Startup Yale 2025: Planetary Solutions Prize Shines a Spotlight on Climate Innovation

Rahul Shah (Master of Environmental Management '26)

Friday, April 4th, 2025 marked the exciting return of Startup Yale, the university’s flagship student entrepreneurship competition where bold ideas and brilliant innovators take center stage. Among the event categories was the Yale Planetary Solutions Prize, which celebrates ventures tackling urgent climate and sustainability challenges.

judges

Four diverse teams took to the stage at the historic Hotel Marcel to pitch their groundbreaking ideas to a packed, energetic audience and an esteemed panel of judges: Amir Mehr (Elemental Impact), Deborah Spalding (Conservation International), Brandon Blaesser (Ecosystem Integrity Fund), Justine Lee (ClimateHaven), and Lindsay Greene (Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation).

Kicking off the competition, Nadia Ahmed and Gauthami Gopal presented Mudder AI, an AI-powered disaster management platform designed to enhance emergency responses to climate-induced crises such as floods and wildfires. Next, Nick Callegari introduced Verustruct, a 3D-printing solution offering sustainable housing options for underserved communities across the U.S. The third pitch came from Maya Caine, who showcased Helix, a social enterprise using blockchain to build local fashion economies that connect ethical tailors with conscious consumers. Rounding out the lineup, Marlo Eltaib unveiled Harness, an AI-enabled matchmaking platform connecting renewable energy developers with capital providers to accelerate solar deployment in West Africa. 

Verustruct team with Stuart DeCew and Julie Zimmerman awarding a big check

With all four pitches earning enthusiastic applause, the judges faced a tough decision. Ultimately, Mudder AI claimed the $35,000 top prize for its compelling vision and timely impact.   Verustruct secured the runner-up spot, earning a $15,000 grant to further develop its housing platform. With a sellout crowd, the audience prize was also a close call with a total of 85 votes cast, eventually going to Verustruct for a check of $2,000.

Each team brought creativity, purpose, and momentum to the table, reaffirming the central role of climate innovation at Startup Yale. As the competition came to a close, the excitement in the room made one thing clear: these ventures are just getting started, and their futures are as bright as their ideas.