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Easton Center Innovation Challenge:
Live Pitches in Sustainability
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See the Latest Innovations and Learn from Expert Judges!
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UCLA Anderson, Room G419
Friday, April 18, 2025
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PDT
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| Attendees are invited to a lunch reception after the event during which the winners of the competition will be announced
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*A remote option via Zoom is available for those who cannot attend in person
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The Easton Technology Management Center's annual Cross-Campus Innovation Challenge is a great example of the spirit of collective effort which is essential to success, exemplifying an invaluable partnership between the Anderson school and the greater UCLA campus, our many students, faculty, and alumni who are committed to innovation and advancements in sustainability, healthcare and generative AI. This initiative brings together UCLA students from all disciplines and backgrounds to create new ventures that can drive a positive change in society.
Join expert judges, Julia Thayne, William Hsu, and Eric Hoek, and watch student finalist teams present their promising innovations in sustainability, healthcare, and generative AI as they compete for cash prizes!
In addition to seeing the latest advancements in these fields, the audience will gain valuable insights from the judges, who will provide expert feedback on each pitch—offering perspectives on both sector trends and key entrepreneurship lessons.
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| Julia Thayne
Co-Founder, Two and Rising
Julia is the co-founder of Twoº & Rising, an advisory firm helping companies, governments, and investors scale climate solutions to keep global warming below 2 degrees by 2030. Previously, she was a senior principal on RMI’s Climate Aligned Industries Program, where she lead efforts to build out Clean Industrial Hubs in LA, California, Houston, and the US Gulf Coast. Her projects included renewable electricity, clean hydrogen, and low-carbon fuel investments to decarbonize industry and aviation, shipping, and trucking.
An expert in accelerating equitable climate action in cities, Julia helps companies, governments, and NGOs translate ambitious visions into programs with positive community impact. She also served as an executive officer at the LA Mayor’s Office, where she oversaw 8 City of LA Departments, including airports, ports, and city planning.
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| William Hsu
Co-Founder & Partner, Mucker Capital
William has spent his career as both an entrepreneur as well as an executive of a Fortune 100 company.
Prior to forming Mucker Capital, William was the SVP and Chief Product Officer at AT&T Interactive where he owned P&L, Product Management, Product Marketing, and UX responsibilities for all digital advertising initiatives for greater AT&T.
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| Eric Hoek, Ph.D.
Professor and Serial Founder, Civil and Environmental Engineering, UCLA Samueli School
Dr. Hoek’s academic work explores the union of nanomaterials, membrane technology and electrochemistry for water, energy and environmental applications – all keys to a more sustainable future. He has advised over 50 graduate students, published over 110 peer-reviewed scientific publications and filed over 70 patents globally.
Dr. Hoek has also applied this knowledge as an entrepreneur having co-invented/founded several technology companies (e.g., NanoH2O, Water Planet, PolyCera, IntelliFlux) and as a consultant having advised various government agencies, technology companies, investment funds, and law firms.
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| Asearis - Asearis is redefining cloud computing with ShareCloud™, a decentralized, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to traditional cloud computing. ShareCloud™ helps businesses transform the unused capacity they already own on devices like laptops, phones, and computers into cloud computing capacity. With ShareCloud™, businesses can increase capacity, reduce cloud costs by 50% or more, cut energy consumption by up to 88% and reduce environmental impact, while maintaining seamless, enterprise-grade cloud functionality.
NexAI - NexAI, dba Opal NexAI Inc., harnesses cutting-edge GenAI, LiDAR, and high-resolution imagery from mobile mapping and airborne sensors to create highly accurate data layers for smarter, safer, and more sustainable cities. By mapping sidewalks, crosswalks, and other critical street elements with sub–3 cm accuracy, NexAI enables data-driven planning that promotes safety, mobility, and equity while supporting ADA compliance. With the potential to reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 65% and cut urban CO₂ emissions by thousands of metric tons, NexAI sets a new standard for digital transformation in transportation.
Ginate - For small or large-scale farming, gardening, and restoration enthusiasts, Ginate® is an organic soil enhancer derived from nutrient-rich coal that revitalizes soil health and promotes sustainable plant growth. Compared to traditional soil amendments such as compost or manure, Ginate® has been scientifically proven to produce better crop yield and nutrient density, reduce water usage, and considerably reduce the need for additional harmful chemical applications such as pesticides during the growth process. By enhancing both soil and human health, Ginate® is transforming agricultural and restoration practices worldwide—saving costs and creating long-term sustainability for our customers from Fort Collins all the way to Thailand.
HYenergy - HYenergy provides an end-to-end process that generates green hydrogen at the point of demand. Starting at the Port of Los Angeles, our mission is to scale hydrogen adoption in the heavy machinery industry and become the most attractive energy provider at a global scale.
Opal AI - OpalAI's FireVision transforms satellite imagery into high-precision wildfire risk intelligence. By predicting fire hazards before they ignite, we protect communities, preserve ecosystems, and save billions in disaster costs while reducing carbon emissions from catastrophic burns. Funded and built in-collaboration with NASA, we deliver property and neighborhood-level risk assessment to fire agencies, utilities and insurance companies desperate for climate adaptation solutions.
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About the Innovation Challenge
We believe the strongest solutions to complex problems come from a diversity of thought, experiences and backgrounds. This initiative brings together UCLA students from all disciplines and backgrounds to collaborate on driving a positive change in society.
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