From Research to Startup Night
Beyond Net Zero: Building the Carbon Economy
From Research to Startup
Climate tech needs more than emission reductions. To reach net zero, and eventually move beyond it, we need credible ways to remove carbon, store it, and turn it into scalable climate solutions. 🌍
This evening is for everyone curious about the emerging carbon economy: researchers, founders, operators, investors, and students who want to understand what is worth building across decarbonization, carbon removal, capture, storage, and utilization.
Together with leading researchers and climate-tech startups, we will explore questions such as:
What conditions need to be in place for the carbon economy to scale?
Which technologies will enable future carbon removal, capture, storage, and utilization?
How do startups build viable business models in emerging carbon markets?
Where are the biggest open opportunities for future founders and researchers?
How can insights from research and startups be translated into venture concepts?
The evening combines expert keynotes with an interactive venture idea sprint, where participants will develop early-stage startup concepts and receive feedback from researchers, founders, and operators.
Speaker Lineup 🔬🚀
Dr. Nicoletta Brazzola (Oxford Net Zero, IPCC, SWP Berlin)
Building a Credible Carbon Economy: Governance and Policy for Scaling Carbon RemovalProf. Dr.-Ing. Jakob Burger (Professor for Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering, TUM)
CCUS as Key Technologies in Future Carbon Economies: Challenges and Opportunities from a Process Engineer’s ViewSimon Reiter (CCO & Co-Founder, Litherm)
Rethinking the Kiln: How to Decarbonize One of the Hardest Industrial SectorsTony Oehm (CEO, ZeroEx)
From Rock to Removal: Commercial Pathways for Enhanced Rock WeatheringMalte Toetzke (TUM, Max Planck Net Zero Lab)
Jury member for the venture idea feedback session
Agenda (preliminary)
7:00 PM: Doors Open & Welcome
Arrival, check-in, and short opening by +Net Positive
7:10 PM: Research & Startup Keynotes
Four short perspectives on policy, technology, commercialization, and industrial implementation in the carbon economy
8:20 PM: Venture Idea Sprint
Participants form small teams and develop startup ideas based on the challenges and opportunities highlighted by the speakers
9:10 PM: Pitches & Expert Feedback
Teams pitch their ideas and receive feedback from the speaker jury
9:40 PM: Networking over Food & Drinks
Connect with speakers, founders, researchers, and other climate-curious builders
Who should join?
This event is for:
Students interested in climate, energy, and entrepreneurship
Researchers interested in carbon management and climate innovation
Climate-tech founders and operators
Aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage builders
Anyone curious about the future of carbon removal, CCUS, and the carbon economy
No prior expertise in carbon management is required. Curiosity, ambition, and a willingness to think entrepreneurially are enough.
Why join?
Most climate events talk about the problem. This event is about what to build. You will get an accessible overview of the carbon economy, hear from people working at the frontier of research and startup building, and collaborate with others to turn open challenges into early venture ideas.
Come for the insights. Stay for the people building the future of climate.
As spots are limited, please only register if you intend to attend.
This event is facilitated by +Net Positive – CDTM’s initiative for innovators in climate, energy, and biodiversity.
Supported by ZeroEx and Litherm.