ClimateHaven

Our full announcement on the winner of the 2025 Water Innovation Challenge is now live, and you can read the article to learn what this means for the future of water quality monitoring: https://lnkd.in/gM6MvyfD Nucleic Sensing Systems (NS2) is bringing continuous, real-time genetic detection to Connecticut through a new pilot with the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, introducing a field-deployable approach to water quality monitoring that gives utilities visibility they have never had before. The pilot will explore continuous autonomous operation, real-time eDNA detection, and integration with existing data systems. As RWA Engineering Director Victor Benni, P.E., noted, “We were extremely impressed by the innovative solutions that came through the Challenge, and we’re excited to work with NS2 to pilot their technology right here in Connecticut.” Ed Rudberg, Ph.D., Sherwin Gormly, Aishwarya Kuruttukulam, Ryan Dings, Regina Sung

We are excited to welcome Jennifer Garson to the Water Innovation Hub Advisory Council. Jenn is a founding partner at Waypoint Strategy Group, the founder of Aquila Innovation Strategies, and one of the most respected leaders in the water innovation space. We also want to extend a special thank you to Jenn for presenting in our Corporate Water Risk Workshop this week, where she shared powerful insights on the value of partnerships in technology development. Drawing on more than 15 years of federal leadership at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), she helped students understand how to build stronger connectivity between public and private sector ecosystems and how thoughtful collaboration accelerates commercialization for water and climate solutions. Jenn’s experience shaping billion-dollar federal programs, creating new funding mechanisms, and advancing blue economy innovation brings tremendous value to the Water Innovation Hub as we continue supporting technologies that address pressing water challenges in Connecticut and beyond. We are honored to have Jenn join our Advisory Council alongside Konstantine Drakonakis, PE, Satish Rao, Peter Yolles,and Max Storto. Welcome to ClimateHaven, Jenn! 🎉 Read more about her background here: https://lnkd.in/gKbw-2Qf

We’re proud to finally announce Nucleic Sensing Systems (NS2) as the 2025 Water Innovation Challenge Winner! NS2 will receive $30,000 to pilot their rapid, field-deployable genetic detection technology that redefines water quality testing by enabling real-time, on-site detection of environmental DNA for pathogens and ecological indicators. CEO Ed Rudberg, Ph.D. shares: “We are ecstatic to partner with RWA and ClimateHaven to provide cost-saving, actionable data that will improve management of drinking water in the region.” Through this funded pilot with the Regional Water Authority (RWA), NS2 will gain access to the utility’s raw water infrastructure, treatment facilities, and laboratory testing environments. This provides them with a unique proving ground to validate their technology under real-world conditions, an opportunity the Water Innovation Hub will continue to provide for many more water tech startups to come. This collaboration represents a significant milestone for Connecticut’s water and innovation ecosystem, demonstrating how utilities can integrate cutting-edge technologies to strengthen water system resilience, maintain affordable rates for ratepayers, and deliver long-term regional benefits. Stay tuned as we follow the pilot journey and share insights from the field. South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, Sherwin Gormly, Victor Benni, Aishwarya Kuruttukulam, Ryan Dings, Regina Sung #Connecticut #WaterTech #Innovation #climate

The Green Drinks reception at the Yale Clean Energy Conference brought together more than 400 attendees for an incredible evening of dialogue, ideas, and collaboration. Thank you to everyone who joined us and look out for an invitation to our next one in Q1 2026! We were proud to see four ClimateHaven startups take the stage with standout pitches and to continue the conversation as exhibitors on day two. The discussions throughout the conference were deeply resonant with ClimateHaven’s mission — from the Yale School of Management keynote on energy supply chains and trade that highlighted new models for shared risk (“my output is your input”) to the critical minerals panel exploring insurance and stockpiling mechanisms as innovative solutions for supply challenges. Huge thanks to the Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY) team — and especially Julia Nojeim and Stuart DeCew — for running such an impeccable operation. We’re already looking forward to next year!

