greenCHEM kickSTART @ 14th CIFamily Meeting
Unleashing innovative green chemistry ideas
with Wiley
What is it about?
greenCHEM kickSTART is all about turning great ideas into impact. We called on students and researchers to bring forward their chemistry-related projects that could shape the technologies, processes and products of tomorrow. From all submissions, the finalist teams were selected — each with the potential to make a real difference for industry, society and the environment.
After an intensive bootcamp on pitching and presentation skills hosted by Wiley, the finalists will take the stage for the kickSTART Final. At this special edition, the kickSTART finalists will present their projects not only to a jury of experts, but also to the CIFamily network — the vibrant community of chemistry entrepreneurs, alumni and peers who embody collaboration and innovation.
Together, the audience and the jury will decide who takes home the Jury Prize and the Audience Prize.
Finalists
Catalumina: Light-powered photocatalytic reactor that generates hydrogen peroxide directly from water and air
COFion: PFAS-free membranes
Inpacto: Anti-caking beads for mechanochemistry
LignoVolt: Bio-based solid electrolyte made from lignocellulosic waste
Upcycling Rice Husk Ash into Sustainable Silica Flame-Retardant Fillers for Biopolymers: Sustainable Silica Flame-Retardant Fillers for Biopolymers
Waste2Watt: High-performance, bio-based anode materials
Speaker
t.b.a
About the CIFamily
The community events called “CIFamily” aim to offer the scene of chemistry-specific founders a place for trusting exchange and learning from each other. “Learning from experts and alumni/ae, sharing and discussing your own experiences with other participants and supporting each other” is the common goal of the community. In order to achieve this, each event is dedicated to a topic selected by the founders, on which there are impulses, exchange and networking in a relaxed and open atmosphere.
Important Dates & Venues
Pitch Training Session: 4th November 2025, Wiley Berlin, Rotherstr. 21, 10245 Berlin
Pitch Final: 20th November 2025, Wiley Berlin, Rotherstr. 21, 10245 Berlin
These events are by invite only.
Impressions from last year:
FAQ
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You can apply as an individual or as a team. We recommend the latter because projects/ideas supported by a team benefit from the more diverse skill set. Team members do not all need to be chemists!
You can apply individually and, if selected, bring in team members later, as long is it is before the pitch-training workshop takes place. -
Whether IP is issued, pending, or still in the process. We do not want any specific details about the underlying details, data, lab work, or material/molecule compositions. During your application and the format you will not be asked to share any such information. Of course, if you are uncertain, you can reach out to us, or the patent officers of your institute.
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There will be 5 finalist projects.
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It is defined pretty well by the 12 principles, found here
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English.
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Yes, the same format ran last year under the name ‘PitchCourse & Discourse‘.
Partnered with
