Powering Tomorrow: Deep Tech Innovations for a Sustainable Energy Future

Jie has been an intrapreneur since she joined Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) in 2021 as a founding Innovation team member, supporting the launch of The Canopy – CISL's incubator and innovation hub. Her work including running accelerator programmes for startups (e.g. Circular Disruptors Accelerator), creating toolkits and training for SMEs to decarbonise (e.g. Climate Fit - SME Climate Hub), partnering with international organisations to build innovation programmes (e.g. Innovation30: Young Climate Innovators Shaping the Future | UNICEF Office of Innovation ), as well as speaking and building Canopy’s global presence at COPs, WEF Davos, and SLUSH etc.

In addition, she also heads the Sino-UK Centre for Sustainability Innovation founded by CISL, acts as a bridge connecting the UK and China's innovation ecosystems. Established in 2021, the Centre fosters collaboration and accelerates the development of sustainable solutions to address critical global challenges. By facilitating knowledge exchange and partnerships, the Centre empowers businesses and entrepreneurs in both countries to drive decarbonization, restore nature, and build more inclusive societies.

Beyond her role at CISL, Jie serves as a research advisor at Newham College (Cambridge), Trustee at Dialogue Earth (London), and Advisor at Undivided VC (Hong Kong), giving back her experiences and insights on a pro bona basis. Driven by her cross-cultural experiences as an ethnic minority, Jie is a passionate DE&I advocate, actively contributing to CISL's Equality Action Planning committee. Her leadership was recognised with the University of Cambridge Vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Award (2022).

James has spent over 15 years working at the intersection of business, sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As part of CISL’s senior leadership team, he works across business policy and finance initiatives building the capacity of leaders, and leading institutions, to drive systemic change for global sustainability. In 2022 he launched The Canopy - CISL’s incubator, accelerator and workspace in central Cambridge, to activate an international community of impact-led startups, entrepreneurs, investors and innovators.

Prior to CISL he worked at Friends of the Earth developing innovative products, business partnerships and alliances to support environmental campaigns. He previously founded a digital media startup, held various senior commercial partnership development roles at Vodafone UK, and set up sustainable agriculture projects in the Peruvian Andes. James is a Non-Executive Director and Trustee of international partnership building NGO, The Partnering Initiative, and of regional sustainability charity, PECT - The Peterborough Environment City Trust. James holds a first degree in Rural Estate Management and a Masters in Leadership for Sustainable Development from Forum for the Future & Middlesex University.

Dr. Peter Lee established Full Vision Capital, driven by a deep belief in human ingenuity and the power of impactful investing. Full Vision Capital specialises in smart energy solutions and innovative environmental technologies. He aspires for it to be a beacon of hope in a world facing pressing environmental challenges by identifying and realising game-changing ideas and businesses. Dr. Lee believes that true innovation lies at the intersection of technology and impact, and he relentlessly seeks ventures and sustainable investment initiatives that embody this ethos.

Believing that doing well is inextricably linked to doing good, he leverages the success of these ventures to support meaningful causes, exemplifying the true spirit of impactful and compassionate philanthropy.

Sai has dedicated his career to the mission of finding seamless solutions for energy storage. His passion lies in clean energy and materials innovation, which drive Nyobolt’s unique high-power batteries with ultrafast charging times.

Since founding Nyobolt in 2019, Sai has raised over $100m in capital to enable a new paradigm in energy storage, taking a whole systems approach to solving problems in power hungry industries with critical uptime needs.

His experience in inventing and manufacturing various energy storage products across different industries for over a decade informs his vision. Sai holds a PhD in Engineering from St John’s College, Cambridge.

Matti Lievonen is a distinguished leader in the renewable fuels industry, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EcoCeres, a global innovator in sustainable biofuels. Appointed CEO in January 2025, Matti brings decades of executive experience, a proven record in scaling renewable energy businesses, and a deep commitment to combatting climate change through cutting-edge decarbonization solutions.

