Rise to the Challenge
Meet the 2022 RISE Challenge Winners
This year’s Solution Builders are using innovation to help rural and urban coastal communities deal with the escalating problem of flooding and sea level rise caused by climate change.
Rural Challenge Winners
Rural Coastal Community Resilience Challenge topics focus on Flood Management, Protection of Buildings and Property and Water Quality Management.
The Company
Works to design, test and implement innovative solutions for people who don’t have access to proper sanitation.
The Solution
Triangle Environmental will pilot a compact, modular wastewater treatment system for non-potable reuse of household greywater.
The Company
Provides consulting support in ecological restoration, mitigation and shoreline management.
The Solution
Biogenic Solutions will test and advance a new method of upcycling dredge materials to protect shorelines.
The Company
Combines environmental data intelligence with software and advanced manufacturing to deliver nature-based solutions to the infrastructure market.
The Solution
Natrx will test how to repurpose dredge materials for use in the construction of resilient infrastructure.
The Company
Helps residents mitigate the hazards of flooding to their homes and repair the damages afterward.
The Solution
Home Mechanix will test a novel crawl space moisture barrier to protect homes against flood damage.
Rural Challenge Winners
Urban Challenge Winners
Urban Coastal Community Resilience Challenge topics include Flood Management, Protection of Buildings, Data Analytics and Re-establishing Critical Utilities.
The Company
Provides guidance to governments on future-proofing their communities against climate threats while also improving social equity.
The Solution
Fernleaf will test a solution that assesses system-wide climate and community impact indicators of projects to help cities prioritize transportation infrastructure funds.
The Company
Combines environmental data intelligence with software and advanced manufacturing to deliver nature-based solutions to the infrastructure market.
The Solution
Natrx will pilot an innovative method for businesses to measure and report the value of resilience-based infrastructure.
The Company
Offers simple, cost-effective, adaptable bio-retention solutions that help solve stormwater management issues in urban environments.
The Solution
InfraSGA will fine-tune its business model and prepare for market launch.
The Company
Provides turnkey hydrogen gas services for fuel cell applications.
The Solution
Independence Hydrogen will test a new distribution system that provides emergency alternative backup power supplies to cities.
Urban Challenge Winners
What Happens Next?
In addition to funding, each Solution Builder enjoys access to a full package of benefits, including:
Real-world pilot sites in coastal Virginia to test and validate products
Introductions to potential investors and customers
Regulatory assistance with permits and government funding
Guidance and valuable feedback from pilot hosts on how to maximize products or solutions for market adoption
PR opportunities and media visibility
The only ecosystem of coastal resilience entrepreneurs in the U.S.
Tailored accelerator curriculum
Co-working office and fabrication space
Meet our Past Solution Builders
Our new Challenge winners join a large and growing network of RISE Solution Builders – all focused on empowering coastal communities to adapt and thrive in the face of a changing climate.