MfE supporting enterprises for climate innovation
Ten innovative start-ups for climate action pitched their ideas at an event in June 2022 at Wellington Zoo as part of the second annual Climate Response Accelerator.
The Ministry for the Environment again supported the accelerator as a way to help entrepreneurs with climate-focused ideas align their solutions with policy and priorities.
"Bold ideas for a better future are at the heart of this year’s accelerator participants and that means they’re taking action as envisioned in our Emissions Reduction Plan, our waste strategy and our goal of a circular economy. They are the innovators and entrepreneurs we need to make positive change for our planet."
Anne Haira, Deputy Secretary, Climate, Partnerships and Customers said the first accelerator held in 2021 helped progress innovative solutions around ride sharing, food waste reduction and more. “This year, there are fresh ideas that include bioenergy in waste management, hydrogen fuel cell technology, and a carbon footprint platform."
Manager, Strategic Partnerships Anna Ririnui said: “Our goal was to help build a pipeline of innovation that could connect to relevant funds like the Waste Minimisation Fund. Manager, Strategic Partnerships Anna Ririnui said: “Our goal was to help build a pipeline of innovation that could connect to relevant funds like the Waste Minimisation Fund.
“An example from this year’s cohort is Taurus concrete, a start-up looking to produce closed loop concrete so construction can use concrete again and again, diverting it from landfill and reducing emissions from the sector as a result. The start-up is now looking for funding to get to the next stage.”
Other partners in the programme were Callaghan Innovation, Datacom, WellingtonNZ, AWS Activate, Whakatupu Aotearoa Foundation, EY, Avid.Legal, Abletech, Catapult, Auckland Unlimited, Bridgewest Ventures, Circularity and thinkstep-anz.
Find out more about Creative HQ, the accelerator and the 10 teams here.