Now that the Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem 2022 winners have been formally introduced, you’ll need to study extra about every profitable workforce and the story behind every innovation. The Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem is a web-based competitors that awards money prizes to early-stage tech entrepreneurs fixing the world’s hardest issues. Since 2017, the competitors has awarded $3.25 million USD to 78 startups from 25 nations.
We’re excited so that you can study extra concerning the 2022 profitable groups addressing a few of the greatest challenges we face via technology-based options.
I lately had the chance to interview Morteza Ghorbani Eftekhar, CEO and Founding father of PurCity, winner of the Regional (EMEA) First Runners-Up $75,000 USD prize. PurCity offers a patent pending expertise resolution that may be carried out/put in onto any city infrastructure’s floor to straight seize carbon (CO2) from air, contribute to saving vitality about 30 to 48 p.c vitality consumption on a constructing’s HVAC programs, enhance sustainability, and clear the air.
What drawback is your expertise resolution attempting to unravel and the way does it work?
Morteza: 40 p.c of world vitality consumption and CO2 emissions originates from buildings.
Our product has a multi-level output: vitality discount, net-zero sustainability, and saving lives from air air pollution. We’re capturing the air straight, cleansing it, and delivering the clear air into the HVAC system of the constructing. We’re saving 30 to 48 p.c of vitality consumption on the HVAC system by returning clear air contained in the constructing with our product.
What’s modern about the way in which you’re fixing the difficulty? What units your resolution aside?
Morteza: We specifically designed our system to show constructing buildings or partitions, that exist already, into energetic, good, and multifunctional programs.
By 2050, round 2.5 billion individuals might be residing in cities. This can result in extra city building, much less house, and extra air pollution. We want options that may flip old school supplies into new, good, and sustainable ones. We have already got so many buildings on the earth. We’re enabling the surfaces of those pre-existing buildings, particularly in cities, to allow net-zero carbon emissions.
Moreover, our GapS 4.0 has PV photo voltaic panels built-in to them. Due to this fact, we’re the world’s first carbon seize expertise that might be unplugged whereas continuously capturing carbon and cleansing the air. Among the by-products of the system, together with hydrogen and pure CO2, may also be offered into the market.
What impressed you to develop this resolution?
Morteza: Lengthy story brief, all the pieces began after I was a child. I misplaced one in all my greatest pals because of the excessive degree of air pollution in our metropolis. She had lung most cancers, and when she was gone, I needed to give you totally different options that may contribute to cleansing the air from the surroundings. In 2016, I got here up with an concept from scratch, and ever since then I’ve labored on growing PurCity.
How will profitable a prize within the Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem allow you to advance your corporation?
Morteza: Nothing will be accomplished with out the assist of others. This resolution is the results of everybody’s work, and because of Cisco’s generosity, we will proceed to develop. Cisco’s assist will assist us additional develop and increase the expertise to seize carbon from city infrastructures, clear the air, save vitality, and enhance human well being.
Are you aware what you’ll use the prize cash for particularly?
Morteza: Cisco is extremely beneficiant, and this $75,000 prize will assist preserve our enterprise sustainable. On a private observe, if it weren’t for grants like this one, I’d be residing within the streets. When the pandemic first hit, I used to be utilizing my very own private checking account to push the corporate upward, and I feared having to reside out on the streets once more. Nevertheless, the funding and assist, from prizes like this one, have helped saved me and my enterprise. Now, with that stress gone, we’re working very onerous to additional enhance and commercialize the product for upcoming large-scale initiatives.
What recommendation do you’ve got for different social entrepreneurs?
Morteza: One of the vital essential issues I’ve discovered in my life is it’s essential to love what you’re combating for, and it’s essential to battle for one thing that you just consider in. If in case you have discovered such a purpose, you’ll not be simply deterred when difficulties come up.
You’ll battle and work in direction of it 24/7. I personally am dedicating all the pieces — my life and vitality — in direction of making my purpose occur. I’ve accomplished Judo since I used to be a child and in 2015, I turned a Judo champion in Denmark. I do know what it takes to battle for what you consider in.
I’ll admit, I’ve made errors and failed a number of instances. Throughout my journey there have been many moments the place I questioned myself. The quantity of rejection we confronted was unbelievable, however my mindset has all the time been following my objectives to supply affect. I’m pleased with my errors and failures, as they’re empowering me to take the subsequent steps to be higher.
Keep tuned for extra articles in our weblog sequence, that includes interviews with each Cisco International Drawback Solver Problem 2022 profitable workforce!
Share:
