To prove that professional events can include a community-focused and dynamic element while producing tangible outcomes which address major climate challenges.

• Event Type: 30-hour Hackathon focused on various climate-related challenges
• Partner: ClimateImpact Summit
• Location: The Royal Institution, London
• Participants: 80 diverse hackers ranging from students to founders and seasoned operators.
• 16 collaborative teams were formed.
• 12 mentors and judges provided support.

1. Winner - Best Potential Climate Impact: Paco

AI-enabled search and specification tool for sustainable packaging alternatives

Helps businesses move away from single-use plastic packaging

Team: Gabriel Brückner, Elisa Escapa Otani, and others

2. Winner - Best Use of AI: BuildIn

Holistic portfolio analysis for sustainable building measures

Addresses climate regulation pressure on asset owners

Incorporates factors such as biodiversity, water, waste, physical and transition risks, and solar opportunities

Team led by Mirren Fischer

3. Winner - Best Pitch: RetroAction

Solution to unlock retrofitting potential for developers and asset owners

Addresses low reuse rates of building materials (currently only 6%)

Helps understand climate policy compliance and material flows

Team led by Ethan Edwards

4. Notable Mention: Plasticats

Precision mapping of waste dumps worldwide

Assesses toxicity levels to prioritize response

Team led by Stéphane Zahrai

5. Notable Mention: Project Ark

AI-powered platform for endangered species education

Uses AR and AI to connect users with charities via local businesses

Team led by Ana Domina

1. Career Advancement: The event directly led to new job opportunities for participants, showcasing its value in professional development.
2. Innovation Pipeline: Generated multiple promising ideas that have the potential for further development and real-world implementation.
3. Community Strengthening: Fostered a network of climate-focused innovators, encouraging ongoing collaboration beyond the event.
4. Raised Awareness: Highlighted critical climate challenges and demonstrated the potential of AI in addressing them.
5. Corporate Engagement: Showcased the value of sustainability innovation to businesses, potentially influencing corporate strategies.

1. Talent Acquisition: Our events attract high-calibre individuals, serving as an excellent recruitment platform for organisations.
2. Innovation Catalyst: We generate multiple innovative solutions in a short timeframe, which can be further developed by partner organisations.
3. Cross-sector Collaboration: Our format brings together diverse perspectives, leading to unique and effective solutions.
4. AI Integration: We demonstrate practical applications of AI in addressing climate challenges, helping partners understand and leverage this technology.
5. Positive Impact: Our events produce tangible outcomes that contribute to climate action while also benefiting participating organisations.

The challenge for participants was to identify how we might decarbonise home heating by 2032; the question HeatGeek were looking to answer was whether hackathons could help drive talent acquisition.

• Event Type: Weekend Hackathon
• Partner: HeatGeek (Scale-up company)
• Participants: 30 hackers with diverse skills and backgrounds
• Location: Sustainable Ventures
• HeatGeek provided diverse, relevant datasets including heat pump manufacturer APIs; Smart meter data and heat pump monitoring equipment data.
• Five teams formed each focusing on a different aspect of the challenge

1. Winner - Innovation Prize: Satellite imagery for heat pump siting to assess home suitability.

Addressed the problem that ~5% of homes are unsuitable for heat pumps

2. Winner - Impact Prize: Helios: heat pump function optimisation using monitoring data.

Tackled the issue of incorrect configuration costing owners thousands

3. Runner-up: Pump It - thermodynamics of heat radiation

4. Runner-up: Install quality optimisation

5. Runner-up: Neuro Energy - battery optimisation

1. Talent Identification: The event showcased skilled individuals who could potentially contribute to Heat Geek's mission in the future.
2. Accelerated Innovation: The event fast-tracked the development of multiple solutions addressing different aspects of heat pump adoption.
3. Community Building: Strengthened the network of innovators in the sustainable energy sector.
4. Corporate Learning: Heat Geek gained valuable insights into potential product improvements and new market opportunities.

1. Rapid Problem Solving: Our format allows for quick generation of diverse, innovative solutions to complex challenges.
2. Ecosystem Engagement: We bring together a community of skilled innovators, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.
3. Data Utilization: Our approach helps partners unlock the value of their data through fresh perspectives and applications.
4. Brand Positioning: Associating with cutting-edge innovation in sustainability enhances corporate image and attracts talent.