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Catalyst Capital Symposia
Sustainability Symposium
The Sustainability event brings together thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to address the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. This event will feature expert panels, interactive workshops, and keynote presentations focused on sustainable practices across industries, green technologies, and strategies for combating climate change.
Attendees will explore solutions for reducing environmental impact, advancing renewable energy, promoting circular economies, and fostering sustainable business models. Whether you're passionate about conservation, green innovation, or corporate sustainability, this event offers invaluable insights and opportunities for collaboration.
Be part of the movement toward a greener, more sustainable future, and learn how you can make a lasting impact on the environment and society!
Agenda
1:30 PM
Check-in / networking
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
State of the Industry
- Keynote Speaker: Ravi Chawla, PhD
- Title: "Plastics Must Evolve or Die: The Waste-to-Worth Revolution"
- Description: Plastics transformed modern life, but at what cost? ChakraTech's founder Dr. Ravi Chawla takes audiences on a 10,000-year journey, from ancient materials to today's plastic crisis to a transformative future. He reveals how breakthrough biomanufacturing technology converts waste into sustainable materials, replacing fossil-based plastics with carbon-negative alternatives free of microplastics. Discover why solving the plastics problem means redesigning manufacturing at the molecular level. The next materials revolution isn't incremental or linear —it's circular, molecular, and powered by both biology and AI.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Break
2:45 PM - 4:45 PM
Roundtable Discussion
- Table Host: Bhargavi Vijayakumar
- Title: "Climate Action & Environmental Stewardship"
- Description:
- Table Host: Stephanie Kim
- Title: "A Brand Strategy Sprint for Start-Ups: Stand Out Without Overspending"
- Description:
- Table Host: Namita Thakker
- Title: "Things Startups Miss and Mess Up from the Legal Side"
- Description: Discussing on a few legal matters that can fall by the wayside as startups focus on developing their products/services and how to mitigate the risk those legal issues might present.
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Break
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Startup Showcase
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Networking, Happy Hour, Startup Market
Prizes
- $5,000 Tax Services
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- $20k in office/lab space

- Digital Marketing and Branding Services (worth $5,000)

- $10K in office/lab space

- $25k custom UX design package from the largest femtech incubator in the US

- $5,000 Legal Services
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- Exploratory biostatistics package: 3 reports

- Membership to Mayo Clinic Innovation Exchange
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- Regulatory kit and Regulatory strategy consulting (Medical Device only)

- $5,000 Legal fees

- Two months campaign on startup program

- 3-day ticket to the upcoming 2025 RESI Conference
- Contingent Permanent Placement ($5,000 off); Retained Search services ($5,000 off)
- $5,000 of tax services

- 6 month Growth subscription and services package (worth up to $14K)

Learn from Subject Matter Experts

Ravi Chawla, PhD
CEO & Founder, ChakraTech
Dr. Ravi Chawla is the Founder and CEO of ChakraTech, where he pioneers carbon-negative biomanufacturing to replace fossil-based plastics with sustainable biomaterials. By converging AI, biotech, and materials science, he develops breakthrough solutions that drive decarbonization and accelerate the circular economy. With extensive expertise spanning chemical engineering, life sciences, and advanced materials, Dr. Chawla bridges scientific discovery, commercialization, and entrepreneurship. His work has produced over 10 high-impact scientific publications and earned fellowships and recognition from the American Heart Association and American Institute of Chemical Engineers. At ChakraTech, he delivers measurable climate impact while mentoring the next generation of sustainability leaders.
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Stephanie Kim
Manager, DMK Investment Co
Stephanie Kim is an entrepreneur and investor with a background in building , designing, and scaling companies across CPG, hospitality, and tech. With her first company, she created a global supply chain from scratch, designed products for large-scale distribution, and secured partnerships with major retailers and hospitality groups like Mandarin Oriental, Hyatt, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters. Her work has been recognized in outlets such as WWD, Forbes, and VOGUE. In addition, Stephanie has advised brands and supported founders across consumer goods, hospitality, and tech, helping them expand market reach, raise funding, and build sustainable growth. She completed her BFA in Communication Design & Technology at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Currently pursuing her Executive MBA at UCLA Anderson, with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship, she has placed 1st in multiple national competitions in sustainability, technology, ethics, and business strategy. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys SCUBA diving, painting, and mentoring college students.

Bhargavi Vijayakumar
Partner, Java Capital
Bhargavi is a Founding Partner at Java Capital—an operator-turned-investor focused on Deep-Tech and Climate-Tech investments. Over 18 years as an operator, advisor, and investor, she has backed 53 startups and works closely with founders through the 0→1→10 journey. Her approach blends technical rigor with business discipline, prioritizing defensible technology, capital efficiency, and clear paths to commercialization.
At the Aquillius Sustainability Symposium, she brings a cross-border India–U.S. perspective and a passion for climate-positive innovation, looking for teams that turn breakthrough science into scalable solutions with real-world impact.

