NY Climate Tech: Feb 2 - Feb 9

Celebrate women in energy, find co-founder, learn about urban heat and policy-as-power, apply to eight upcoming accelerators, and more this week

Alec Turnbull, Sonam Velani, and Streetlife Ventures

Feb 02, 2026

Hi friends,

Happy February! Stay warm, support Minneapolis, support NYC, and keep the work going. If you have any local resources or groups to share with the wider NYC climate tech community, send them our way.

Here are our picks for the week:

Tuesday join Women in Sustainability & Energy at Building Energy Exchange for the 🌟 BE-Ex & WISE 2026 Winter Soirée
Wednesday take 60 minutes for the 🌍 Manhattan Climate Changemakers Hour of Action
Thursday decarbonize NYC with Energetic, a board game about the future of NYC at ⚡ February Energy & Climate Game Night
Thinking about a startup? Head to the 🌱 Climate Co-Founder Matching Spring Kick Off for a casual happy hour on Friday
Also on Friday head to downtown Brooklyn for a pair of lunchtime lectures: 🌡️ A NASA JPL- NYU workshop on Land Cover Change and Urban Heat Extremes
Next Monday learn about climate policy at 🍺 Lectures on Tap-”Policy as Power: The Art & Science of Policy Based Change”

We’ve also added a lot of new opportunities for founders this week, from national opportunities in community resilience, housing, and energy to back-yard opportunities at the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Make it in Brooklyn.

As always, scroll down for the full list.

Cheers,

Alec, Sonam, and the Climate Tech Cities team

🎶 Planetary Listening: Sun, Feb 1
🏙️ The Urban Frontier of AI: Mon, Feb 2
🌟 BE-Ex & WISE 2026 Winter Soirée: Tue, Feb 3
♻️ February Compost Workshop: Tue, Feb 3
📚 Hawthornden Brooklyn in Conversation: Megha Majumdar with Robert Siegel: Tue, Feb 3
👗 Re.Stance Collective Fashion Week Showcase: Tue, Feb 3
🌍 Manhattan Climate Changemakers Hour of Action (now on WEDNESDAY): Wed, Feb 4
🌱 Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science: SAVANNAH FERRETTI: Wed, Feb 4
♻️ Waste Management Skills for Manufacturing – 1 Day Training, New York, NY: Thu, Feb 5
💧 Eric Masanet — Analyzing data center water demands: Best practices and critical questions: Thu, Feb 5
⚡ February Energy & Climate Game Night: Thu, Feb 5
🌡️ A NASA JPL- NYU workshop on Land Cover Change and Urban Heat Extremes: Fri, Feb 6
🌱 C2FM Spring Kick Off: Fri, Feb 6
🆙 Upcycle NYFW 2026 – The Official NY Fashion Week Kickoff Event: Fri, Feb 6
🌿 Gowanus: From Revolutionary Battlefront to Toxic Wonderland: Sat, Feb 7
💩 Intro to Composting (Master Composter Course): Sat, Feb 7

Opportunities

🌪️ Community Disaster Resilience Innovation Accelerator: Due 2/11

The Verizon Community Disaster Resilience Innovation Accelerator powered by MassChallenge is designed to identify and support startups developing next-generation solutions that strengthen community resilience before, during, and after natural disasters. Tthis program invites innovators to create technologies that provide preemptive warnings, hazard mitigation, and robust connectivity in the face of natural disaster events.

☀️ Honnold Foundation Partner: Due 2/12

The Honnold Foundation provides unrestricted core grants to organizations expanding equitable solar energy access, with a focus on improving social and economic equity in marginalized communities worldwide. Grants typically range from $25,000 to $150,000, are awarded in two annual rounds, and prioritize projects in the Americas and climate-vulnerable Island Nations.

🛫 Pilots at BAT: Due “Mid-Feb”

Pilots at BAT provides climate tech companies with access to real-world infrastructure at the Brooklyn Army Terminal to validate and scale technologies in New York City’s urban environment. Demonstrating performance under live conditions is critical for commercializing solutions in sectors like advanced building materials, renewable energy systems, and clean mobility.

🏡 Housing Venture Lab: Due 2/20

This accelerator program provides wraparound support for entrepreneurs with bold ideas to make housing more equitable, accessible, and sustainable. $75k seed funding and tracks in building innovation and opportunity & access. Non-profits and for-profits both eligible. Early application deadline: 2/9, final deadline 2/20.

