Activate at SF Climate Week 2024

We had a wonderful time at SF Climate Week, where we engaged with the hard-tech community right in Activate Berkeley’s own backyard. It was great to see this event reach peak impact, with thousands of people filling venues to convene around the most important topics with scientists, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and others. Here’s a glimpse of the sessions we hosted:

On Tuesday, we kicked off with a vibrant reception at 9Zero HQ, where over 400 people joined us for networking and conversations. The evening was a celebration of innovation and included a panel discussion on critical strategies for transforming the built environment to combat carbon emissions amidst economic challenges. Panelists included Activate Chief Fellowship Officer, Brenna Teigler; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Associate Lab Director, Energy Technologies Area Mary Ann Piette; Brimstone Founder Cody Finke (Cohort 2019); and Calion Technologies Co-Founder Drew Lilley (Cohort 2023).

On Wednesday at IndieBio, our session focused on the deep-tech entrepreneurial support ecosystem. Co-hosted with LabStart, it highlighted the comprehensive support available for startups at all stages. Insights from leaders at DCVC, Trellis Climate/PRIME, and more illustrated our collective commitment to nurturing early-stage founders.

Thursday’s partnership event at 9Zero HQ with Anglo American’s Decarbonisation Ventures explored the dynamics of early-stage startup potential through corporate venture capital. The dialogue included perspectives from TDK Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and TechEnergy Ventures, among others, showcasing successful investment strategies and the importance of corporate support in scaling new technologies.

To close the week, we enjoyed mingling with the Activate community at the Autodesk Gallery event space. Each event provided insights and strengthened our community in advancing climate solutions. We’re energized by the emerging partnerships and ideas and are excited to continue driving change.