10 innovators with technologies to help you live sustainably
Source: | · WOMEN IN ENERGY TRANSITION · | November 13, 2022
A new group of entrepreneurs has joined the RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator, and they’re changing everything from the food we eat to the clothes we wear.
Animal-free milk, compostable menstrual products, faux leather made from mushroom roots and an ink that coats substrates in solar panels. These are among the innovations of the 10 early-stage women-led startups in the latest RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator cohort.
“Solving the world’s climate challenges needs more than just good ideas — they need to be actionable,” says Leah Perry, a senior manager in cleantech venture services at MaRS. “This cohort will accelerate the development of some exciting new clean technologies, from sustainable fashion alternatives to how we eat, mine for minerals and produce energy. These women entrepreneurs are primed to become the climate leaders of tomorrow.”
Supported by RBC Tech for Nature, the intensive two-year program features tailored workshops, networking, advisory support and connections to climate partners and investors to help these entrepreneurs grow their businesses.
This is the second cohort in the accelerator. Participants in last year’s program, which lasted 12 months and focused on later-stage ventures, have seen significant successes. For instance, Evoco, a maker of sustainable materials for footwear and athletic gear, secured a $2-million grant from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. And Vancouver-based Moment Energy signed an agreement with Mercedes Benz Energy to repurpose old electric vehicle batteries as power storage systems for commercial buildings.
For this second cohort, the focus is on supporting earlier-stage ventures. “We want to develop the pipeline of women-led cleantech companies that can reach successful commercial deployment and scale,” says Perry.
Meet the 10 new women-led startups joining MaRS this year to accelerate their cleantech businesses.
Natasha Kostenuk
Founder & CEO, Ayrton Energy
In a nutshell: Ayrton Energy is developing technology that will provide clean hydrogen-powered electric vehicle charging and energy storage.
Why it matters: Hydrogen-powered chargers do not need to be connected to the electricity grid, expanding the range of places where they can be installed. Ayrton is one of 15 women-led Canadian companies accepted into the 2022 SheBoot program run by Invest Ottawa and the Capital Angel Network.