Why
The climate tech sector faces critical challenges
Funding for climate tech startups has declined sharply, falling 29% in the past year, and less than 9% of global venture capital supports these solutions.
Many high-emission sectors—such as industrials, agriculture, and the built environment—remain underfunded despite their significant climate impact.
Meanwhile, early-stage startups struggle to secure the resources needed to scale, and adaptation and resilience innovations, essential for addressing climate risks, receive insufficient attention globally.
Source: Pitchbook, PwC analysis
Most of Sustainable Development Goals slowly progressing and regressing
Technology and innovation can play a huge role
in helping the Global Goals pick up speed, however inventions are becoming less disruptive.
Source: Nature Journal
A small fraction of startups works for Sustainability and even less - for Climate
- 8.4% of the businesses in the study are sustainability startups.
- Most of them (56.2%) are working towards the 'Health and Well-being' goal of the SDGs.
Environmental threats prevail globally
Source: World Economic Forum Risk Report
while science and technology mostly focus on tasks unrelated to sustainability
Source: STRINGS Report, 2023
Our Vision
Our vision is to build a world where every innovation prioritizes sustainability, capital flows align with planetary needs, and the most transformative climate and nature technologies scale rapidly to restore balance between human progress and the Earth's ecosystems.
Team
Julia Daviy (Berezovska), Founding Director, President
Nilton Becerra, Founding Director, Strategy & Operations Lead
Nilton Becerra, Founding Director, Strategy & Operations Lead
Julia Daviy is a visionary leader in clean technology, renewable energy, and sustainable innovation, with a mission to drive transformative change across industries. With advanced studies in Environmental Economy and an MBA from Berkeley Haas, she combines academic insight with hands-on expertise. A pioneer in sustainable manufacturing, s
Julia Daviy is a visionary leader in clean technology, renewable energy, and sustainable innovation, with a mission to drive transformative change across industries. With advanced studies in Environmental Economy and an MBA from Berkeley Haas, she combines academic insight with hands-on expertise. A pioneer in sustainable manufacturing, she introduced revolutionary methods for 3D-printed fashion, redefining production standards with a focus on environmental responsibility. As a driving force behind clean energy access in emerging markets, she has shaped renewable energy adoption and policy. Through her work with the Sustainable Innovation Council, Julia is dedicated to fostering strategies that place sustainability at the heart of innovation.
Nilton Becerra, Founding Director, Strategy & Operations Lead
Nilton Becerra, Founding Director, Strategy & Operations Lead
Nilton Becerra, Founding Director, Strategy & Operations Lead
Nilton Becerra Villar is the Founding Director of the Sustainable Innovation Council. Nilton is an alumnus of the Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, holds a Master’s in Managing Innovation and Projects from the University of Sussex (2013). As the former Chief of Continuous Improvement, Procurement, and Innovation at AESA Infrae
Nilton Becerra Villar is the Founding Director of the Sustainable Innovation Council. Nilton is an alumnus of the Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, holds a Master’s in Managing Innovation and Projects from the University of Sussex (2013). As the former Chief of Continuous Improvement, Procurement, and Innovation at AESA Infraestructura y Minería in Lima, Peru, Nilton has a deep understanding of operational and innovation challenges in the critical minerals sector. Recognizing South America’s pivotal role in supplying energy minerals for the global economy, he aims to foster sustainable policy innovations that advance the planet-first approach in this rapidly evolving industry.
Ronald Kimbowa, Founding Member
Nilton Becerra, Founding Director, Strategy & Operations Lead
Ronald Kimbowa, Founding Member
Kimbowa Ronald is the Founding Director of the Sustainable Innovations Council and a Master’s in Public Affairs candidate at the Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, as well as a Master’s in Public Health candidate at Makerere University (2021-2025). With experience at the UN Refugee Agency in Africa, Ronald anticipates a future
Kimbowa Ronald is the Founding Director of the Sustainable Innovations Council and a Master’s in Public Affairs candidate at the Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley, as well as a Master’s in Public Health candidate at Makerere University (2021-2025). With experience at the UN Refugee Agency in Africa, Ronald anticipates a future where climate change disproportionately impacts the Global South, particularly African nations, driving large-scale migration and heightening vulnerabilities. He is committed to fostering sustainable policy initiatives that prioritize health, resilience, and equitable development for the continent’s most affected populations.
