9 September 2022, Sydney – Australia’s best clean technology startups have been named at the ClimateLaunchpad Australian Final on Friday night.

After intensive boot camps, trainings led by industry leaders, and ever-more competitive pitch panels, these three startups have taken out the Australian chapter of the world’s biggest cleantech and green business ideas competition. They will now progress to the Asia Pacific Final of the competition, slated to take place later in the month, and hopefully, from there, at least one Aussie entrant will make it to the Global Grand Final in October.

With innovations spanning new types of lightweight batteries to low impact integrated farming systems, the competition this year was tight. Ultimately, the winners were:

Calyx who have created a product sourcing platform and software that analyses the sustainability of entire product chains for the food industry;

Spark3D who manufactures 3D printers that can print functional electronics, solar cells and batteries, faster, better and more efficiently than existing techniques;

UpSol, a social enterprise supplying rapidly deployable containerised solar power systems with back-up battery energy storage.

SythLett Cells, a research-based team who have developed a new lightweight, flexible battery took home the Audience Choice award prize.

Sarah Ryan, Board Member of the Future Battery Industries CRC, and jury member at the ClimateLaunchpad finals said, “the business ideas coming from ClimateLaunchpad represent an inspiring class of entrepreneurship. World-class quality ideas that will have real world impact and make our planet better and less carbon intensive. I have no doubt the winners will do an excellent job representing Australia in the global competition.”

The event was emcee’d by Rebecca Huntley, social researcher and author of the book How to talk about climate change in a way that makes a difference. “Tonight showcases the extraordinary talent we have in Australia to come up with great ideas to address the climate crisis. I’m so excited and hopeful,” said Huntley.

ClimateLaunchpad is the world’s biggest cleantech and green business competition, taking place in over 53 countries this year. Now in its sixth year in Australia, alumni of the competition include Sunovate, Coreo, Economical Energy, Emmi and Greener, among others.

But ClimateLaunchpad is not just a competition – participants progress through a rigorous program of training, mentoring and pitching. Belinda Whelan, Director of Strategic Projects at Climate-KIC Australia, the organisation responsible for running the competition in Australia says, “ClimateLaunchpad helps turn climate ideas into businesses. Like previous cohorts we have an amazing group of startups and I look forward to watching them make a significant impact in the coming years.”

Climate-KIC Australia are accepting expressions of interest to support ClimateLaunchpad’s 2023 program. To get involved, please contact info@climate-kic.org.au. To register your interest in participating in ClimateLaunchpad 2023, please sign up at http://www.climate-kic.org.au/clp22#signup.

Missed the big night? You can watch a recording of the event here.


Media contacts:
Sina Lengelsen | australia@climatelaunchpad.org | 0410 868 248

Interviews can be arranged with all of our winning teams, please contact Sina Lengelsen to get in touch.

 

FURTHER QUOTES

Quote attributable to Simon Smith, Non-Executive Director, RACE for 2030 CRC
This group of finalists gives me hope for the future of our planet. Such creativity, innovation, intelligence and passion. I look forward to seeing all of them deliver the carbon savings and put Australian innovations on the world stage.

Quote attributable to Lauren Branson, CEO, Calyx
We’ve loved being part of ClimateLaunchpad and are looking forward to meeting the finalists from around the global and being inspired by their business ideas.

Quote attributable to Ben Wilkinson, CTO, Spark3D
ClimateLaunchpad has been a very formative part of my startup journey. It has been incredibly supportive, and the other founders I’ve met through it have always been amongst the most passionate and mission driven of all. It feels very much like we are all on the same team, and are working towards a common goal, which is very refreshing.


NOTES:

About ClimateLaunchpad
ClimateLaunchpad is the world’s largest and most successful cleantech and green business ideas competition. Running in over 50 countries, its mission is to unlock the global potential for cleantech to address climate change, and helps to fast-track ideas into businesses. Climate-KIC Australia runs the program in Australia to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs, students and researchers to connect to a global network of investors, accelerators and market opportunities.

The program is run in collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC, the EU’s major climate innovation initiative.

About Climate-KIC Australia
Climate-KIC Australia is a knowledge and innovation community that aims to inspire and enable climate action by being a catalyst for systemic change, through innovation. Born out of a collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest public-private partnership focused on climate change, Climate-KIC Australia specialises in supporting on-the-ground innovation to catalyse system change. We establish links between research, business, entrepreneurs, investors and government to drive transformational projects that unlock change at the speed and scale the climate challenge needs.