2026 · 1st place · Ventures
Sunchem
Recovering critical metals from waste streams to enable circular, low-impact supply chains for clean energy infrastructure.
Founder · Daniel T. Sun
Challenge 2027 · Applications open November 17 · Now open to policy, research, and financial inventions
Get notified →
2026 Results · Imagine Next Global Innovation Challenge
Top 50 Planet-First Innovations
A new class of companies designed not only to scale, but to align with the living systems of Earth. This is not a ranking. It is a portfolio of direction.
Top 3 awardees · announced April 2026
The 2026 Global Top 3
Chosen from 1,500+ startups screened across 36 countries, the Top 50, and the 17 finalists who pitched at Innovation Day in Berkeley.
2026 · 2nd place · Ventures
Airbuild Inc
Developing self-powered microalgae systems that treat wastewater, capture carbon, and generate valuable biomass.
Founder · David Gory Jr., M.S., MBA
2026 · 3rd place · Ventures
Rapid Analytix Division Inc.
Delivering advanced analytics that enable faster, more accurate decision-making for sustainable industrial systems.
Founder · Bayezid Baten
Innovation Day · April 21, 2026 · UC Berkeley
Top 17 finalists
The finalists who pitched live on the Berkeley stage at Innovation Day of the Imagine Next Summit, before venture investors, corporate innovation leaders, and ecosystem partners.
- 01
Halo Materials
Clean graphite production eliminating toxic chemicals while co-producing hydrogen for a low-emission battery supply chain.
- 02
AINovo Biotech
Generative AI designing climate-resilient crops to transform agricultural productivity under environmental stress.
- 03
Sansuro Bio
Enabling offshore seaweed cultivation at scale through probiotic-mineral innovations for the bioeconomy.
- 04
ChargeCatalyst
Turning idle EV chargers into grid assets through intelligent utilization and pricing.
- 05
Bioverse
AI-powered biodiversity mapping enabling measurable, investable nature-based solutions.
- 06
Resiliocs Intelligence
Embedding climate risk intelligence into infrastructure to prevent failure and protect ecosystems.
- 07
PalmPro Enzymes
Enzyme-based innovations transforming palm oil processing into a cleaner, more sustainable supply chain.
- 08
Spiritus
Scaling durable carbon removal for long-term climate stabilization.
- 09
Kinetix
Flywheel energy storage delivering long-lifetime, high-efficiency grid stability for renewables.
- 10
Sunchem
Recovering critical metals from waste streams to enable circular, low-impact supply chains for clean energy.
- 11
RESET
Ultra-fast, low-energy manufacturing of fully recyclable composites for next-generation industrial systems.
- 12
BioTwinOme
Digital twin platform optimizing bioprocesses in real time to improve efficiency and scalability in biotech production.
- 13
Waste Lens
AI-powered coordination of waste systems, turning fragmented flows into traceable circular infrastructure.
- 14
Airbuild
Self-powered microalgae systems that treat wastewater, capture carbon, and generate valuable biomass.
- 15
EVOLOH
Modular electrolyzer technology converting renewable electricity into hydrogen and industrial chemicals at scale.
- 16
Rapid Analytix Division Inc.
Advanced analytics enabling faster, more accurate decision-making for sustainable industrial systems.
- 17
Well Water Finders
Data-driven groundwater discovery and management for resilient water access in a changing climate.
Selected April 15, 2026 · 8 directions of innovation
The Top 50
01 · 18 companies
Food, Agriculture & Bioeconomy Systems
The largest category in the Top 50: planetary resilience runs through biological productivity, circular bioeconomy systems, and agricultural redesign.
AINovo Biotech
Generative AI platform for designing disease-resistant crops.
Global Cerah
Converting agricultural waste into protein and fertilizers at scale.
PalmPro Enzymes
Increasing oil yield without expanding land use.
GreenPod Labs
Biological post-harvest infrastructure reducing food waste.
ECOSTOVE
Bio-nutrients from açaí waste improving germination and water retention.
Bionema Group
Microencapsulation platform enabling biological crop protection.
Nat4Bio
Microbial biopolymer platform improving agricultural delivery systems.
CryoBio
Biological antifreeze protecting crops from frost damage.
EcoNomad Solutions
Converting agricultural waste into renewable energy and high-quality biofertilizer.
Biome Technologies / Soilometer
Rapid field diagnostics measuring soil microbial health to improve soil productivity and fertilizer efficiency.
Laboratórios Lygia Costa Alvernaz
Microbiome engineering platform spanning food systems, animal production, aquaculture, restoration, sanitation, and health.
