Taking Action on Climate, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice.
L to R: Neal Rickner (MP Elevation, CEO BridgeTek), John Majeski (CEO PVP), Scott Kitcher (CEO Sustain SoCal, GP Elevation), Dr. Noel Hacegaba (Dep Exec Director POLB), Anthony Ng (CEC), Sona Coffee (Sustainable City Commissioner LBC), and Joy Fairbanks (CVC).
Founders, funders, corporates, government, and community stakeholders gathered in Long Beach, California to address climate, sustainability, and environmental justice issues and opportunities to solve them.
After an hour of networking, I moderated two panels covering: 1) investment trends, corporate and government customer needs, and funding; and, 2) innovative solutions. It is encouraging that solutions for climate, sustainability, and environmental equity are increasingly linked with more efficient and lower cost operations as well as benefits and cost savings in public health. Clean air, water, and land objectives should not be viewed solely as societal debt and regulatory compliance imperatives but as inclusive business opportunities driving greater economic growth.
Panel 1 – Government, Customers, Investors, and Community Stakeholders
Anthony Ng of the R&D division of the California Energy Commission (CEC) helped us understand the processes to access billions of state funding and grants available to innovative startups addressing the CEC’s climate and sustainability objectives and priorities. He also presented policy pain points. When asked about incremental versus radical tech preferences, Anthony Ng stressed the need for big step solutions to meet California’s clean energy goals.
Source: Ng, Anthony. Accelerating California’s Journey to Net Zero. R&D Division California Energy Commission. Presentation to Founders & Funders Climate, Sustainable Cities, & Environmental Justice Event. 2-22-23.
Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Deputy Executive Director & COO of the Port of Long Beach (POLB) spoke about the ongoing climate and sustainability initiatives of this leading Green Port and its influence on upstream and downstream suppliers of its extensive ecosystem. Dr. Hacegaba explained how the Port accesses and leverages new technology for its sustainability objectives and how innovative startups can work with it.
The Port of Long Beach and the adjacent Port of Los Angeles represent the largest and busiest combined port complex in the Western Hemisphere. The POLB actively seeks solutions to serve its constituents in the face of environmental urgencies, regulatory directives, and operational demands as the key logistical and transportation hub for every sector driving national and international economies. It has made dramatic progress in slashing associated carbon emissions while multiplying throughput via its facilities.
The Port has the funds to enable and adopt urgently needed climate and sustainability objectives. It has taken on a wide range of electrification actions (cargo transfer/delivery, dockside power hookups, solar adoption) and other carbon emission reduction initiatives. Now is the time for startups and other innovators to reach out for collaboration opportunities.
Neal Rickner, Managing Partner of Elevation Ventures and CEO of BridgeTek Energy addressed sustainable investing trends in the recent 18 months versus 5 years ago as well as funding opportunities and gaps in the Southern California region. We talked about the proliferation of a wider scope of climate and sustainability investable solutions driven by a variety of factors which opens up opportunities for investors with a range of risk tolerances and return horizons. At BridgeTek Energy, Neal Rickner enables an affordable sustainable energy transition through the company’s global battery integration services and software technology for e-mobility and energy storage.
Sona Coffee, Sustainable City Commissioner of the City of Long Beach spoke about the importance of sensitivity and workable solutions for the community to ensure the balance of economic growth and environmental justice. The rapid advancement of electrification opportunities for the commercial and industrial sector is an immediate priority.
Scott Kitcher, President & CEO of Sustain SoCal and GP of Elevation Ventures presented the extensive innovation collaboration opportunities Sustain SoCal enables through its frequent gathering of stakeholders and working groups. Startups are funded and promoted via this 4,000+ member organization and directly through Elevation Ventures (in partnership with Octane’s Launchpad Accelerator).
John Majeski, CEO of Portola Valley Partners, discussed two of his sustainability and climate impact focused portfolio companies, Circular Systems and Joulecase. Circular Systems is a materials science company transforming waste to textile ready fiber, yarn, and fabric. Circular uses blockchain technology to track the upstream and downstream flows through their applied proprietary technology. Joulecase replaces gas and diesel powered generators with a solar powered, patented, stackable battery system able to supply any amount of power at any voltage.
Panel 2 - Climate & Sustainability Startups
Our presenting founders covered cost effective energy transition and sustainability impact solutions for fleet commercial vehicle owners, internet connectivity, ai-driven building energy management, and profit sharing opportunities for EV charging stations and restaurants.
L to R: Tosh Dutt (ChargeNet), Keith Gipson (Facil.ai), Mateo Abascal (Beamlink.io), Bill Beverley (Evolectric), and Joy Fairbanks (Columbia Venture Community)
Bill Beverley, Co-Founder & Co-CEO/CTO of Evolectric. Evolectric addresses the barriers to the transition to electric by fleet owners. Evolectric has developed a patented modular software and hardware battery-electric powertrain system to retrofit and repower commercial vehicles already on the road as gas/diesel today at a 45% lower up-front cost than the alternative.
Mateo Abascal, Co-Founder & CEO of Beamlink.io. Beamlink addresses gaps in internet communication in remote, post-disaster, or otherwise unserved areas through an IP protected, portable, broadband solution that can be set up quickly and cost effectively with a minimal energy footprint.
Keith Gipson, Founder & CEO/CTO of Facil.ai. Serial technical founder Keith Gipson (Silicon Energy, Shield Ops) addresses energy waste in commercial buildings through a patented, cloud-based, ai driven HVAC and power management solution.
Tosh Dutt, Founder & CEO of ChargeNet Stations. ChargeNet Stations is a hardware agnostic software solution integrating and optimizing EV level 3 fast charging, solar, and energy storage with a point of sale system at fast food restaurants turning parking lots into profit centers.
Other Speakers Welcoming the Audience
Wade Martin, Chairman of the Board of the Long Beach Accelerator and Director of the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at CSULB, talked about the great entrepreneurship support and ecosystem building results of both organizations.
Bo Martinez, Economic Development Director of the City of Long Beach, expressed his support for the various hubs of innovation in the city, his objectives for attracting additional key players to boost the city's diverse economic sectors, and his enthusiasm for inclusive entrepreneurship.
Thank you Portola Valley Partners, Sustain SoCal, Columbia Venture Community, the Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at CSULB, and the Long Beach Accelerator for co-sponsoring this event!