2026 Climate Innovation Top 5 Ventures

Dan Lafferty is the CEO at Variable Grid. With over 15 years of experience in energy management and smart building technologies, he has led the development and commercialization of solutions across energy monitoring, IoT networks, and EV charging infrastructure. His work focuses on enabling efficient, scalable energy systems that support the transition to electrification and low-carbon buildings.

Andrew Murray is the CEO of Aslan Renewables. He is a three-time SaaS founder turned renewable energy CEO. His first company, Spotful, scaled globally in 2016 and became core software for world-class brands before being acquired in 2018. He went on to build two more venture-backed startups in the data management and ad-tech space. After his second exit in 2023, Andrew pivoted to hard-tech with the launch of Aslan Renewables

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy;SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities;SDG 13: Climate Action

Michael Shore is the CEO of Agapyo. An experienced entrepreneur and investor in the clean energy sector, he has built and scaled a solar company to over $100 million in annual revenue and supported the growth of multiple sustainability ventures. His work focuses on advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy through entrepreneurship, investment, and ecosystem building.

Chloe Doesburg is the Co-Founder and COO of Seafoam Materials. An architect and entrepreneur with experience across construction and technology startups, she is developing biodegradable, seaweed-based alternatives to traditional plastics. Her work focuses on reducing reliance on fossil fuel–derived materials by creating scalable, low-impact solutions for packaging and other high-waste industries.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being;SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities;SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production;SDG 13: Climate Action

Adnan Sharif is the C0-Founder and President of Lyrata Inc. A clean-tech entrepreneur with a background in biochemistry and chemical engineering, he has built and commercialized SmartSoil — the world’s first 3D-printed soil. His work focuses on advancing sustainable agriculture and urban food systems through material innovation, drawing on experience leading large-scale research and commercialization initiatives.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger;SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production;SDG 13: Climate Action;SDG 14: Life Below Water;SDG 15: Life on Land

Chloe Doesburg is the Co-Founder and COO of Seafoam Materials. An architect and entrepreneur with experience across construction and technology startups, she is developing biodegradable, seaweed-based alternatives to traditional plastics. Her work focuses on reducing reliance on fossil fuel–derived materials by creating scalable, low-impact solutions for packaging and other high-waste industries.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being;SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities;SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production;SDG 13: Climate Action

Tessa Peerless is the Founder of Dawn Energy. With a background in engineering and clean energy innovation, she is developing solutions that transform carbon dioxide into valuable fuels and chemicals. Her work focuses on accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy by turning emissions into scalable, circular resources.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy;SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Chris Kassardjian, MBA, BSc is the Co-founder & CEO/CTO of Thunderbolt Technologies. He is an entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience incl. 15 years in industrial recycling of waste hydrocarbons in West Africa.  Founder of CK Global Solutions, a successful Merger & Acquisition advisory firm in Vancouver. Chris holds an MBA from East Bay University, California, and a degree in physics & mathematics.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Auky Gonzales is the CEO of Leedana Sandponic. With a background in sustainable agriculture and food systems innovation, she is advancing sandponics — a soil-free growing method that uses sand as a growing medium — to enable more resilient, resource-efficient food production. Her work focuses on improving access to sustainable agriculture solutions in water-scarce and climate-affected regions.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger;SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation;SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth;SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities;SDG 12:

Andrew Murray is the CEO of Aslan Renewables. He is a three-time SaaS founder turned renewable energy CEO. His first company, Spotful, scaled globally in 2016 and became core software for world-class brands before being acquired in 2018. He went on to build two more venture-backed startups in the data management and ad-tech space. After his second exit in 2023, Andrew pivoted to hard-tech with the launch of Aslan Renewables

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy;SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities;SDG 13: Climate Action

Cynthia Ene is the Founder and CEO of Corol Corp. A professional engineer and serial entrepreneur with a background in chemical engineering and business, she has led large-scale infrastructure projects across Northern Canada. Her work focuses on advancing sustainable solutions within construction and industrial systems, informed by her experience across engineering, governance, and environmental oversight.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Dan Lafferty is the CEO at Variable Grid. With over 15 years of experience in energy management and smart building technologies, he has led the development and commercialization of solutions across energy monitoring, IoT networks, and EV charging infrastructure. His work focuses on enabling efficient, scalable energy systems that support the transition to electrification and low-carbon buildings.

Michael Shore is the CEO of Agapyo. An experienced entrepreneur and investor in the clean energy sector, he has built and scaled a solar company to over $100 million in annual revenue and supported the growth of multiple sustainability ventures. His work focuses on advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy through entrepreneurship, investment, and ecosystem building.

Adnan Sharif is the C0-Founder and President of Lyrata Inc. A clean-tech entrepreneur with a background in biochemistry and chemical engineering, he has built and commercialized SmartSoil — the world’s first 3D-printed soil. His work focuses on advancing sustainable agriculture and urban food systems through material innovation, drawing on experience leading large-scale research and commercialization initiatives.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger;SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production;SDG 13: Climate Action;SDG 14: Life Below Water;SDG 15: Life on Land

Patrick McConnell is the Founder and CEO of Atlantis Fiber. With a background in materials innovation and sustainable manufacturing, he is developing scalable alternatives to conventional textiles using seaweed-based fibres. His work focuses on reducing the environmental impact of the textile industry by creating low-impact, circular materials that can replace resource-intensive inputs.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy;SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure;SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities;SDG 13: Climate Action