Hermes Vision
Drone-based imaging and precision spraying for invasive weed control with reduced herbicide use.
Everipe
Plant-based coating from agricultural waste extending shelf life and reducing cold chain dependency.
Karmic Global
Transforms shrimp shell waste into high-value packaging, fertilizers, and proteins.
Earthia Bio
Intelligence layer for the bioeconomy linking feedstock variability to financial outcomes.
AgriSciense
AI-powered multimodal sensing that identifies pest infestations before visible damage.
Fotortec
Turns agri-food side streams into mushroom-based proteins via circular multi-output systems.
Capsber Agriscience
Microbial-based weed control replacing chemical herbicides.
02 · 5 companies
Water Systems & Water Integrity
The full water cycle — generation, restoration, monitoring, treatment, and discovery — shifting toward resilient distributed systems.
WAVR Technologies
Industrial-scale atmospheric water generation for decentralized water infrastructure.
Aqvita
Restores mineral balance in purified water.
Oasis
Predictive intelligence for small water utilities.
Airbuild
Self-powered microalgae systems treating wastewater, capturing carbon, and producing biochar.
Well Water Finders
Electromagnetic remote sensing to map groundwater and identify aquifers without drilling.
03 · 8 companies
Energy, Electrification, Carbon & Execution Infrastructure
The energy transition is maturing: the challenge is no longer only invention, but execution, reliability, integration, and climate permanence.
ReNow Energy
Operating system for energy project deployment.
EVOLOH
Modular electrolyzer stacks converting renewable electricity into hydrogen and industrial chemicals.
Kinetix
Grid-scale flywheel energy storage for long-lifetime renewable power systems.
Carbovolt Labs
Electrochemical carbon capture using supercapacitive swing adsorption.
ChargeMate
AI-driven diagnostics and recovery systems improving EV charging reliability.
ChargeCatalyst
Monetizes underutilized EV capacity and turns charging stations into grid assets.
Spiritus
Durable carbon removal at scale.
Anumá Aerospace
Lower-emission air transport through lighter-than-air aircraft based on partial-vacuum lift.
04 · 6 companies
Materials, Circular Manufacturing & Industrial Reinvention
Decarbonization cannot succeed without material reinvention — reducing toxicity, unlocking circular inputs, improving visibility into resource systems.
RESET
Ultra-fast, low-energy, fully recyclable composite manufacturing.
Sunchem
High-efficiency recovery of critical metals from waste streams.
TINTTE
Bio-based pigments replacing petrochemical dyes in textiles.
Rapid Analytix Division (RAD)
Portable testing devices for real-time material reactivity and faster deployment of low-carbon concrete.
Eco Nasi
Biodegradable leather alternative from pineapple pulp waste.
Halo Materials
Graphite production eliminating hydrofluoric acid while reducing emissions and producing clean hydrogen.
05 · 5 companies
Climate Intelligence, Sensing & Infrastructure Decision Systems
The rise of decision infrastructure: systems that improve how resources are measured, predicted, and managed.
BioTwinOme
Digital twins for bioprocess optimization.
Resiliocs
Climate intelligence embedded into infrastructure planning.
Waste Lens
AI-driven coordination system for the last mile of waste and circular flows.
Ocean Visuals
Evidence-grade detection of ocean pollution for accountability.
Muonix
Cosmic-ray imaging to map underground resources with minimal intrusion.
06 · 2 companies
Biodiversity, Nature Systems & Ecological Restoration
Restoration, biodiversity measurement, and ecological value creation becoming core economic functions.
Bioverse
Satellite, drone, and AI mapping of forest species and biodiversity for bioeconomy and nature-based solutions.
BioCarbon Pará
Regenerative carbon credit systems based on Amazon restoration and agroforestry with community-led stewardship.
07 · 4 companies
Human Systems, Markets & Trust Infrastructure
A planet-aligned economy is not built through technology alone: trust, participation, local resilience, and equitable market access.
Infoagro
Operating system for smallholder agriculture, enabling data-driven participation.
SafeSoko
Real-time food safety verification in informal markets.
CHEER Liberia
Community-driven systems addressing malnutrition, climate vulnerability, and gender inequality.
Agrotec
Equipment enabling communities to process Amazonian sociobiodiversity products and build local value chains.
08 · 2 companies
Biological Intelligence & Living Interfaces
Startups that help humans understand, interpret, and work with living systems more directly.
Sonicflora
Real-time plant communication through ultrasonic signals.
Sansuro Bio
Probiotic-mineral formulations enabling offshore seaweed cultivation at scale.