Namita Thakker
Attorney, Manzanita Law PC
Namita works on transactional business matters, helping startups and small businesses with various legal needs, including corporate governance and regulatory compliance, drafting and negotiating contracts, and intellectual property licenses. She has been practicing for 10 years, focused on helping businesses mitigate legal risk. Namita also serves on the board of San Diego-based nonprofit, ProduceGood, which redirects produce that would otherwise be wasted to feeding partners that deliver the produce to the table of someone in need.
MC/MODERATOR
STARTUP SHOWCASE
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JUDGES
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Zi Abraham
Business Consultant, Solugenix Coporation
Zi Abraham, Chartered MCSI, FDP, is an accomplished business consultant and sustainability expert who recently joined Solugenix while continuing to serve his long-standing clientele. With over 23 years of professional experience spanning management consulting, sustainable investing, capital markets, AI opportunities in asset management, investment banking, and financial services across North America, Europe, and Asia, Zi has established himself as a leading authority in ESG data integration and sustainable finance. For the past decade, he has been based in Irvine, California, leading front office and data transformational programs with one of the world's largest asset management companies headquartered in Los Angeles. As a distinguished Chartered Member of The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI, UK) and member of the CISI Operations Forum Committee, he brings deep technical expertise to his work. He applies artificial intelligence and data science techniques to enhance ESG research and analysis, ensuring that ESG data integration drives positive change in sustainable investing while delivering competitive returns for investors globally.
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Stephanie Kim
Manager, DMK Investment Co
Stephanie Kim is an entrepreneur and investor with a background in building , designing, and scaling companies across CPG, hospitality, and tech. With her first company, she created a global supply chain from scratch, designed products for large-scale distribution, and secured partnerships with major retailers and hospitality groups like Mandarin Oriental, Hyatt, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters. Her work has been recognized in outlets such as WWD, Forbes, and VOGUE. In addition, Stephanie has advised brands and supported founders across consumer goods, hospitality, and tech, helping them expand market reach, raise funding, and build sustainable growth. She completed her BFA in Communication Design & Technology at Parsons School of Design in New York City. Currently pursuing her Executive MBA at UCLA Anderson, with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship, she has placed 1st in multiple national competitions in sustainability, technology, ethics, and business strategy. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys SCUBA diving, painting, and mentoring college students.

Valerie Lake
Investor, NuFund Ventures
Valerie is a product strategy expert specializing in driving innovation and identifying product-market fit for new product lines and concepts and emerging technologies in startups and Fortune 500 organizations. She is an active angel investor, advisor, and business strategy consultant, supporting entrepreneurs affiliated with local university startups and incubator programs. While at Qualcomm she led the growth of the first mobile app developer ecosystem which was the foundation for the creation of the first app play store for mobile phones. Valerie is particularly passionate about women’s health initiatives and solutions addressing climate change and sustainability. She has a BS in Finance/Computer Science from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the University of San Diego.

Bhargavi Vijayakumar
Partner, Java Capital
Bhargavi is a Founding Partner at Java Capital—an operator-turned-investor focused on Deep-Tech and Climate-Tech investments. Over 18 years as an operator, advisor, and investor, she has backed 53 startups and works closely with founders through the 0→1→10 journey. Her approach blends technical rigor with business discipline, prioritizing defensible technology, capital efficiency, and clear paths to commercialization.
At the Aquillius Sustainability Symposium, she brings a cross-border India–U.S. perspective and a passion for climate-positive innovation, looking for teams that turn breakthrough science into scalable solutions with real-world impact.

Rahul Iyer
Partner, MineTech Ventures
Experienced investor, executive and entrepreneur in multiple energy transition verticals. Rich operational track-record including scale-up, deployment, financings/M&A, board leadership, team building, government affairs, and driving breakthrough products and solutions from innovation through commercialization. Successful early and late-stage sustainable industrial investments with multiple exits. A proven leader with a passion and creativity for solving complex problems by aligning interests and building consortia among incumbents, governments, startups, financial interests, and public stakeholders. Multiple governmental and non-governmental advisory board positions focused on climate and sustainability.
Judges
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Sponsors




Startup Market
Catalyst Capital Symposia
Activating Startups
This monthly forum provides a unique opportunity for participants to gain valuable insights into emerging sectors and disruptive technologies that have the potential to revolutionize human health, the environment, and society.
Through engaging discussions, informative panels, and interactive workshops, aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs and investors can learn about essential concepts, strategies, and best practices directly from industry experts.
By engaging the venture and startup ecosystem, the symposia encourages investors to be activists and empower startups with cutting-edge technology.
Investing in Startups
Join the ranks of investor-activists who not only provide financial backing but also lend their expertise, networks, and influence to nurture startups, catalyzing a collective effort towards a brighter, more innovative future.
Startups: Apply to Pitch
Pitch your startup to an audience of industry experts, colleagues, and seasoned investors to gain valuable insights and feedback, forge strategic partnerships and connections, secure vital funding for your pioneering project, and elevate your startup to the next level!
Apply to pitch at one of the upcoming symposiums.
Connecting with Potential Customers
Sponsorship at Catalyst Capital Symposia provides a range of advantages, such as heightened brand visibility, lead generation, networking opportunities, thought leadership, and early access to emerging technologies.
To explore the ways in which your company can benefit from sponsoring our event, reach out to us for more information.




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