Matti is renowned for his transformative leadership in the energy sector, particularly during his tenure as CEO and President of Neste Corporation, where he spearheaded the company’s rise as a world leader in renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). His expertise in biomass-based biofuels and bioproducts has been instrumental in driving the adoption of renewable fuels across industries. Prior to Neste, he held executive roles at UPM Biofore Corporation and served on the boards of Fortum, SSAB, Solvay, and the Confederation of Finnish Industries, cementing his reputation as a strategic visionary in sustainable industrial development.

Since joining EcoCeres in May 2022 as a special advisor, Matti has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s growth trajectory. He transitioned as Executive Chairman in January 2024, overseeing key initiatives such as partnerships with HSBC, Cathay Pacific, and Mitsui & Co. to advance SAF and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) adoption in aviation, maritime, and transportation sectors. Under his leadership, EcoCeres has solidified its position as a global SAF market leader, commanding 20% of global production in 2022-2023.

Matti’s leadership is marked by a relentless focus on technology innovation and circular economy principles. He has championed EcoCeres’ proprietary processes to convert 100% waste-based biomass feedstock into SAF, HVO, and renewable chemicals, aligning with global carbon neutrality goals. His collaborative approach with stakeholders – including investors Bain Capital, Kerogen Capital, and Towngas – has accelerated the company’s expansion into new markets, such as Japan through a partnership with Euglena Co. in 2024.

With an illustrious career spanning four decades, Matti combines operational excellence, sustainability advocacy, and strategic acumen to steer EcoCeres toward its mission of “Turning Waste to Wonders”. His appointment as CEO marks a new chapter in scaling the company’s impact, leveraging his unparalleled expertise to navigate the renewable energy transition and position EcoCeres as a global decarbonization pioneer.

Mr. Philip Siu is the Co-founder of EcoCeres, Inc. – an innovative biomass refinery platform, a leading sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer with a strong R&D capability which aspires to becoming a global leader in providing de-carbonization solutions to attain carbon neutrality.

Mr. Siu obtained his Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees from Cambridge University in the 80s’,and completed the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program in 2016.

In his career spanning 36 years in Towngas prior to founding EcoCeres, Mr. Siu has led and achieved several ground-breaking milestones, including the building of an innovative energy platform to refine waste-based biomass into high-value renewable fuels, most notably SAF. This part of the business was spun-off from Towngas and emerged as EcoCeres, Inc. in 2021 with Mr. Siu being the founding CEO.

Dr. Majid Keshavarz is the Chief Technology Officer at EnerVenue, where he leads product development and has played a key role in advancing the company’s metal-hydrogen energy storage technology. With over 25 years of experience in electrochemical energy storage and materials science, he has deep expertise in R&D leadership and commercialization.

At EnerVenue, Keshavarz has overseen the development and testing of Energy Storage Vessels—large-format battery cells that combine improved performance with reduced cost. He has also led design-for-manufacturability efforts, a critical strategy for scaling the company’s technology.

Before EnerVenue, Keshavarz was Vice President at EEnotech, a Stanford-affiliated startup foundry, where he led energy storage technology evaluation work that ultimately contributed to EnerVenue’s formation. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of R&D at Natron Energy, developing sodium-ion batteries for high-power applications such as data centers. Earlier in his career, he was CTO at Imergy Power Systems (formerly Deeya Energy), where he led the development of vanadium flow battery systems designed for long-duration, high-cycle applications. He has also held senior technical roles in nanotechnology, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals.

Keshavarz earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and conducted postdoctoral research at UC Santa Barbara’s Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids, studying the properties of exotic materials like Buckminsterfullerene (C60) and conducting polymers. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and U.S. patents.

Zoë is an entrepreneur and deep tech/ climate tech fund manager focusing on step change technologies for a sustainable planet. She heads the growth equity strategy at Octopus Energy Generation, one of Europe's largest investors in green energy. Zoë is a previous advisor on scale up policy for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology. Zoë’s investments have focused on backing and scaling university spin-outs on behalf of the University of Oxford, Imperial College, Development Bank of Wales and Octopus Ventures. A volcanologist and atmospheric modeller by background, Zoë focuses on financing and growing companies that will have a meaningful impact on achieving net zero by 2050.