Sustainable Innovation Council Fellows
Danny Danishev
Soumya Ranjan Bej
Adoley Swaniker
Danny Danishev is a Funding Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, bringing his expertise in strategy, finance, and sustainable business to support climate-focused initiatives. He is an MBA candidate at Berkeley Haas, where he is committed to leveraging business and innovation for global impact. Danny spent over four years as a Sen
Danny Danishev is a Funding Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, bringing his expertise in strategy, finance, and sustainable business to support climate-focused initiatives. He is an MBA candidate at Berkeley Haas, where he is committed to leveraging business and innovation for global impact. Danny spent over four years as a Senior at Deloitte, leading high-impact projects across the Caspian Region. He founded and chairs 180 Degrees Consulting in Uzbekistan and has served as the Global Director of Operations for the organization, driving initiatives across continents.
His passion for energy, technology, deep-tech, and climate innovation fuels his work at the Council, where he focuses on developing funding strategies to accelerate sustainable solutions.
Adoley Swaniker
Soumya Ranjan Bej
Adoley Swaniker
Adoley Swaniker is a Funding Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, leveraging her expertise in finance, strategy, and sustainable business to support climate-focused initiatives. She is an MBA candidate at Berkeley Haas, where she is a Consortium Fellow and pursuing certificates in Sustainable Business and Food Systems. With a bac
Adoley Swaniker is a Funding Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, leveraging her expertise in finance, strategy, and sustainable business to support climate-focused initiatives. She is an MBA candidate at Berkeley Haas, where she is a Consortium Fellow and pursuing certificates in Sustainable Business and Food Systems. With a background in economics from Dartmouth and consulting experience at Deloitte, she has led grant distribution strategies, developed growth plans for social enterprises, and advised on carbon regulation and sequestration. At the Council, she focuses on advancing funding strategies for sustainable innovation.
Soumya Ranjan Bej
Soumya Ranjan Bej
Soumya Ranjan Bej
Soumya Ranjan Bej is a Funding Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, bringing his expertise in enterprise IoT, mobile platforms, and telecom to accelerate funding strategies for breakthrough sustainability solutions. An award-winning senior technologist and solutions expert, he has a strong track record of developing and deploying
Soumya Ranjan Bej is a Funding Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, bringing his expertise in enterprise IoT, mobile platforms, and telecom to accelerate funding strategies for breakthrough sustainability solutions. An award-winning senior technologist and solutions expert, he has a strong track record of developing and deploying high-impact technologies that enhance operational efficiency, optimize data analysis, and drive revenue growth.
With deep experience in product leadership and project management, Soumya has led multiple successful go-lives, including the integration of Vodafone’s IoT Device Management with PTC’s ThingWorx platform, improving accessibility to millions of IoT devices.
At the Council, he focuses on identifying and supporting innovative climate technologies, ensuring they receive the strategic funding and resources needed to scale and create meaningful global impact.
Alex Lei
Daniel Ibrahim Kamara
Soumya Ranjan Bej
Alex Lei is a Policy Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, specializing in identifying policy gaps to unlock funding and scalability for sustainable innovators, startups, and organizations. He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, where he focuses on policy-driven solutio
Alex Lei is a Policy Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, specializing in identifying policy gaps to unlock funding and scalability for sustainable innovators, startups, and organizations. He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, where he focuses on policy-driven solutions for climate and energy transitions. As Director of Symposium for the Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative, he facilitates discussions on pressing sustainability challenges. At the Council, he works on advancing policy innovations that enable the growth of impactful, planet-positive solutions.
Daniel Ibrahim Kamara
Daniel Ibrahim Kamara
Daniel Ibrahim Kamara
Daniel Ibrahim Kamara is an Ecosystem Development Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, leveraging his expertise in securing funding and building strategic partnerships to support sustainable innovation. Currently pursuing a Master of Development Practice at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, he has worked with renowne
Daniel Ibrahim Kamara is an Ecosystem Development Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, leveraging his expertise in securing funding and building strategic partnerships to support sustainable innovation. Currently pursuing a Master of Development Practice at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, he has worked with renowned international organizations, including Save the Children and Shine on Sierra Leone, leading multimillion-dollar program development and fundraising efforts. With a strong background in stakeholder engagement and policy advocacy, he now focuses on connecting startups, investors, and policymakers to scale impactful sustainability solutions.
Brady Czekanski-Moir
Daniel Ibrahim Kamara
Daniel Ibrahim Kamara
Brady Czekanski-Moir is an entrepreneur and Funding Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, where he leverages his expertise in venture capital, startup fundraising, and impact investing to support climate tech entrepreneurs. He is currently an MBA candidate at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, focusing on sustainable finance
Brady Czekanski-Moir is an entrepreneur and Funding Fellow at the Sustainable Innovation Council, where he leverages his expertise in venture capital, startup fundraising, and impact investing to support climate tech entrepreneurs. He is currently an MBA candidate at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, focusing on sustainable finance and innovation. Brady earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree from the University of Miami and is dedicated to accelerating sustainable innovations through capital and strategic growth initiatives.
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