featuring Climate Launchpad 2025 Global Grand Final
24th of October 2025
Prisma by Lumia, Vienna
45+ Countries
Discover. Connect. Transform.
What is CIFE?
Who is the Climate Innovation Festival for?
The Climate Innovation Festival (CIFE) brings together start-ups, researchers, NGOs, corporates and ecosystem builder from around the world to explore and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. The festival is a space for exchanging ideas, building partnerships, and showcasing real-world climate action.
What makes this festival special?
A major highlight of the festival is the Climate Launchpad 2025 Global Grand Final – the world’s largest competition for early-stage green business ideas. After months of intensive bootcamps and local and regional pitching rounds, top start-ups from over 45 countries gather in person to pitch their innovations on stage. It’s a unique chance to meet the next generation of climate entrepreneurs and get a front-row seat to the future of green business.
What can participants expect from the event?
The day kicks off with the Climate Innovators Fair, an open exhibition space for climate-focused projects and organizations. This is followed by panel discussions, networking opportunities, and thematic side events, creating an engaging environment for learning, inspiration, and collaboration.
This was
CIFE 2025
Welcome Reception City Hall
CIFE Climate Innovators Fair
CIFE Breakoutsessions and Networking
CIFE ClimateLaunchpad Global Grand Final
CIFE Vibes by Anna Korlath
What is CLP?
Climate Launchpad is the world's largest green business idea competition.
16.477
teams have applied to Climate Launchpad between 2014 - 2024
500
bootcamps have been organized around the world
5.187
teams have been trained and mentored in 95 countries
5.376
jobs have been created by the Climate Launchpad start-ups
The Climate Launchpad program is taking place in 40+ countries around the world. In every country 10 startups go through a bootcamp and receive training, coaching and mentoring before they pitch at their national final. The top three startups of each country then move on to one of the four Regional Finals (Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe).
We are beyond excited to welcome all of this years #1 national winners at the innovators fair at CIFE and can't wait to hear the pitches of the top 8 Regional champions, #1 and #2 of each Regional Final. Read more about them here.
Get ready for...
Highlights
Climate Innovators Fair
Connect with leading climate innovators, explore cutting-edge solutions and engage with sustainability pioneers from around the globe - powered by Vienna Business Agency.
The Climate Innovation Festival starts with our innovators fair! Meet and get to know the innovative ideas of:
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the international Climate Launchpad startups who won the competition in their respective countries
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the top 8 teams who will pitch in the evening, who won the Regional Finals
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Selected austrian Climate Launchpad startups from the 2025 and 2024 cohorts
Breakout Sessions
Dive deep into six specialized sessions focusing on renewable energy, sustainable agricutlure, circular economy, climate policy, green finance, and climate tech innovation.
2pm-3pm
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KURIER & SENA - @Garden Gallery
Impact Communication: How start-ups and media can communicate positive change together -
Climate KIC - @Sky Forum
Beyond the Pitch: Building Climate Collaboration -
Raiffeisen Landesbank Steiermark - @360 Room
Impact or Profit: Choose wisely! Who will win? Let's explore together.
3pm-4pm
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BMLUK - @Garden Gallery
From Global Goals to Local Action: Creating Sustainable Impact in Complex Times -
BDO Austria - @Sky Forum
Going Clean: Between Competitiveness and Climate Neutrality -
Vienna Business Agency - @360 Room
Smart Climate City: Vienna as a Hub for Climate and Sustainable Innovation
ClimateLaunchpad 2025 Global Grand Final
Witness the Global Grand Final where the most promising green business ideas from around the world compete for expert feedback, access to investors and the opportunity to fast-track their ideas into real-world impact.
The top 8 Climate Launchpad startups pitching at the Global Grand Final 2025 are:
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Chaja Africa (Tanzania)
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SeaH4 (South Africa)
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EcoGrains (USA)
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OneFly - Feed The Future (Colombia)
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Griffin Research (Australia)
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Atierra (Japan)
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Neela Biotech (UK)
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ecodetect (UK)
Your time. Your topics.
What’s Happening When
October 23
Welcome Activity - Climate Innovation in Vienna
Join us on October 23, 2:30 - 6:00 pm at the Climate Lab for Climate Innovation in Vienna organized by the Vienna Business Agency.