Jason is an experienced energy sector investor with over 25 years of experience. Jason is the CEO and Co-Founder of Kerogen Capital, a US$3 billion independent energy specialist PE manager founded in 2007, where he spearheaded the firm's strategic activities, including the commitment to net-zero carbon, being the first energy PE fund manager globally to do so, as well as its digital strategy through digitalisation and AI deployment into portfolio companies.

CelerateX was inspired by this net zero commitment and was established as a dedicated platform to energy transition which aims to capture this megatrend.

Jason holds a BComm in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Melbourne, a MComm in Finance and Management from the University of Sydney, and completed the Stanford University SEP programme.

Ionel is a thoughtful leader with a creative mindset, working as a global investor who promotes innovation mainly in manufacturing and technology related to clean tech, sustainability, infrastructure, and energy transition. With over 28 years of hands-on experience in private equity and venture capital, he has successfully managed numerous impactful global transactions and roll-up acquisitions. Over the years, he has increased shareholder value, optimized profit and loss (P&L) performance, led corporate finance, transformed organizations, executed complex transactions, and chaired various boards of directors.

He holds degrees and certificates from Babeș-Bolyai University, Rice University, Harvard University, and Stanford University, with expertise in technology, business administration, valuation analysis, accounting, and mergers and acquisitions.

In his free time, Ionel enjoys skiing at Breckenridge, participating in annual running events like the Houston Marathon, and cycling.

Olivia To is Senior Vice President (Sustainability)Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Invest Hong Kong, the government department responsible for attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment into Hong Kong. She is a sustainability professional specializing in climate change and green technology.

She is an engineer by training, certified carbon auditor, carbon trader and WELL AP. She serves as an Advisory Committee Member of the Institute for Climate and Carbon Neutrality at the University of Hong Kong and a Committee Member of the Energy Institute. In her previous role at the Environmental Protection Department of HKSARG, she worked with directorates to prepare Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050 and carbon accounting.

She holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering and management from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Global Environmental Studies from the Education University of Hong Kong As a rescue diver, she continues her passion in marine conservation at leisure.

Mahesh is an experienced investor with over a decade of expertise spanning investment banking, private debt, and venture capital. His career has been shaped by a strong focus on technology, particularly within the software, fintech, and deep tech sectors. He has held investment roles at leading firms including UBS, Alantra, LGT Capital Partners, and Praetura Ventures, where he built a track record of identifying and supporting high-growth companies across various stages of development.

Currently, Mahesh leads Software Investing at Cambridge Enterprise, the venture arm of the University of Cambridge. In this role, he focuses on early-stage investments—from Pre-Seed to Series A—backing cutting-edge startups emerging from Cambridge’s renowned academic ecosystem. His approach combines financial rigour with strategic support to help founders translate pioneering research into scalable, impactful ventures.

Mahesh is particularly passionate about the power of venture capital as a force for positive change. He views investment not only as a driver of innovation and economic growth but also as a vehicle for promoting equality, inclusion, and long-term societal impact. This philosophy informs both his professional work and personal commitments.

Beyond his investment career, Mahesh is the co-founder of Teach Sri Lanka, a charity focused on improving access to quality education for underprivileged children across Sri Lanka. The initiative reflects his enduring belief in education as a cornerstone for opportunity and transformation. Mahesh holds a deep conviction that meaningful innovation, backed by thoughtful capital, can help solve some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

• Member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences
• Fortinet Founders Professor and Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Stanford University, Director of Stanford Sustainability Accelerator, and the previous Director of the Precourt Institutefor Energy at Stanford.
• Honors include the Global Energy Prize (2021), the Lawrence Award (2021), the American Society for Materials Medal (2020), the Blavatnik National Award (2017). In 2014, he was named No.1 Ranked Materials Scientist Worldwide by Reuters.
• In addition to academic excellence, Prof. Cui is also a serial entrepreneur who has founded more than five companies since 2008.

