Women-Led Startups
Pitch Competition
April 24th | San Francisco
Event Sponsors
Shining a spotlight on women-led startups from around the world, our annual pitch competition features female entrepreneurs from the cleantech and sustainability industry. The competition winner will enjoy a large prize pool to continue growing their business.
Selected startups will have 5 minutes on stage followed by 3 minutes for Q&A from the judges. Winners will be announced toward the end of the event.
Congratulations to the Winner of the 2025 Women-Led Startups Pitch Competition:
Karen Baert
Co-founder and CEO, Ammobia
Developing a low-cost, low-emissions process to produce clean ammonia from air and green hydrogen for use in agriculture, shipping, and chemical manufacturing.
And to the First Runner Up, Second Runner Up, and People’s Choice:
Beth Zotter
CEO, Umaro
Harnessing ocean-farmed seaweed to develop the next generation of sustainable plant-based protein.
Anne Carlson
Founder & CEO, Jiminy’s, Inc.
Creating eco-friendly dog food using insect protein to reduce the environmental impact of pet nutrition.
Kimberley Schroder
Founder, Nimble
Repair household goods to save them from the landfill and keep using the items you love with Nimble.
MEET THE PITCHERS
Karen Baert
Co-founder and CEO, Ammobia
Developing a low-cost, low-emissions process to produce clean ammonia from air and green hydrogen for use in agriculture, shipping, and chemical manufacturing.
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
A global reach 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.
MEET THE JUDGES
Claire Veuthey
Managing Partner, Rizoma
Amit Narayan
Founder & CEO, AINA Climate AI Ventures
Eran Sandhaus
Managing Partner, J-Impact Fund
Amit Chaturvedy
Global Head & Managing Partner, SE Ventures
Luisa Marotta
Terna Innovation Zone Manager, Terna SPA CVC
Nare Janvelyan
Investor, Voyager Ventures
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
Kati Kallins
Global Sustainability Lead, Adobe
Sadia Raveendran
VP of Industry Solutions at Uplight
Past Winners
2024 Winner:
Sophia Wennstedt
Co- Founder and CEO, Blip Energy
Sophia is passionate about climate justice and energy equity. Drawing on her background working as a Mechanical Engineer on Roomba, she pivoted into the energy space with work at Exelon and at Tesla as a Product Manager for the home energy order portal. Sophia has been recognized by Forbes 30 under 30 Energy, Harvard Climate Circle, and has shared her perspective and experience on panels for ReutersNEXT, Chicago Venture Summit and SXSW.
2023 Winner:
Erika Boeing, Founder & CEO, Accelerate Wind
Accelerate Wind designs and installs wind turbines at the edges of roofs where wind speeds are fastest and can be paired with rooftop solar.
2022 Winner:
Lauren Gregor, Founder & CEO, Rent-A-Romper
Rent-a-romper is a sustainable way to dress your babies and toddlers because they grow in the blink of eye. A rental membership of curated clothing sent directly to your home.
2020/2021 Winner:
Dr. Laureen Meroueh, Alchemr
Alchemr makes it easy for customers across the hard-to-abate sectors, such as chemicals and heavy-duty transport, to transition to green hydrogen to harness cost savings and emissions reduction.
2019 Winner:
Sila Kiliccote, CEO & Co-founder, eIQ Mobility, Inc.
eIQ Mobility, Inc. was a fleet electrification acquired by NextEra Energy Resources in 2021.
2018 Winner:
Alina Adams, Founder and CEO, Artveoli
Artveoli developed a new Air Quality Management Device that produces Oxygen and removes CO2 inside buildings, similar to trees generating fresh air inside working 24/7.
