Startup Bazaar: DC Climate Week will take place on April 29, 2025, at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. Held as part of DC Climate Week — a global gathering for climate action running from April 28 to May 2, 2025 — this half-day forum will spotlight how climate tech startups are scaling bold, sustainable solutions to address the climate crisis. The event is hosted in partnership with the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
Startup Bazaar: DC Climate Week will convene a dynamic community of innovators, investors, and changemakers dedicated to advancing climate solutions. Attendees will gain insights from entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, climate financiers, and senior executives leading the clean tech revolution across industries. The forum will feature engaging discussions on financing green innovation, expanding clean energy access, and the emerging technologies shaping the green economy.
Senior Manager Risk Consulting Sustainability, EY
Chiara Henke is an expert in sustainability and risk management, working within EY's Risk Consulting Sustainability division based in Germany. Her areas of focus include the integration of climate risk assessment, uncertainty quantification, and the harmonization of processes enhancing corporate governance across various sectors. Leveraging her legal background and expertise in sustainable risk management, she assists organizations in navigating the complexities of ESG and driving risk transformation. By emphasizing value creation and performance management, she underscores the significant impact of ESG, helping organizations build resilience in a rapidly changing environment.
I think some possible questions next to my experiences in Europe with this topic could be something such as how can it be a real lever for corporate resilience and “If you were founding a startup today, how would you build ESG into your company from day one”?
Chief Strategy Officer, Climate First Bank
As Chief Strategy Officer, Chris Cucci drives impact through finance at Climate First Bank and OneEthos. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff at Climate First Bank, working with the executive team to drive strategic initiatives, new product development, and commercial banking business development. With nearly 20 years in Central Florida banking, focused heavily on middle market and commercial real estate lending, Chris’ goal is to support the growth of Climate First Bank across the state of Florida.
Active in the community, Chris currently serves on the CCIM Central District Board of Directors, treasurer for Osceola Community Health Services, and is a member of the Orange Blossom Trail Development Board. Before joining Climate First Bank, Chris held various positions in commercial lending and leadership at South State Bank, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase.
Montgomery County Green Bank
Rokas Beresniovas has over 20 years of experience in business to business, community, and retail environments where he manages teams, builds relationships, monitors market conditions, and expands client assets. He also has numerous appointments to non-profit boards for corporate stewardship and community relationship building.
Born in Lithuania, Rokas emigrated to the U.S. in 1998. He has worked predominantly in the financial services sector, where he served as a Vice President of Business Development and Commercial Banking for Bank of America, Eagle Bank, HSBC Bank USA, State Bank of India USA, and the National Institute of Health Federal Credit Union.
Rokas has also been a board member of various community organizations, including the Georgetown Business Association (GBA), Kids 4 Peace International, End Violence Against Women International and The Embassy Series.
Rokas was awarded the 2016 SmartCEO Washington DC Executive Management Award and was a finalist for the 2015 SmartCEO Washington DC Money Manager Award. He also won a Global Tassels Community Innovator Award (2015) and The Eurasia Center Golden BRICS Award (2014).
SVP, Boundary Stone Partners
Ben Brenner is a seasoned clean energy federal affairs leader, policy advisor, teambuilder and federal appropriations wonk.
At Boundary Stone Partners, he draws on a decade of public, private and nonprofit sector experience to find creative solutions to hard problems, across today's defining energy challenges: spiking demand, geopolitical competition, economic disruption, climate change and more.
Ben served as a nonpartisan legislative liaison for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Chief Financial Officer under both the Obama and Trump Administrations, responsible for securing billions of dollars in annual appropriations for DOE's expansive applied energy, science, nuclear security and nonproliferation programs.
Before his time at DOE, Ben served as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, where he helped Michigan companies navigate the Department of Defense’s procurement process and advised the Senator on major pieces of gun safety and immigration legislation.
Ben is a proud Michigander and holds an MPA from Princeton University and a BA from McGill University in Montréal, Canada.
Founder & CEO, Intupower
Mo Hasan is globally renowned as a leader in applied artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. He has decades of experience as an Executive Trainer and Management Consultant empowering organizations to succeed.
As an educator and strategist, Mo has extensively trained executives, teams, and enterprises in successfully leveraging AI to transform workflows, unlock insights, and accelerate innovation.
Over the past 25 years, he has trained over 30,000 executives, managers, and high-performers across various sectors, including government, banking, finance, and technology. His passion for teaching and innovation led him to develop The Hasan Method™, a groundbreaking approach to AI education that emphasizes ethics, communication, and contextual application.
As a thought leader, he has authored four books, including "Organizing the Universes," and delivered two TEDx talks on the retirement planning and team collaboration.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builder
Over the last 20 years, Mike has researched, designed, led, and advised entrepreneurship programs that create economic growth through innovation and a more inclusive society. He is currently supporting the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator, which supports climate tech startups with effective programs, investments, and events. Mike has led, advised, and coached 45 Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) on their programming, business models, marketing, operations, management, partnership, fundraising, and outreach. He has designed 20 different entrepreneurship programs across the world. His programs have supported over 4,500 ventures that led to $70 million in capital; in some cases, he connected, trained, or coached founders on product development, market engagement, fundraising, team growth, and business model development. Currently, he is writing a book on entrepreneurship, city economics, and growth. Mike is an #Ironman 70.3 finisher, has finished seven marathons, biked from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Foundry Director, Conservation X Labs
Chad Gallina
Foundry Director, Conservation X Labs
Chad Gallinat is the Foundry Director at Conservation X Labs. In that role, he combines the best practices from CXL's open innovation programs, product development approaches, and entrepreneurial tools into a concerted new program that will rapidly develop, prototype, and build venture-backable companies with a focus on transforming industries with a direct stake in solving the extinction crisis.
ESG Reporting and Compliance, FedEx
Bhagyashree More is a part of ESG Reporting and Compliance Team at FedEx, where she supports global ESG reporting in alignment with evolving global regulatory frameworks. With a multidisciplinary background in sustainability, finance, and governance, Bhagyashree has held key roles at organizations including ISS STOXX, Resilient Earth Capital, Ernst & Young and KPMG. She holds dual master’s degrees—an MS in Sustainability Management from American University and an MS in Finance from Grenoble Ecole de Management. Passionate about climate finance and corporate responsibility, she brings a global perspective and practical experience to advancing sustainable business practices.
Discover the next wave of innovation at the Startup Showcase, featuring some of the most promising climate tech startups. It will highlight groundbreaking ventures across diverse industries, offering a glimpse into the future of entrepreneurship in the DC area and other parts of the country. Founders will share their journeys, challenges, and insights as they showcase their startups.
Get ready to hear from investors, successful startup founders, industry leaders, and innovation experts who have built and scaled groundbreaking ventures.
Startup Bazaar offers a vibrant platform where startup founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and early-stage innovators can engage with industry leaders who have forged remarkable success in the entrepreneurial landscape. Join us to gain invaluable insights, network with seasoned professionals, and ignite your entrepreneurial journey.
Are you an entrepreneur with an innovative startup? Here’s your chance to showcase your venture at the Startup Showcase! If you want your startup to be featured, reach out to us with your details. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain visibility, connect with investors, and engage with industry leaders. Our email ID is events@americanbazaaronline.com
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Name: Anil Prayag
Phone: 301-343-7610
Email: anil@americanbazaaronline.com
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center
555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
Name: Anil Prayag
Phone: 301-343-7610
Email: anil@americanbazaaronline.com