Sustainable Solutions Challenge

Made in Brooklyn, Cast Carbon is a biochar-enriched, cradle-to-compost architectural wall tile offering clean beauty, carbon storage and Class A fire ratings.

HempWood is an engineered wood alternative for indoor applications that uses a hemp- and soy-based construction, carbon-negative/zero-waste manufacturing process, and zero-VOC formula to sequester carbon and reduce embodied carbon in built environments. 

Ouros Materials is a materials technology startup developing ultra-tough, resilient, low-cost composite materials using captured CO₂ to lower embodied carbon in construction. 

ProZERO™ is an innovative cement replacement that significantly lowers the global warming potential of any concrete mix with a unique blend that incorporates microalgae. 

ReefCycle’s next-generation enzymatic cement—inspired by corals and oysters—is a strong, durable, fast-curing biocement that both reduces emissions and sequesters carbon, offering a regenerative alternative to conventional cement.

Pozzotive® Ground Glass Pozzolan is a low-carbon, high-performance cement replacement for all types of concrete that’s made from recycled waste glass and produces concrete with enhanced properties, including strength, durability, and resistance to corrosive road salts and saltwater. 

BIOM’s living moss biofilters act as fresh air generators or “rebreathers" for buildings, improving indoor air quality while reducing the HVAC energy conventionally used to condition and supply outdoor air. 

Blue Frontier’s Energy Storing Efficient Air Conditioner (ESEAC) uses liquid desiccant and thermal storage to deliver a more efficient, grid-friendly alternative to conventional cooling.

CLIP expands access to clean mobility with its patented, zero-tools, 5-second upgrade tech that turns any analog bike into an e-bike; through community-led CLIP libraries. This approach offers a scalable and inclusive model for deploying e-bikes in the areas that need them most. 

Compocity transforms food waste into an impactful community experience through an energy-efficient in-building system that combines convenient multi-bin fermentation with a gamified digital platform, driving behavior change, producing nutrient-rich soil food, and making sustainability visible.

Demi is a smart composting system that empowers urban communities to divert food waste from landfills through real-time engagement, education, and data, transforming everyday habits into collective climate action. 

MicroEra Power’s THERMAplus is a unique, "Tunable" Thermal Energy Storage system which is a companion technology for heat pumps or chillers to make commercial heating and cooling loads flexible - shifting electrical loads from peak to off-peak times, improving efficiency and resiliency, and freeing up grid capacity.

Mill is a waste prevention technology company that makes it easy for people and institutions to prevent food waste and keep food out of landfills. 

MIMiC has developed a refrigerant-free system for heating and cooling based on a solid-state heat pump that is easy to install and maintain.

Moby Filters captures and reuses microplastics from textile washing and manufacturing with scalable modular filters for commercial laundry and water systems. 

Miller Proctor Nickolas’ solution leverages the advanced capabilities of Oilon heat pumps to utilize multiple heat sources—such as ambient air, geothermal loops, and waste heat—based on seasonal availability and building load profiles. This intelligent source management strategy is a robust and scalable approach to low-carbon building electrification.

Racoon Eyes uses 3D imaging to automatically measure and analyze food waste in dining services, helping institutions cut waste by up to 30%, reduce costs, and improve the dining experience while engaging students in behavior change. 

RePurpose Energy is focused on reusing EV batteries to create reliable, low-cost “second-life” energy storage systems. 

SHARC Energy harnesses the untapped thermal energy in wastewater with its Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) systems, providing buildings and campuses with reliable, renewable heating, cooling, and hot water production while reducing GHG emissions, freshwater use, and operating costs. 

WattAir is a modular, solar- and waste heat-powered device that passively captures moisture from the air to produce clean, potable water on-site—offering a resilient, regenerative, and energy-efficient solution for decentralized water access in buildings, public spaces, and off-grid environments.