📱 Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator: Due 2/24

A uniquely designed program for companies at any stage to accelerate the integration of their technologies that can help reduce the carbon impact of Amazon devices. Unlike other accelerators, this program breaks down traditional industry barriers and accelerates collaboration between climate tech innovators and enterprise decision-makers—helping streamline the path from validation to adoption opportunity.

🚊 Transit Tech Lab: Due 2/27

Applications are now open for the 8th annual Transit Tech Lab, an accelerated innovation program founded by the Partnership Fund for New York City and the MTA to improve public transit in the NY metro area. This year’s Lab is seeking technology companies with solutions that can help transit agencies advance infrastructure systems or modernize data and operational workflows. Selected companies will participate in an eight-week proof of concept with the MTA, Port Authority of NY & NJ, and NYC DOT. Apply now or attend an info session on February 6 at 1pm ET to learn more about this year’s challenges.

🌾 Make it in Brooklyn: Due 2/28

The Make It in Brooklyn Ag Tech Pitch Contest aims to spotlight and support early-stage companies working on agricultural technology solutions that enhance productivity, optimize resource use, and promote environmental sustainability. This event provides a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas, gain exposure, and compete for funding to accelerate their ventures.

🌐 NYC International Landing Pad Accelerator: Due 3/23

This flagship program is focused on helping ready-to-scale companies overcome some of the toughest barriers to NYC market-entry — so you can get your first project off the ground, scale up, and grow your business.. Our initial cohort is focused on the Built Environment — the buildings and infrastructure where New Yorkers live, work, and move. Together, we’ll help build a cleaner, more resilient future for all who call New York City home.

Upcoming Events

🌳 Queens Botanical Garden Compost Site Tours 2026: Sun, Feb 8
🎨 unEarthed → reRooting Art Exhibition Closing Reception: Sun, Feb 8
♻️ Curbside Composting Presentation: Sun, Feb 8
🌱 Climate Science and Energy Engineering Dinner: Sun, Feb 8
🍺 Lectures on Tap-”Policy as Power: The Art & Science of Policy Based Change”: Mon, Feb 8
🌱 Green Apple Trivia: Mon, Feb 9
🌊 2026 Windward Innovation Celebration: Tue, Feb 10
✨ Women of EVs NYC Galentines Edition: Tue, Feb 10
🌍✨ #Talk: International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Tue, Feb 10
🌍 Impact Across Institutions: Fordham x NYU x Columbia: Tue, Feb 10
⚓️ COPRI Lecture: Turning a Big Ship: Managing Climate Risk at the PANYNJ: Tue, Feb 10
🏙️ Decarb Multifamily Summit: Wed, Feb 11
🍷 I2SL GNY: Sponsor Forum + Invitation-Only Networking: Wed, Feb 11
📊 Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science: TBA: Wed, Feb 11
👷‍♀️ WICE Conference Winter 2026: Thu, Feb 12
🧪 NYC Microplastics Symposium: Thu, Feb 12
♻️ Salt Lot Tour with Big Reuse: Thu, Feb 12
🔗 New York Engineering, Energy & Transportation: Thu, Feb 12
👗 IMPACT Fashion Week VI: Runway Shows & Shops: Fri, Feb 13
🌳 Street Tree Care with NYU Give Where You Live: Sat, Feb 14
🌊 [INFRASTRUCTOURS] Waterfront Landscape, Offshore WindScape Brooklyn: Sat, Feb 14
🍻 Lectures on Tap - “The Chemistry and Crimes of Consumer Products”: Sun, Feb 15
📚 Climate Migration Book Club: Tue, Feb 17
🐘 Joyce Hwang: In Consideration of Neighbors: Wed, Feb 18
🌍 Climate Cafe at The Brooklyn Public Library: Wed, Feb 18
🌍 Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science: PETER DUEBEN: Wed, Feb 18
🌱 Building Green Futures: Justice-Impacted Pathways into the Green Economy: Thu, Feb 19
🌐 The MESA Institute for Global Impact Official Launch: Thu, Feb 19
🍹 The Carbonauts | Bard Sustainability Sips CSE 206 (NYC): Thu, Feb 19
👗 Spring Clothing Swap & Happy Hour 🌸: Fri, Feb 20
🌿 C2FM Founder Speed Matching: Built Environment: Sat, Feb 21
🌳 Street Tree Care with NYU Give Where You Live: Sat, Feb 21
🎨 Agar art 2.0: casting with sculptural forms for microbial art: Sat, Feb 21
🧬 Learn Synthetic Biology: Let’s Assemble Pigment Pathways: Sat, Feb 21
🏙️ From Crisis to Proximity: A New Social Contract for Cities: Mon, Feb 23
🌍 Olfactory Arts in a Warming World: Mon, Feb 23
🏗️ Comprehensive Green Building Certification Guide – 1 Day Workshop in NYC: Tue, Feb 24
🌱 Climate Cafe & Radical Imagination Activity: Wed, Feb 25
🌍 Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science: Research Update by DA FAN: Wed, Feb 25
🏗️ 2026 Most Significant Infrastructure Projects Summit: Wed, Feb 25
📝 Heat Stories: Memory, Place, and a Changing Climate: Wed, Feb 25
🎬 Movie Night: Emergent City: Thu, Feb 26
🌾 Global Shocks and the Future of Food System Resilience: Thu, Feb 26
🌆 Dr. Katia Lamer: Filling Data Deserts to Understand Urban Airflow and Heat Mitigation: Fri, Feb 27
🌳 Street Tree Care with NYU Give Where You Live: Sat, Feb 28

