About
The Environmental Tech Lab provides an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage companies to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America.
Key Program Benefits
Access to Decision Makers
Work closely with public sector leadership, operators, and engineers. This hands-on collaboration offers ongoing product feedback and access to public sector customers.
Transparent, Structured Program
Test directly with large, hard-to-reach public sector customers through a transparent structure with accelerated go/no-go decisions.
De-risked Entry into Government
Receive targeted guidance on New York City’s regional agency requirements, such as scoping, insurance, cybersecurity, and more – making it easier to enter one of the most challenging yet rewarding markets.
How it works
Challenge Identification
We work with senior leaders at DEP to identify tangible, real-world challenges that could be solved with new technologies.
Global Call for Applications
Companies from around the world are invited to apply to our open challenges, detailing evidence of product-market fit.
Evaluation Period
Experts from water and sustainability sectors review applications, and semi-finalists are invited to New York City to pitch to a panel of DEP and private sector evaluators.
Proof of Concept
Challenge Finalists are selected to complete an eight-week Proof of Concept, conducting a minimally viable technology test in close collaboration with DEP. Throughout the process, participants receive direct feedback, engage with DEP staff, tour operational facilities, and present their solutions to senior leadership and the DEP Commissioner.
Pilots and Beyond
Select companies may be invited to participate in a pilot opportunity to further test their technology and demonstrate long-term commerical potential at scale.
Environmental Tech Lab Founders and Partners
The Environmental Tech Lab is a collaboration between the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New York City Partnership Foundation, the nonprofit affiliate of the Partnership Fund for New York City. We provide companies with expedited paths to testing, expert feedback, access to key decision makers from DEP, and an accelerated go/no-go decision.
We enable public sector climate leaders to source, evaluate, and test new solutions to their most critical challenges.
Leadership
Program leadership guides companies through the Environmental Tech Lab’s application, evaluation, and testing processes via project management support and testing best practice advice.
Stacey Matlen
Senior Vice President,
Innovation Programs,
Partnership for New York City
Anushree Sreedhar
Director,
Innovation Programs,
Partnership for New York City