Jon Salazar is the Founder and CEO of Gazelle Wind Power, leading the development and commercialisation of next-generation floating offshore wind technology to drive the global transition to deep-water renewable energy. A serial entrepreneur, investor, and innovator, Jon has a strong track record in management consulting, R&D, and business development across Europe and the Middle East. He specialises in leveraging disruptive technologies to create scalable, high-growth opportunities that positively impact industries and communities.

Before founding Gazelle, Jon held a senior role at Deloitte Advisory, where he advised top-tier financial institutions and some of the largest banks in the Eurozone. He also held leadership positions at Heathrow Airport, contributing to the development of Europe’s busiest international airport’s Target Operating Model.

As an entrepreneur, Jon co-owned a group of companies that, through digital transformation, expanded to over 32 countries, helping improve financial literacy and sustainable development. He also led one of the largest private Spanish-speaking online investor communities before successfully exiting via a management buyout to focus on Gazelle Wind Power.

Jon holds a Master of Science in Telecommunications Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) and has been recognised with multiple scholarships and distinctions, including accreditation by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). Jon’s passion for renewable energy and deep expertise in scaling breakthrough technologies drive Gazelle Wind Power’s mission. Under his leadership, Gazelle is developing a floating offshore wind platform that will revolutionise deep-water wind energy deployment, making offshore wind more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective.

John Archer holds a PhD in Microbial Genetics from the University of Glasgow, and following postdoctoral studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology joined the Faculty at Cambridge University in the Department of Genetics.

In 2007 he was headhunted to lead the KAUST-Cambridge alliance programme and set up the Biological Environmental Science and Engineering division. In 2009, he was headhunted by NUS President Shih Choon Fong to his inaugural KAUST Presential Staff.

In 2019, John co-founded HutanBio to scale up and commercialise HBx Biofuel - a breakthrough algal biofuel platform. His mission is to decouple heavy transportation modes from fossil fuels and drive down carbon emissions from shipping, aviation and heavy land vehicles without disrupting standard operations and without compromising food resources.

Francis (Ray) Lin is currently the COO of HKTech Solar Limited, a start-up company he founded with Profs. Alex Jen and Angus Yip from the City University of Hong Kong. As a world-renowned team in the printable thin-film PV technology field, the company translates cutting-edge perovskite and organic PV technologies from university laboratory to industry and daily life, offering innovative PV solutions for solar farm, BIPV, CIPV, and indoor IoT devices. After receiving the Pioneer Award in the 2nd TERA-Award Competition in 2022, the company formed strategic partnership with TAC, Towngas, and has secured over 100 million HK$ funds from investors and the RAISe+ Scheme from the Innovative and Technology Commission of Hong Kong.

Dr. Wenxiao Huang is the CEO and Co Founder of Feon Energy, a company pioneering next generation electrolytes to make lithium batteries safer, lighter, and lower cost. He earned his PhD in Physics from Wake Forest University and completed a postdoc fellowship at Stanford, focusing on battery safety and ultra-fast charging. Before founding Feon, he was a senior scientist at EnerVenue, leading the development of long-duration grid storage. With over 15 years of experience in energy materials, Dr. Huang has published more than 40 papers and holds over 10 patents worldwide.

Dr Zengyue Wang is the Co-founder and CEO of Luquos Energy Limited. Dr Zengyue Wang received his B.E. degree and PhD degree in Mechanical and Automation Engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). He has experience over 10 years in development of advanced battery materials and systems.

He founded Luquos Energy Limited in 2020 with Prof. Yi-Chun Lu in CUHK, pioneering sulfur-based flow battery, that’s intrinsically safe, more affordable, and environmentally friendly—designed to store solar and wind power more efficiently as we move toward a net-zero future. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, which pose fire risks and are hard to recycle, this new solution uses sulfur—a plentiful and low-cost material—and water-based components to eliminate safety hazards while slashing costs by up to 50% compared to lithium-ion and 75% compared to vanadium flow batteries. Packed with Luquos-invented innovations, including high-performance membranes, and power-boosting catalysts, the battery system enables efficient operation for over 15 years.

