Programs +
Hello again, friends. Welcome to the second summer installment of the ClimateHaven Dispatch. In the last issue, we introduced the ClimateHaven Content Hub (CHCH): A platform for insights and announcements directly from our members, by our members, to share with this extraordinary community. It is our members–the entrepreneurs whose bold and brilliant work helps decarbonize our planet–who are at the nucleus of ClimateHaven’s network.
Our partners are their support system, and come in myriad forms: Mentors, Executives-in-Residence and coaches; investors and resource providers; corporates and community partners, to name just a few.
Today, we are thrilled to introduce a new partner to our community: Biolabs, a co-working research facility with labs across Europe, Japan, and the US. Their newest location, right here in New Haven, offers 41,000 sq. ft. of flexible wet lab space with a mix of private and shared equipment. Companies can use the space to develop, test, and advance their technologies–a few blocks from our hub on Chapel Street.
Casey Pickett, Interim Co-CEO and Managing Director–Incubation, and Mary Ann Melnick, Site Head of Biolabs New Haven, will work steadfastly to ensure the success of the collaboration.
“This partnership with Biolabs provides climate tech startups with world-class shared wet lab resources to complement the founder community, workspace, mentorship, and entrepreneurship programs we offer at ClimateHaven,” states Casey Pickett.
According to Drew D'Alelio of Connecticut Innovations’s Climate Tech Fund, “There are three absolutely essential aspects to any climate tech ecosystem: Community, capital and facility. ClimateHaven is the community; Connecticut Innovations is the capital; and now Biolabs offers a dedicated wet lab facility. We are just getting started.”
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I met with Mary Ann Melnick, Site Head at Biolabs New Haven to learn more about the partnership between Biolabs and ClimateHaven.
Haley: Why have we formed this coalition now? What makes the timing important?
Mary Ann: Climate change is real and now more than ever, there is a critical need for innovative solutions to create cleaner, more sustainable processes, and products. Thanks to ClimateHaven, we are seeing a greater number of climate tech startups taking root in New Haven. As an operator of wet lab space, Biolabs can play a role in supporting the growth of climate tech startups in New Haven and Connecticut.
Haley: What do you hope we will accomplish in the next year?
Mary Ann: Biolabs is looking forward to building and expanding not just the biotech but also the climate tech communities in New Haven and beyond with ClimateHaven. This partnership will expand the network, facility, service, and programmatic offering to both communities and I’m thrilled to see what kind of cross-pollination results from our new partnership. Together, I believe we will create a thriving and connected community of entrepreneurs focused on solving some of the biggest problems we are facing in human and planet health.
Haley: How will the lab serve the founders and help them with their developments?
Mary Ann: Biolabs is more than just wet lab space for life science startups. We offer a Class-A, serviced, and equipped facility that truly is turn-key. Early-stage startups can rapidly launch their operations with us and scale their company within our space. Because Biolabs was built by entrepreneurs, we know the pain points most startups face when launching their lab-based operations. We take the guesswork out of this for our resident companies, and this enables them to fully focus their time and resources on their R&D, achieving their milestones faster.
Interested in knowing how a wet lab can support tech development? Check out the press release for more information on Biolabs and this partnership with ClimateHaven.
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Founded by Joachim Katchinoff and Noah Planavsky, CREW Carbon is a nature-powered CO2 removal startup that removes greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater. CREW’s technology enhances the natural power of minerals to help treat wastewater and store carbon dioxide permanently. CREW works with municipal and industrial wastewater partners to leverage weathering reactions in engineered and existing infrastructure, enabling positive climate impact that is measurable and permanent. Follow CREW on LinkedIn here.
CREW Carbon's patented sensor system
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We are thrilled to welcome a new ClimateHaven team member: Marketing AssociateAnanyaa Mehra! In her role, Ananyaa assists in developing and implementing digital marketing campaigns to promote ClimateHaven’s initiatives to our incubator members, key stakeholders and the public. Ananyaa’s previous experiences have focused on the solar energy sector through environmental communication and project management roles. Ananyaa completed her BSc in Environmental Studies from Tufts University.
Ryan Dings’ latest edition of the Startup Playbook is here! Read the second chapter of his five-part series, Get Low: Project Finance and the Path to Lower Cost Capital. In this edition, Ryan shares insights about climate tech startups reduce their cost of capital through project finance.
Startup News
Matcha recently won its largest new deal with real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield in Stamford, Connecticut to support more than 1,000 renters with shared EV charging access. Matcha’s expansion in Connecticut will increase access to clean transportation options on residential properties.
Matcha celebrated their prototype launch in NYC on Thursday, July 18th at the Brooklyn Army Terminal alongside the New York City Economic Development Corporation. With approval from the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA), Matcha will be certified as an EV charging provider for qualified properties with no cost in New York. ClimateHaven Fellow David Kilroy attended the event. Check out his recap here!
From left to right: Jonathan Sobin of Matcha, Elta Koliou of the Ad Hoc Group, Chris Kluesener of Matcha, and Ryan Hart of Matcha
Catala co-Founders James Licato and Claire Chouinard were interviewed by Stuart DeCew, Executive Director of Center for Business and the Environment at Yale (CBEY), to discuss Catala’s purpose. Here’s what CEO James Licato had to say about Catala’s mission:
“We talked with over one hundred different people in the field across different industries like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and of course, the oil and gas industry. And we found that, with the offshore market in particular, we have a uniquely positioned solution to go after that extremely dirty water.”
— James Licato, Catala CEO
Mudder AI was invited to pitch at the Climate Tech Showcase at the Tampa Bay Innovation Center on Tuesday, July 30th. This showcase will feature six climate tech company pitches. Mudder AI will present their AI-powered disaster management platform that provides proactive risk analysis and coordinated emergency response through real-time data and predictive models. Register here.
Mudder AI also welcomed two new additions to their team: Graduate students Gautahami Gopal of the University of Connecticut and Ethar Hussain of the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. Gauthami attended the AWS Summit in DC alongside co-FounderNadia Ahmad, and Ethar is assisting with prototype model construction.
Raise Green announced their investment opportunity with CGB Green Liberty Notes, LLC. Green Liberty Notes is a wholly owned subsidiary of Connecticut Green Bank that lets investors support Connecticut's green economy by funding zero-interest loans for energy efficiency in homes and small businesses. CGB's 11th offering with Raise Green will lower energy costs, cut emissions, and boost workforce development. See Raise Green's LinkedIn to learn more.
CREW Carbon is hiring a Project Lead Engineer and a Carbon Removal Engineer/Scientist. Applications are open on their website. Both openings are full-time, and located in New Haven, CT.
General Biological is hiring. Open positions include: Chemical Engineer, Chemistry R&D Lead, Microbiology Lab Technician, and Strain Engineer.
ThreadMap is looking for student interns with technical backgrounds (data structures and algorithms) to join their team. Email resumes to Eunjee Koh and Maggie Boreham.
Green Drinks, August 29th
REGISTER HERE
EDGE Club Meetup at ClimateHaven, September 5
REGISTER HERE
Yale Clean Energy Conference, October 10-11
REGISTER HERE
Thank you, reader, for your deep commitment to our work. YOU are our community.
Until then, if you liked what you read and are interested in sponsoring a newsletter or contributing your expertise to our hub, please reach out to us by replying to this email. Our doors (and inboxes) are always open to you.
For the love of the planet,
Haley and the ClimateHaven Team
Haley Lieberman
Interim co-CEO, Dir. of Community and Marketing
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