some were thinking about how to turn captured carbon into art installations. Others were rethinking our plastic water bottles, our waste products, and our shower habits. But regardless of what specific technologies they were building, each team’s passion for ClimateTech innovation was clear.

The Big Winners

So who were the big winners of the night? Drum roll, please…

First Place: Owanga Solar – Founder Benedict Owanga

Emory University law student Benedict Owanga developed an electricity-as-a-service platform to deliver off-grid power stations to Central Africa.

 

Second Place: Carver Fire – Founder Carver Anderson

Through its dry ice solution, Carver Fire works to tame dangerous fires that come from electric vehicles

 

Third Place: GreenAI

GreenAI is a SaaS platform that builds AI models to help developers make better building decisions.

 

The event was one of many climate-related events happening across the city this month leading up to Earth Day on April 22. Want to see more events? Check out the Hypepotamus community events calendar!