Connect with international startups, innovation hubs and local stakeholders to discover Vienna’s climate innovation ecosystem. The program features a fireside chat, a Corporate Reverse Pitch by Wien Energie, Stadtwerke and ERSTE Social Finance and great networking opportunities.
Register here.
Welcome Reception
At 6:30 pm on October 23, our CLP national winners and global finalists are exclusively invited to a Welcome Reception at Vienna City Hall, graciously hosted by the City of Vienna.
This festive evening marks the official opening of the Climate Innovation Festival, offering a chance to connect with fellow founders, partners and local leaders in an inspiring atmosphere.
Set in one of Vienna’s most iconic landmarks, the dinner celebrates our shared commitment to global climate innovation and collaboration.
October 24
CIFE AGENDA
11:00 am – Start Up Fair powered by Vienna Business Agency Innovation takes the stage! Explore a buzzing marketplace of bold ideas, meet passionate founders, and discover tomorrow’s game changers. The future is being built—right in front of you.
01:00 pm – Lunch Break Take a break, refuel, and connect. Enjoy delicious pinta from our food truck while mingling with fellow participants, speakers, and startups. Great conversations often begin over great meals.
02:00 pm – Breakout Sessions (1/2) Choose your topic and dive deeper in a small circle. Expert-led sessions offer hands-on learning, fresh perspectives, and meaningful discussion. Explore what matters most to you.
03:00 pm – Breakout Sessions (2/2) Keep the momentum going with a second round of interactive sessions. Whether you're into policy, tech, or entrepreneurship—there's a room for your passion. Engage, ask, and grow.
04:00 pm – Coffee & Cake, Networking Recharge with sweet treats and rich conversations. This is your moment to make new contacts, exchange ideas, and relax with fellow changemakers. Sometimes, the best ideas happen over coffee.
05:00 pm – ClimateLaunchpad Global Grand Final & Awards Ceremony The spotlight is on the brightest green innovators! Celebrate the top 8 finalists, cheer for the winners, and get inspired by world-class climate solutions. Curious who the top 8 startups are that will be pitching? You can find them above in the section "What is CLP".
08:00 pm – Closing and Buffet Wrap up the day together with us and good food and drinks. There will be final toasts to a day full of ideas and inspiration and room for plenty of conversations. Let’s celebrate together!
CIFE and CLP 2025 jointly organized by
Your Hosts
Beyond the Thinkubator and Climate-KIC teams, we are excited to be working with a diverse group of external partners to bring the Climate Innovation Festival to life. We’re delighted to have James Langer as this year’s CIFE moderator, and Anna Korlath will be capturing the event as our graphic recorder.
A big thank you to our
PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
...and many more.
CIFE would not be possible without
GREAT
ECOSYSTEM
PARTNERS
Stop Searching, Start Finding
Where to find CIFE
Address
Prisma by Lumia
Am grünen Prater 2 / Krieau 244, Tribüne 2
1020 Vienna
How to get there:
metro station U2 Stadion
bus station 77A Ernst Happel Stadion
Contact
Accessibility is an important focus for us at CIFE. We want to make sure that everyone feels welcome, comfortable and included.
Thanks to the FFG “Diversity Scheck” funding, we’re working with Independo as accessibility consultants to further strengthen our approach. As part of this process, we’ve explored the Accessible Events guidelines by Aktion Mensch and have already implemented several of their recommendations. Accessibility measures at CIFE 2025:
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Awareness Team: Available throughout the event for any questions, concerns, or support needs.
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Getting there: The venue is easily accessible by both public transport and car.
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Accessible venue: All event spaces are fully barrier-free.
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Assistance: Support for blind and visually impaired participants can be arranged in advance via email or phone.
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Visibility: Steps and obstacles are clearly marked with high-contrast signage.
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Seating: Plenty of seating is available for those who cannot stand for long periods.
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Livestream: The entire festival will be streamed live online.
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Quiet areas: Calm indoor and outdoor spaces are available for rest and recharge.
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Prayer room: A dedicated space will be available during prayer times.
If you notice anything we could improve, we’d love your feedback - it helps us make CIFE even more inclusive for everyone.
Let's get your