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Our Quarterly Community Celebration brought the ClimateHaven spirit to life last week through friendly competition, laughter, and a few intense rallies at our office Ping Pong Tournament 🏓 A huge thank you to the startup banking team at J.P. Morgan and to Norma A. Padrón, Ph.D. Britt Gardner, and Queenie Chen for their generous sponsorship that made the evening possible. And thank you to all the founders, mentors, and community partners who joined. Events like this remind us just how wide and connected the ClimateHaven community truly is. Congratulations to our tournament champions Julia Nojeim, Adam Silverman and Aarav Gandhi! They put the ClimateHaven team’s skills to the test and proved themselves as true challengers. We can't wait to keep up this quarterly tradition! Aishwarya Kuruttukulam, Cecil Gilliard, Ryan Dings, Casey R. Pickett, Regina Sung

Four ClimateHaven startups are taking the stage at this year’s Yale Clean Energy Conference Pitch Competition — each pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the clean energy transition: 🔹 Harness — An AI-powered finance platform connecting renewable energy developers in West Africa with global investors. Marlo Eltaib, Jesse M. Okoche 🔹 Vibrant Building Technologies — Building the central nervous system for buildings — giving the mechanical systems that run our homes and offices a brain. Ryan Fletcher 🔹 Decarb Energy Partners — Transforming PFAS-laden wastewater treatment sludge into carbon-negative biofuel. Kevin Gallagher 🔹 Riseline Carbon — Reimagining carbon offsetting for the ski industry and mountain communities. Lizzy Vanderkloot We’re proud to see these innovators representing ClimateHaven among some of the most promising solutions in clean energy. You’ll need to register to attend the Pitch Competition — and we hope you’ll stay for our Green Drinks reception at 6 PM, where the conversations (and collaborations) will keep flowing. 🔗 Register for the conference here: https://lnkd.in/g6-qdKJw Green Drinks registration: https://luma.com/b4rcsv1p

Last week, we kicked off the Yale Corporate Water Risk Workshop, a six-week, two-credit course led by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY) in partnership with ClimateHaven’s Water Innovation Hub. The course explores how emerging technologies and business models can mitigate corporate water risks while unlocking new pathways for resilience and growth. As the client partner, the Hub is working with 22 students across Yale School of the Environment, Yale School of Management MBA, and PhD programs on applied research for the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (RWA) and Xylem — from assessing the operational impact of harmful algal blooms and aging pipe infrastructure to mapping market trajectories in industrial cooling and water reuse. Special thanks to faculty leader Todd Cort, CBEY Executive Director Stuart DeCew, and student coordinators Peter Waggonner and CJ Denney, as well as Satish Rao and Victor Benni, Sherwin Gormly and Amanda Lounsbury, PhD for leading insightful sessions. Together, these collaborations strengthen the Hub’s mission to translate water innovation into practical solutions for resilience and growth. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gtJf_sYG Aishwarya Kuruttukulam, Regina Sung

Digital transformation is redefining what resilience looks like in the water sector. In our latest Water Innovation Watch article, “WaterTech Solutions: Soft Tech & AI Innovation for Critical Water Systems,” Ioana Solomon explores how AI, data, and software are reshaping how utilities, industries, and farmers manage and protect vital water resources. The article highlights why digital tools are becoming indispensable to the future of water management. Here are a few key points: 💧 The digital transformation of water isn’t about replacing infrastructure — it’s about layering intelligence onto existing systems to extend their lifespan, cut costs, and improve reliability. 📊 Predictive analytics and AI-driven modeling are shifting the sector from reactive management to proactive resilience. 🔒 As connectivity grows, cybersecurity has become as critical to water infrastructure as the physical systems themselves. Dive deeper into the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dDfa5wMh Ioana Solomon, Aishwarya Kuruttukulam, Max Storto

We’re few weeks away from the Yale Clean Energy Conference on November 6 — and this quarter’s Green Drinks reception wouldn’t be possible without our event sponsors, Ascend Bank and Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. Ascend Bank has served Connecticut communities for more than 150 years—helping local families, entrepreneurs, and small businesses prosper. With eight branches across the state and a strong digital banking network, Ascend continues to be a trusted financial partner for businesses driving regional growth and innovation. Stanley Black & Decker, headquartered here in Connecticut, is a global leader in tools, outdoor products, and engineered fastening solutions. Through brands like DeWalt, Craftsman, and Black+Decker, the company continues its long tradition of advancing technology and supporting the builders shaping a more sustainable world. Join us at the Green Drinks @ Yale Clean Energy Conference to connect with leaders across energy, finance, and technology. 👉 Register now! https://luma.com/b4rcsv1p Yale Clean Energy Collaborative, Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY),Stuart DeCew, Julia Nojeim, Marty Guay, Nancy Gerson,