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CIFE Logo
CIFE Logo

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.

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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.

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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.

ClimateLauchpad Logo

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 

Start Up Fair

Climate Innovators Fair

Connect with leading climate innovators, explore cutting-edge solutions and engage with sustainability pioneers from around the globe in our interactive exhibition space.

Breakout Session

Breakout Sessions

Dive deep into six specialized sessions focusing on renewable energy, sustainable agricutlure, circular economy, climate policy, green finance, and climate tech innovation.

Climate Launchpad Final

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.

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.
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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.
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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 

A big thank you to our

PARTNERS &  SUPPORTERS 

ClimateKIC
Logo BMLUK
Logo Stadt Wien
Logo Irish Aid
Logo Bank of America
Wirtschaftagentur x EU Logo
BDO Logo
Oekobusiness Wien Logo
Kurier Logo
The Social Hub Logo
Raiffeisen-Landesbank Steiermark
STaR Logo.jpg
Hakuma Logo
Anker Logo
SIC Logo
BOKU BASE Logo.png

...and many more.

CIFE would not be possible without

GREAT 
ECOSYSTEM 
PARTNERS 

Social Impact Award Logo
Logo WU Entrepreneurship Center.jpg
Uni Wien Entrepreneurship Centre logo
tech2impact
Austrian Startups

Stop Searching, Start Finding

Where to find CIFE 

Address

Prisma by Lumia
Am grünen Prater 2 / Krieau 244, Tribüne 2
1020 Vienna

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How to get there:

metro station U2 Stadion

bus station 77A Ernst Happel Stadion

Contact

Let's get your

Ticket 

READY TO JOIN? 

Secure your ticket for CIFE - the Climate Innovation Festival - and the Climate Launchpad 2025 Global Grand Final and be part of the solution. Limited seats available!

More  questions? 

Bastien Huber is coordinating all the logistics around CIFE and is happy to help you out, if you have any open questions!

Basti
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