Confronting Climate Change

Confronting Climate Change:

The Opportunity for Entrepreneurs

Wednesday, April 3rd
5:00pm - 8:00pm

Genesis at Campus Point
4242 Campus Point Court
San Diego, CA

Sponsored By:

Event Partner:

Speaking:

Ralph Keeling, PhD

Professor, Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Director, Scripps CO2 Program

Mihri Ozkan, PhD

Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Climate Action Champion Professor, University of California Riverside 

Orianna Bretschger, CEO of Aquacycl

Aquacycl is a start-up that provides technologies for safe, reliable and cost-effective wastewater treatment.

Phillip Kopp, CEO of Conectric Networks

Commercial building, big data, and clean energy innovation

San Diego has long been a leader in sustainability. The region has a growing ecosystem focused entrepreneurship. Join us for an evening discussion with scientists, inventors, and entrepreneurs committed to creating a sustainable world.

**This event is free and open to the public

Mihri Ozkan, PhD

Professor Mihri Ozkan, at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in UC-Riverside, develops green energy technologies and focuses on research and education to achieve carbon neutrality. She speaks widely, is a prolific inventor, and has received many awards. Towards carbon neutrality, she has patented advanced Li-ion battery technology that incorporates environmentally friendly materials and new and safer battery architecture. In 2015, Professor Ozkan was selected as U. C. Riverside’s Faculty Climate Action Champion. For her mentorship to women in engineering she received the National Emerging Scholar Award from the American Association of University Women. Recently, she was recognized with the Rotary Humanitarian Star Award for her technological accomplishments in clean technology. Dr. Ozkan completed her graduate studies at Stanford and at UC-San Diego.

Orianna Bretschger, CEO of Aquacycl

A native of the Southwestern United States, Orianna Bretschger, grew up appreciating water issues. She received a B.S. in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Northern Arizona; and after a career in aerospace and government consulting, she completed a Ph.D. at UCS on how microbes remove pollutants from water and produce electricity at the same time. In 2008, Dr. Bretschger joined the J. Craig Venter Institute in San Diego where she began developing technologies for distributed wastewater treatment, resulting in 32 journal publications, 3 book chapters, and 7 patent filings. In 2016, Dr. Bretschger founded Aquacycl LLC with her partners. Aquacycl is now commercializing modular, plug-n-play, systems for sustainable wastewater treatment in industrial, agriculture and emerging markets.

Phillip Kopp, CEO of Conectric Networks, LLC

Phillip’s interest is in solving difficult structural challenges of society. While attending university in 1999, Phillip co-founded and managed Energy Eye (acqd. Somfy SA), one of the first companies producing wireless sensors for commercial building energy efficiency retrofits. In 2012 he co-founded Debitec, a company providing financial inclusion to the un-banked classes of South America and Cloudbeds (>$20M VC funding), the fastest growing hospitality tech company in the world, providing independent hospitality operators access to internet distribution channels. Currently he is the CEO of Conectric Networks, delivering the framework for the “internet of buildings” through some of the world’s largest utility and telecom providers so that buildings and people can interact seamlessly, improving health and comfort while reducing waste.

Program

5:00pm – 6:00pm         Networking, appetizers and refreshments provided

6:00pm – 6:10pm         Introduction to SDEE

6:10pm – 6:15pm         30 second pitches

6:15pm – 7:00pm         Speaker presentations

7:00pm – 8:00pm         Q & A, networking

To apply for 30 sec pitch contact: Danielle Hayes [email protected]

Send your name, e-mail, and a short overview (2-3 sentences). All entrepreneurs are welcome.

Visit sdentrepreneurs.org to become a member of SDEE.