Luquos Energy has launched the world’s first commercial sulfur-based flow battery system, branded as LEAPLUG™, deployed at an EV charging station in Shenzhen, China, demonstration the practical utility of this technology for over 1 year. Luquos Energy won the bronze prize of TERA-Award in 2021 and was invested by Towngas Group in 2022.

Dr. Martin Zhu’s career in advanced energy technologies and environmental sciences commenced with his Ph.D. at the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK). His extensive research has focused on advancing thermodynamics theory and its application to material and interface sciences. Dr. Martin Zhu possesses profound expertise in energy and environmental fields, complemented by his entrepreneurial ventures, which he now brings to his role as Adjunct Professor in the College of Business at CityUHK.

Dr. Martin Zhu’s research interests are deeply rooted in advanced nanotechnologies and heat and mass transfer phenomena. He is dedicated to merging theoretical insights with experimental approaches to tackle the pressing challenges and opportunities within the energy and environmental sectors. His contributions to sustainable solutions and green technology have been significant, underscored by his pivotal role in developing innovative technologies.

To combat global warming and climate change, Dr. Zhu co-founded i2Cool Limited in 2022, a pioneering start-up focused on the advancement and promotion of electricity-free cooling technologies across diverse applications and materials. Under his leadership and through incubation by HK Tech 300 and Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, i2Cool successfully secured 140 million HKD in investment funding within the first year and a half, reflecting robust investor confidence and the company's high growth potential. Not just in Hong Kong, the technology has been widely applied in more than 20 countries and regions, including ASEAN and the Middle East.

In addition to his entrepreneurial achievements, Dr. Zhu has made a significant social impact. He spearheaded an initiative to provide free cooling materials to underprivileged families in the Sham Shui Po area of Hong Kong. This initiative, now supported by NGOs and local governments, is being extended to mainland China and ASEAN countries, furthering its reach and impact on communities in need.

Dr. Zhu’s involvement in the Green Technology and Finance Development Committee of the Hong Kong SAR exemplifies his dedication to advancing environmental initiatives and advocating for sustainable practices. His commitment to leveraging technology for the greater good is further evidenced by his extensive efforts to serve society, particularly through initiatives aimed at supporting underprivileged communities. With a solid academic foundation and extensive industry experience, Dr. Zhu stands as a thought leader at the nexus of business, technology, and sustainability, continually driving positive social and environmental change. His work not only advances scientific knowledge but also actively contributes to building a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

Prof. Xavier Moya is Founder of Barocal and Professor of Materials Physics at the University of Cambridge. A leading expert in solid-state cooling, he pioneered barocaloric materials made from low-cost organic compounds, offering a sustainable alternative to harmful refrigerants. Xavier earned his BSc and PhD in Physics from the University of Barcelona. At Barocal, he is pioneering environmentally friendly, high efficiency cooling solutions to decarbonise the global cooling and heating sector. Xavier is also a Fellow at Magdalene College and a member of the UK Young Academy.

Tom is a technologist and entrepreneur dedicated to making energy cheaper and greener for everyone. He is the Founder and Managing Director of Decent Energy, a UK startup reimagining how homes, businesses, and communities generate, store and use energy and making the decentralised assets currently deployed on the grid more able to participate in energy markets. By leveraging intelligent automation and decentralised control, Tom’s software only vision helps democratise energy and enable grid services and cheaper energy to become a reality for all.

With over a decade of experience leading agile teams and digital transformation initiatives for Nasdaq-100 and FTSE-100 firms, Tom brings a strong background in customer-centric design and agile delivery methodologies to the climate tech space. Tom’s transition into energy was sparked by a hands-on project integrating solar, storage, and smart controls in a residential setting—an experience that revealed how fragmented and under-optimised household energy systems often are, even among early adopters.

This insight laid the groundwork for Decent Energy’s platform, which helps energy suppliers, aggregators, and local networks coordinate small-scale assets like batteries and smart devices in near real-time and enables the homeowners and asset owners the ability and incentives to participate in the grid of the future. Under Tom’s leadership, the company is preparing to launch “Shîfter,” a product that intelligently shifts energy usage to greener, cheaper times—cutting costs by up to 25% for households.

