The American Bazaar will host its signature Startup Bazaar on September 24, on the sidelines of New York Climate Week, with a special focus on hard-to-abate sectors. The daylong summit — Startup Bazaar: Climate Innovation in Hard-to-Abate Sectors — will bring together investors, founders, and climate stakeholders to explore scalable solutions to one of humanity’s greatest challenges: the climate crisis.
The event, to be held at Nomadworks, New York, features panel discussions, fireside chats, and startup showcases covering industrial decarbonization, circular chemistry, climate financing, and global water management.
The first session, “Innovators in Industrial Decarbonization,” brings together startups tackling one of the hardest-to-abate sectors: heavy industry. Moderated by Anna Sorokina of Remarkable Ventures Climate, the panel features Aidan Mickleburgh of SolidSky, Christian Guerrero of Tikal Industries, and Manu Pillai of CarbonBridge, each will be sharing how their companies are reimagining chemicals, cement, and industrial materials to cut emissions at scale.
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“Through our conversation, I hope to show how breakthrough technologies in industrial decarbonization and waste-to-value can move from the lab to bankable projects. These are the tough sectors where decarbonization really matters, and the ideas shared today point the way toward scalable, investable climate impact,” Sorokina, a cohost of the event, said.
Financing is the focus of the second session, “How Climate Deals Really Get Financed.” Moderated by Rokas Beresniovas of Montgomery County Green Bank, the panel aims to delve into how projects transition from pilot phases to bankable investments. Panelists Mehrad Yaghmai of Cool Climate Collective, Gillian Francis of Rapid Ventures, and Matt Schmitt of Structure Climate will discuss the critical role of incentives, mission-driven capital, and private market mechanisms in structuring deals, with an emphasis on measurable climate impact and inclusion of underserved communities.
A fireside chat with Jay Sehgal, executive vice president of S M Sehgal Foundation, moderated by Venky Raghavendra of Safe Water Network, will highlight the intersection of social entrepreneurship and climate initiatives, offering the audience actionable insights. Sehgal will highlight the foundation’s pioneering work in rural India, where it operates in more than 2,000 villages, driving initiatives in sustainable water management, agriculture, and community empowerment.
The final panel of the day, “Circular Chemistry & Products (Waste-to-Value),” once again moderated by Sorokina, spotlights startups transforming waste into renewable resources.
Featured innovators included Jo Marini of Mothership Materials, Dr. Kathryn Williamson of Unspent, and Marie Eric of Tastee Tape, who will showcase technologies that convert agricultural byproducts, textiles, coffee grounds, and even carbon dioxide into polymers, packaging, and surfactants—paving the way for a circular economy.
By convening entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders, the event aims to underscore the urgency—and the opportunity—of scaling solutions that not only tackle emissions but also create jobs, strengthen communities, and build a more sustainable future.
Register for Startup Bazaar: Climate Innovation in Hard-to-Abate Sectors here.