The fourth edition of the Climate Solutions Prize Festival concluded June 9 at Marché Bonsecours in Montreal, capping two days of talks, panel discussions and pitch events under the theme Innovation in Motion. More than $1.5 million in prizes were awarded across four categories, drawing 1,500 participants from more than 20 countries and 5 continents.
"Climate innovation will not be led by slogans, but by builders. Our finalists are proof of that: their solutions do not ask the market to make a sacrifice. They win because they are faster, cleaner and profitable. The real race today is no longer about invention, but about the speed of deployment, and this week, we proved that we can lead it." — Galith Levy, CEO and co-founder, Climate Solutions Prize
From High-Level Kickoff to Shark Tank-Style Finale
Pascale Déry, Quebec's Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, officially launched the event, reaffirming the government's commitment to accelerating the ecological transition through innovation. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Mayor of Montreal, underscored the city's role as an international hub for climate-focused research and innovation.
Confirmed speakers included Sage Lenier, climate educator and founder of Sustainable & Just Future, and Bruce Friedrich, founder and CEO of the Good Food Institute. The Honourable Jean Charest, former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and former Premier of Quebec, joined California State Senator Henry Stern for a conversation on how democratic institutions can respond to the climate emergency — pointing to the Quebec-California carbon market partnership as a model for building sustainable and resilient economies.
The Festival concluded with a Shark Tank-style pitch competition in which finalist companies for the Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize defended their solutions before a jury of investors and industry leaders, ahead of the closing ceremony announcement.
The 2026 Winners
Climate Tech Trailblazer Prize (Canada & Quebec)
- Treetack — $100,000
- TerraFixing — $100,000
- Audience Choice: Tydra Labs — $25,000
Breakthrough Research Prize
- First place: National Research Council of Canada and Hyperion — $250,000
- Second place: University of Toronto in collaboration with Xatoms — $150,000
Climate Startup Equity Prize, Powered by Cycle Momentum — Pre-Seed
- BeNat — $150,000
Climate Startup Equity Prize, Powered by Cycle Momentum — Seed
- Local Energy — $250,000
Student Entrepreneur Innovation Prize
- First place: Pirouz Kian, University of Calgary — NanoStrip, $100,000
- Second place: Sanjay Dube, Memorial University of Newfoundland, $80,000
The Climate Solutions Prize in Numbers
The 2026 edition welcomed 1,500 participants, with a 30% increase in prize applications over last year. It featured seven tracks, including three new ones — Nature and Biotechnologies, Resource Technologies, and Energy and Power. Since 2020, the Climate Solutions Prize has awarded more than $12 million in prizes, and its winners have unlocked more than $111 million in follow-on capital.
About the Climate Solutions Prize
Climate Solutions Prize is a climate innovation platform that arms startups and researchers with the funding, global visibility and strategic connections they need to move from proof-of-concept to real-world deployment. It connects climate technology innovators directly with the investors, industry partners, policymakers and decision-makers who can accelerate their path to market. Since 2020, the platform has awarded more than $12 million in prizes, and its winners have unlocked more than $111 million in follow-on capital.
Learn more: climatesolutionsprize.com
Media Contact
Emmy Vande Rosieren COPTICOM, Stratégies et relations publiques 514-603-3209 emmyvdr@copticom.ca