Climate Tech Fellows Make Their Mark at The New York Climate Exchange Showcase

The first Climate Tech Fellowship cohort, including Stony Brook University's Stephanie Taboada (second from right). Photos by Stefania Curto.

The future of climate innovation took center stage at The New York Climate Exchange's inaugural Climate Tech Showcase on September 24, where eight pioneering fellows from across the university partner network presented their groundbreaking solutions to an engaged audience of investors, researchers, and climate leaders.

Held on Governors Island during Climate Week NYC, the showcase provided the first public glimpse into the work of The Exchange's first Climate Tech Fellow cohort - a diverse group of innovators tackling everything from hydrogen storage to coral restoration with cutting-edge technologies and bold approaches.

With ​insights from seasoned leaders speaking about their own entrepreneurship journeys and lessons learned from founding to exit, the event enabled fellows to explore potential collaborations and partnerships, in addition to presenting on their innovative solutions to climate impacts experienced in New York City and beyond. From real-time flood monitoring systems to AI-driven wildfire management platforms, the breadth and depth of innovations on display demonstrated the program's potential to accelerate climate solutions from lab to market.

"There's no question that climate is impacting our ability to sustain our cities, including flooding, grid failures, rising tides and damaged coastal environments. Here on Governors Island, we have a sandbox to test out urban resilient technologies," said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith, who chairs the board of The New York Climate Exchange. "This is our opportunity to bring together the brilliant research by Stony Brook and our other partners, the corporate world, and government officials to help us understand the policies and mechanisms to bring these solutions to bear."

Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith addresses the Climate Tech Showcase.

"Through the Climate Tech Fellowship, The Exchange is helping more climate innovators get their solutions out of the lab and on the path to market," said Shaina Horowitz, director of program innovation and acceleration at The New York Climate Exchange. "We are delighted to provide mentorship, tailored curricula and an engaged network of support to this impressive cohort. Through this program, we're not only accelerating climate impact, but also building a more inclusive and resilient innovation ecosystem."

The fellows' presentations reflected the intensive communication training they received earlier in the week from the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. The goal is to empower fellows to articulate complex technical solutions in accessible terms that clearly resonate with a diverse audience of potential collaborators, funders, and the communities they hope to serve.

The approach of Wednesday's showcase fostered an organic networking and knowledge exchange that The Exchange aims to catalyze throughout its programming.

"What struck me most was watching my colleagues connect with established players in the climate tech space," said fellow Stephanie Taboada, an adjunct professor at Stony Brook who sought to draw interest to her HySep hydrogen storage technology. "I hope that this fellowship will become a launching pad for the relationships and partnerships that will be crucial as we scale these solutions. I saw several fellows exchanging contacts with potential partners and mentors, which is exactly the kind of ecosystem building this program was designed to enable."

The event also highlighted New York City's growing position as a climate tech hub, with attendees representing established companies, startups, government agencies, and academic institutions. The cross-sector dialogue that emerged throughout the showcase demonstrated the collaborative approach needed to address complex climate challenges, said Kevin Reed, Stony Brook's associate provost for climate and sustainability and chief climate scientist at The Exchange.

Stony Brook's Climate Tech Fellow Stephanie Taboada at the Climate Tech Showcase.

"What we saw today really confirmed what we've been saying all along - New York has everything it takes to be a climate innovation powerhouse," Reed said. "You had researchers talking shop with industry folks, students picking the brains of experienced entrepreneurs, and just this great flow of ideas between different worlds. The fellows came with brilliant science, but building connections with the people in the room can bring the real-world know-how to actually make these solutions happen."

The fellows are expected to build momentum from the showcase to kick-off their six-month program journey, ending in February 2026. The connections made and feedback received will inform their work as they refine their technologies and business models with continued mentorship and support.

The success of this inaugural showcase also signals strong potential for The Exchange's broader mission to establish New York as a global leader in climate technology development, Goldsmith said.

"Seed funding and helping entrepreneurs build up technology is a key part of The Exchange and making New York City the fastest growing tech hub in the world," she said.