🌎 Climate Tech Cities and Streetlife Ventres Startup and Talent Platforms

Climate Tech Cities and Streetlife Ventures are launching new platforms to support climate founders, funders, and career transitioners! There is no shortage of great companies raising money for their groundbreaking ideas, great investors looking to support with capital, and great talent living the mantra that every job is a climate job. We can’t wait to hear from you!

🎶 Planetary Listening

When: Sun, Feb. 1 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (EST)

Where: Reforesters Laboratory, Kings County

Planetary Listening is a unique performance by environmental scientist and interdisciplinary artist Willow Gatewood, exploring the kinship to the living Earth through an innovative series of music and sound. Set in Kings County, NY, this event merges ecological themes with artistic expression, employing biosonification to create immersive soundscapes. Attendees will experience a sonic exploration of migratory patterns and ecological changes, fostering connections between humans and nature, alongside offerings of adaptogenic foods and teas.

🏙️ The Urban Frontier of AI

When: Mon, Feb. 2 from 7:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)

Where: 19 Washington Square North, New York

The Urban Frontier of AI is a pivotal event that explores the role of artificial intelligence and data science in building resilient urban environments. The discussions will encompass themes such as urban data centers, grid stability, and strategies to address climate challenges effectively. Hosted in New York City, this conference aims to bring together thought leaders and practitioners focused on innovative solutions for urban resilience and sustainability.

🌟 BE-Ex & WISE 2026 Winter Soirée

When: Tue, Feb. 3 from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM (EST)

Where: Building Energy Exchange,

The BE-Ex & WISE 2026 Winter Soirée is a networking event scheduled for February 3, 2026, at the Building Energy Exchange in New York. This evening will celebrate advancements in decarbonization and resilience, featuring an award ceremony and opportunities for attendees to connect over sustainability and energy initiatives. It aims to foster relationships among industry change-makers in the climate tech sector.

♻️ February Compost Workshop

When: Tue, Feb. 3 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM (EST)

Where: 2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island

The February Compost Workshop at the College of Staten Island offers a practical, hands-on experience in composting, focusing on processing food scraps collected from the cafeteria. Participants will engage actively in the composting process, making it an educational initiative towards sustainability. Suitable clothing and closed-toe shoes are recommended for involvement in this unique, interactive workshop.

📚 Hawthornden Brooklyn in Conversation: Megha Majumdar with Robert Siegel

When: Tue, Feb. 3 from 7:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)

Where: Ditmas Park, Brooklyn

Hawthornden Brooklyn hosts a conversation featuring Megha Majumdar, best-selling author of ‘A Guardian and a Thief’, in an engaging exploration of literary craft. This event provides a unique opportunity to delve into the thought processes behind creative writing and storytelling, highlighting Majumdar’s experiences and insights. The conversation aims to foster community engagement through the shared love of literature and craft.

👗 Re.Stance Collective Fashion Week Showcase

When: Tue, Feb. 3 from 7:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)

Where: 100 Sutton Street, Brooklyn

The Re.Stance Collective Fashion Week Showcase is a unique event combining sustainable fashion with an art exhibit, industry insight panels, and a marketplace in Brooklyn, NY. Scheduled for February 4-5, 2026, the event highlights innovative approaches to climate-conscious fashion and aims to engage participants in discussions surrounding sustainability in the industry. The event will culminate in an after party fostering community connections and collaboration in the realm of sustainable development.