Tom is also a community builder in the UK’s sustainability ecosystem. He has spoken at industry events including Cambridge Wireless and the Cambridge Innovation Summit, is a member of CISL’s Canopy accelerator, and co-hosts People Planet Pint in Cambridge.

Justin Ma is the founder of Orange Power and a seasoned professional with over 18 years of experience in the energy industry. His expertise spans energy trading, software development, and data modeling, bringing together technical proficiency and market insight to drive innovation and performance.

Dr. Spencer Brennan is the Founder and CEO of Neutreeno, a climate tech company pioneering advanced emissions data analytics and supply chain decarbonisation. With expertise in transport phenomena and applied renewable energy physics, Spencer leads Neutreeno's mission to democratise decarbonisation through a data-driven system that empowers companies to optimise operations, reduce emissions, and enhance profitability.

Neutreeno's platform leverages advanced process engineering models and scientific uncertainty algorithms to deliver high-confidence emissions and efficiency insights, enabling businesses to make informed low-carbon decisions & optimise supply chains at scale. This accessible approach makes decarbonisation achievable for organisations of any size.

Spencer holds a PhD in Applied Physics from the University of Cambridge, where he designed ultra-high resolution measurement systems capable of detecting nanovolt-level signals to probe emerging renewable energy generation. At Cambridge's Department of Engineering, he taught transport phenomena, covering principles governing heat, mass, and momentum transfer.

He brings 15 years of experience as an environmental engineer and climate scientist, with published research in peer-reviewed journals. His work has been recognised through Canada's most prestigious international physics scholarship and as the first non-American recipient of the American Chemical Society's undergraduate research award. As a Canadian at Cambridge, he of course captained the Blues ice hockey team.

Spencer leads Neutreeno's technical innovation, combining Cambridge research with practical sustainability experience in circularity, material flow analysis, and real-time emissions tracking.

Spun out from Stanford University, Feon Energy is commercializing the holy grail of lithium chemistries: lithium-metal battery. Their breakthrough electrolyte platform—powered by AI—designed non-flammable molecules that suppress dendrite formation during lithium deposition, enabling safe, high-performance Li-metal batteries.

Barocal develops breakthrough solid-state cooling and heating systems. Based on 15 years of research at the University of Cambridge, our novel caloric materials deliver ultra high energy efficiency while making polluting refrigerant gases redundant. Our solution can power a wide range applications, addressing 40% of global energy use.

Using our unique, patented marine microalgae, we are growing oil without needing fresh water or agricultural land taking energy directly from the sun. Our biology is combined with state-of-the-art engineering to deliver an efficient and predictable solution. We have independently verified our fuel as carbon negative at the factory gate.

We’ve built a software platform that optimises when and how home batteries and solar panels are used—cutting bills and carbon, automatically. Our flagship tool, Shîfter, predicts the greenest and cheapest times to charge or discharge, using data on demand, price, weather, and grid carbon intensity.

No hardware. No behaviour change. Just real savings.

We also connect these homes via the Decent Energy Grid, enabling new services like virtual power plants and, eventually, peer-to-peer energy trading.

Our mission is to decarbonise demand and make every electron work harder for people and the planet

Orange Power is a leading residential/commercial flexibility provider of grid services. We develop and automate tens of thousands of assets with flexibility and trade with grid when it is required. We've grown from 200 customers to over 30k users in 3 months time. We'v been recogonised by Shell Start Up Engine 2024 as 12 start ups out of 6000 applicants.

Neutreeno, built by leading climate scientists and engineers from University of Cambridge, the IPCC, and the IEA, is transforming how companies reduce emissions and improve efficiency through proprietary technology that models how products and services are made within their complex supply chains. Drawing on two decades of world-leading research and real-world data from over 40,000+ facilities across sectors responsible for 80% of global emissions, Neutreeno generates precise, science-based emissions estimates and automatically creates bespoke reduction strategies prioritised by impact that drive value and save costs. Companies can now deploy decarbonisation at scale across thousands of suppliers in weeks rather than months.