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‘Green economy heroes’ win 2025 Women4ClimateTO competition
Twelve local Toronto entrepreneurs pitched climate-related initiatives to a panel of judges for a chance to win a financial award of $20,000 first prize.
The City of Toronto has announced the winners of the fifth annual Women4ClimateTO pitch competition which included projects centring on carbon-storing, transforming the construction industry through sustainable architecture, and circular consumer-packaged goods.
Twelve local entrepreneurs pitched climate-related initiatives to a panel of judges for a chance to win a financial award of $20,000 first prize and two runner-up awards of $5,000 each.
Climate-related projects
These awards are intended to help further advance the participant’s climate-related projects or business ventures.
The two runner ups were:
- Chloe Doesburg’s venture SeaFoam is creating waves towards a regenerative future with carbon-storing, seaweed-based insulation materials that can replace high greenhouse gas emitting conventional alternatives
- Lea Baribeau’s company Hot Architecture is dedicated to transforming the construction industry through sustainable architecture and reimagines what is possible by designing, building and delivering elegant and efficient prefabricated homes.
The overall 2025 Women4ClimateTO pitch competition winner was Amanda Horn’s Shower Thoughts, a circular consumer-packaged goods company which focuses on water wellness and is poised to innovate personal care with a seaweed-based biomaterial designed to replace single-use beauty products.
“Congratulations to the winners and all of the mentees and mentors who have participated in this fifth edition of the Women4ClimateTO mentorship programme,” said Olivia Chow, mayor of Toronto. “Your environmental commitment and business excellence are critical to creating a sustainable future for our city and our planet.”
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Councillor Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale), mayor’s environmental champion, added: “Women are leaders in climate action in Toronto and around the world. I am proud to congratulate these three green economy heroes, entrepreneurs who are building businesses that support our economy while preserving a liveable future. I can’t wait to see their products at work.”
Through its Women4ClimateTO mentorship programme, the City provides a combination of mentoring, training and networking opportunities to help local women entrepreneurs advance their climate-related projects and business ventures. The City reports the programme has supported 61 local women and 59 climate ventures since launching five years ago.
I am proud to congratulate these three green economy heroes, entrepreneurs who are building businesses that support our economy while preserving a liveable future”
Women4ClimateTO supports the City’s TransformTO Net Zero Climate Action Strategy, which aims to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040.
More information about the winners and all this year’s programme’s mentors and mentees is available on the City’s website: www.toronto.ca/women4climate.
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