Geelong ClimateLaunchpad

Eight innovators and entrepreneurs (as individuals or teams) were supported so they could participate for free, in a Geelong ClimateLaunchpad 2023, facilitated by Climate-KIC Australia.  

Structured as a competition, ClimateLaunchpad provides training, mentoring and pitching opportunities at a state, Asia-Pacific and global level to help participants grow their concept into a sustainable business. Support is provided to early-stage start-ups in the cleantech, circular economy, ag-tech, environmental or climate impact fields.

ClimateLaunchpad is:

• a pre-acceleration / ideation pathway to channel early-stage businesses and emerging start-ups into the Greater Geelong economy and other local pathway programs.  The program has positive environmental, social and economic impacts for the Greater Geelong community including job creation and maintenance, skills development and business expansion.  
• the world’s largest and most successful cleantech and green business ideas competition, run by the European Union's major Climate Innovation Initiative across 50+ countries.

Geelong ClimateLaunchpad's mission is to unlock the global potential for cleantech and circular economy solutions, to address climate change and help to fast-track ideas into businesses. The program provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs and start-ups to connect to a global network of investors, accelerators and market opportunities.

Climate-KIC Australia is:

• a knowledge and innovation community established and funded by a national collaboration of private and public sector organisations in 2017. 
• an independent, not-for-profit organisation that aims to link research, business, entrepreneurs, investors and government to drive transformational activities that unlock change at the speed and scale the climate challenge needs. 

Geelong ClimateLaunchpad 2023 Finalists

Five pitch finalists went head-to-head at the Nexus Cleantech & Circular Economy Showcase, to determine who would go to the Asia-Pacific finals of ClimateLaunchpad. Three finalists were chosen:

1. Cycleau: a compact greywater treatment system designed to retrofit across sinks, showers, and laundry units to recycle wastewater for potable use. Their technology advances users’ resilience to public water contaminants while reducing the impacts of sewage pollution on open waterways. Cycleau also won the Audience Award. Read more about Cycleau's follow up success at Dutch Design Week here.  
2. Cedar: a climate emissions data and reporting platform, for companies to view the carbon emissions within their supply chains. Cedar calculates the overall carbon emissions down their supply chain, and collates the data into one simple scope 3 emissions report. Cedar makes it easy for companies to be transparent about the carbon emissions in their supply chain. Cedar also won the prize to complete the Runway Business Incubator Program starting in March 2024. Read more about Cedar's follow up success at the ACASE Nexus pitch finals in Melbourne here. 
3. Green Coat: The built environment currently accounts for approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually, representing one of the most significant contributors to climate change. In response to this challenge, GreenCoat is developing a next-generation plasma-coating smart window solution that will dramatically increase the energy efficiency of buildings. By changing the opacity of windows in response to real-time environmental conditions, GreenCoat significantly decreases unwanted heat transfer through windows, resultantly reducing the need and reliance on financially and environmentally costly heating, ventilation & air-conditioning (HVAC)systems to moderate the indoor temperatures and thermal comfort of buildings. GreenCoat is designed as an end-to-end IoT-enabled solution that also allows integration with Building Management and Automation Systems to optimise energy consumption even further, with lighting and HVAC adjusted accordingly depending on window opacity. Read more about Green Coat's follow up success as one of the top 50 startups of the The Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition in Singapore here. 

The runner up pitches were:

4. Waste Free Events: created to support and guide schools and community groups to run events with as little waste as possible. Having monitored bins and reusables instead of single use items is a big part of the solution but there’s a lot more involved. Waste Free Events plan to give presentations, share resources and give consultations to guide people. There are Zero Waste Kits available, Bin Stations and Reusables to hire however a lot of people don’t know what’s available. That’s where Waste Free Events comes in.
5. Environmental Service Pod: Presently, building services are provided by a fragmented supplier network. Integration and communication among these various building services is often impossible. Environmental Service Pod offers a comprehensive building service system that is prefabricated and modularised. It provides electrical, building conditioning and water services needs with off-grid potential, primarily operating on renewable energy. They provide healthy radiative conditioning (cooling and heating) systems with energy recovery ventilation, fulfilling the requirements of a complete environmentally responsive services system.
6. Australian Modular Solutions: Australian made modular buildings for the event industry. Won the Runner-up Prize - a Booth at NEXUS Cleantech Innovation Festival.