🌍 Manhattan Climate Changemakers Hour of Action (now on WEDNESDAY)

When: Wed, Feb. 4 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM (EST)

Where: Pier 57, New York

The Manhattan Climate Changemakers Hour of Action at Pier 57 offers attendees a hands-on approach to climate advocacy. Participants can expect to engage in activities such as writing letters to the editor and organizing meetings with Congress members to push for equitable climate solutions. This free event fosters community engagement and allows both newcomers and experienced advocates to collaborate on meaningful climate action.

🌱 Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science: SAVANNAH FERRETTI

When: Wed, Feb. 4 from 7:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)

Where: 2276 12th Avenue, New York

The Spring 2026 Lecture in Climate Data Science features Savannah Ferretti at the Columbia Innovation Hub in New York. This seminar, organized by the LEAP Center, focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence with climate data science, aiming to enhance understanding of climate-related challenges. This event is a part of an important dialogue on the intersection of technology and climate action in urban settings.

♻️ Waste Management Skills for Manufacturing – 1 Day Training, New York, NY

When: Thu, Feb. 5 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST)

Where: 100 Church Street 8th Floor New York City New York 10007, New York

This workshop offers a practical guide to waste management specifically designed for manufacturing facilities. Participants learn how to identify manufacturing waste streams, minimize waste generation, handle hazardous materials safely, and implement sustainable disposal practices that support operational efficiency.

💧 Eric Masanet — Analyzing data center water demands: Best practices and critical questions

When: Thu, Feb. 5 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (EST)

Where: 370 Jay St, Kings County

Join Eric Masanet from UC Santa Barbara for a critical analysis of data center water demands, addressing sustainability and emerging technologies. This lecture, hosted by NYU Tandon’s CUSP, will delve into best practices and key questions surrounding water use in data centers, using the largest empirical water efficiency dataset to forecast future trends. The event is free and takes place in Brooklyn, providing insights into the intersection of climate tech and urban development.

⚡ February Energy & Climate Game Night

When: Thu, Feb. 5 from 7:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)

Where: 14 Jefferson Street, New York

The February Energy & Climate Game Night invites participants to engage in a fun and educational experience centered around decarbonizing New York City’s electric grid. Held at the NYC-DSA Office, this interactive game night focuses on sustainability and climate tech, utilizing the game Energetic to promote awareness and understanding of energy systems. It’s an excellent opportunity for local residents to connect over climate solutions while enjoying a game-themed evening.

🌡️ A NASA JPL- NYU workshop on Land Cover Change and Urban Heat Extremes

When: Fri, Feb. 6 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (EST)

Where: 5 MetroTech Center, Kings County

The NASA JPL-NYU workshop on Land Cover Change and Urban Heat Extremes explores how urbanization affects heat exposure in cities. Featuring lectures by Dr. Glynn Hulley on urban heat islands and Dr. Cheolhee Yoo on thermal impacts of growth in Indian cities, this free public event on February 6, 2026, aims to share insights on using NASA thermal infrared data for urban planning and heat mitigation strategies. Hosted by the Center for Urban Science + Progress, the event is part of a larger workshop focusing on land cover change.

🌱 C2FM Spring Kick Off

When: Fri, Feb. 6 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (EST)

Where: , New York

C2FM kicks off the spring season with a relaxed happy hour in New York City, focusing on climate-related discussions among Columbia-affiliated individuals. This event is designed for members of C2FM, graduate students, alumni, and faculty, especially newcomers looking to connect with like-minded peers in the climate startup space. Attendees can expect casual mingling and authentic conversations without the pressure of curated matches.

🆙 Upcycle NYFW 2026 – The Official NY Fashion Week Kickoff Event

When: Fri, Feb. 6 from 7:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)

Where: 296 9th Avenue, New York

Upcycle NYFW 2026 is a premier kickoff event for New York Fashion Week that fuses style with sustainability by showcasing innovative fashion created from upcycled materials. Hosted by Sizzle Arts, the event features runway presentations and live art, highlighting designers who transform discarded items into unique fashion statements. The evening emphasizes a commitment to eco-luxury and aims to inspire attendees to embrace a more conscious approach to fashion while celebrating creativity and activism.

🌿 Gowanus: From Revolutionary Battlefront to Toxic Wonderland

When: Sat, Feb. 7 from 7:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EST)

Where: 336 3rd Street, Brooklyn

Explore the historical and environmental transformation of Gowanus through a guided walking tour that highlights the canal’s past, present, and future. Hosted at the Old Stone House of Brooklyn, this event delves into the area’s unique challenges, including its polluted waters, while uncovering strategies for revitalization and sustainability. Attendees will engage with local experts and learn about ongoing climate initiatives affecting the region.

💩 Intro to Composting (Master Composter Course)