Event Detail




Pitch Competition 2025

Date: April 24, 2025 | During SF Climate Week

Time: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM PDT

Location: 601 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA

​2025 WCS Pitch Competition, the first and only pitch competition dedicated specifically to women-led startups in cleantech and sustainability. Each year, we showcase 10 incredible women leading Seed to Series A companies, providing them with a platform to gain visibility, mentorship, and funding opportunities.

​Register to attend as an audience member to witness Herstory!

Tickets:

  • WCS Nembers: $15
  • Non-members: $35 (please register here)
  • Interested in becoming a member? Please lern more here

Meet the Judges

Claire Veuthey Rizoma

Amit Narayan AINA Climate AI Ventures

Eran Sandhaus | J-Impact Fund

Amit Chaturvedy SE Ventures

​Judge 5 | OPEN SLOT

​Judge 6 | OPEN SLOT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet the Pitchers

 

Rehab Alshaikhi Founder and Material Engineer, Sunlight | Developing sustainable materials that promote a circular economy and reduce industrial waste.​

Anne Carlson | Founder & CEO, Jiminy’s, Inc. | Creating eco-friendly dog food using insect protein to reduce the environmental impact of pet nutrition.​

Helene Cornell | Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Aris Hydronics | Providing high-efficiency hydronic heating and cooling systems aimed at decarbonizing multi-family buildings.​

Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt | CEO, GismoPower LLC | Designing mobile solar carports that deliver clean energy directly to electric vehicles, enhancing sustainable transportation.​

Gillian Wildfire | Co-founder and CEO, Fordje | Simplifying the construction process by providing instant clarity on city codes and zoning regulations, reducing delays and errors in building projects.

Beth Zotter | CEO, Umaro | Harnessing ocean-farmed seaweed to develop the next generation of sustainable plant-based protein.​

Kimberley Schroder | Founder, Nimble | Repair household goods to save them from the landfill and keep using the items you love with Nimble.

Silvia Luebben | CEO, Sustainable Chemicals | Bringing sustainable bioplastics to producers and consumers in the plastics industry.

Yajing Zhao Founder and CEO, Orien Energy | Commercializing a low-cost energy and water harvesting device to retrofit dryers in paper mills.

Brenna Boehman | Co-Founder & Chief Science Officer, Sinkco Labs | Pioneering a revolutionary process for carbon sequestration.

 

Featured Speakers

Lisa Ann Pinkerton | CEO of Technica Communications & WCS Vice Chairwoman

Sara Eve Fuentes | CEO of SmartWaste & WCS Chairwoman

Nagashree Manwatkar | Founder of Gaia-Force and WCS Entrepreneurship Committee Co-Chair

Event Agenda:

8:30 AM – Doors Open
9:00 AM – Event Kickoff
9:10 AM – Kati shares insights on Adobe’s Sustainability Program
9:20 AM – Introduction of Judges
9:30 AM – Pitches Begin (3 min per pitch + 5 min Q&A)
10:40 AM – Networking During Judges Deliberation
10:50 AM – Winner Announcement
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – More Networking