Sustainability Innovators: Larta’s Monthly Digest (October 2024)

Larta Institute
Blog, News
October 31, 2024
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October 2024

Welcome to the October edition of our newsletter! 

This month, we’ve curated content specifically for you—spotlighting the latest developments from our ecosystem, funding opportunities, success stories, and upcoming events, including our flagship ECO Festival, taking place on December 9th and 10th at our Los Angeles headquarter. Register now!

A special thanks to our partners at Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), and Bioscience LA for teaming up with us this month for BioscienceLA Week. We express our gratitude to Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell (2nd District of LA County) for extending support for the growth of the sector in LA.

We look forward to continuing our work to advance LA as a bioscience and sustainability mega-hub and to drive impact through public-private partnerships. Keep an eye out for more updates and ways to get involved!

Thank you for being a valued part of our community and for your ongoing support.

— Events & Opportunities —

ECO ’24 in LA:

ECO, hosted by Larta Institute, is a multidisciplinary festival and ecosystem gathering designed to foster innovation for a sustainable planet. By engaging with communities on the frontlines of today’s most urgent climate change and environmental challenges, we aim to identify and accelerate groundbreaking innovations that can make a real impact. For questions and partnerships, please reach out to us at eco@larta.org.

🗓️ Date: December 9–10

🕙 Time: 9:30AM–7:00PM

📍 Location: Larta HQ,
South Park Center City View Penthouse & SkyDeck

Register to attend here.

Other Events & Funding Opportunities

  • This March 26-28, 2025, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will host its milestone 30th Industry Growth Forum (IGF) in Denver, CO. Connect with 200+ cleantech investors, industry leaders, and other startups! Apply here by November 11th. 
  • NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track programs provide non-dilutive, fixed-amount cooperative agreements for the development of science and engineering technologies with the potential for societal and economic impacts. The next deadline for full submission is November 5th. Learn more here.
  • Breakthrough Energy Fellows is designed to tackle early-stage barriers to climate technology innovation, accelerating discovery and increasing the number of projects and companies working toward commercialization. By providing innovators with research funding and hands-on support, our program ensures projects have the resources and community they need to advance to the next stages of development. Submit your application or nominate a founder by Monday, December 2. Apply now!

— Community Spotlights —

Program: Venture Fellows

Impact Area: Equitable, Healthy & Resilient Communities 

Congratulations to Aquaria for being named TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024 in the Sustainability category!

At Aquaria, the mission is clear: to provide sustainable, secure water to entire cities directly from the sky. This year, Aquaria is proud to have already brought atmospheric water to nearly 100 homes, a significant step toward revolutionizing water access. But they’re just getting started. 2025 promises to be a breakthrough year as they expand their vision, building communities that are powered by renewable energy and sustained by Aquaria water.

Program: NSF Commercialization Assistance Program

Impact Area: Nature Preservation & Repair

Congratulations to C-Motive Technologies Inc. for being featured in the Wall Street Journal!

C-Motive Technology Inc‘s mission is to create electric machines that directly lead to reduced carbon emissions through higher efficiency renewable generators applicable to the next generation of e-mobility vehicles and more efficient industrial torque motors.

C-Motive’s motors run on the principle of electrostatic forces, also known as “static cling,”​ and stands to change the machines that shape and run our lives. The motors produce torque by the same principle of rubbing a balloon on a head of hair. And just like hair doesn’t heat up with the balloon, the motors produce torque with nearly zero loss, versus using copper coils wound around steel with rare earth permanent magnets.

Program: Heal.LA

Impact Area: Equitable, Healthy & Resilient Communities

Congrats to Roga for launching their first clinical study at the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences!

Roga is a therapeutic wearable, designed to be worn discreetly like a pair of headphones, that works by sending gentle pulses to the brain that signal safety to the nervous system. It’s a safe, non-invasive way to relax, and find flow. Using the Roga wearable consistently over time helps to retrain your nervous system, helping you recover from stress and feel better overall. Take control of your stress for a happier, healthier life.

— Community Showcase —

Our Companies in the News

— Our Impact —

and Other Resources

Larta Institute’s 2023 Impact Report
On Larta Institute’s 30th year anniversary, we are proud to share a glimpse into our transformative journey through the lens of our 2023 Impact Report.

Did you know that Los Angeles is on the cusp of a major food justice revolution? Read our Rooted Horizons Report, a groundbreaking research collaboration between Larta Institute and Los Angeles Food Policy Council, funded by California Community Foundation.

— Our Growing Team —

Join our Team

Visit our Careers page to learn more.

image of los angeles with text join our team in DTLA and a collage of business events

Partner with us to support or sponsor Larta’s programs and initiatives!
Contact Carlos Gutierrez, Chief Development Officer, at cgutierrez@larta.org.

Our mission is to foster science & technology innovation for a sustainable planet.
Let’s feed, fuel, and heal the world.

Connect with us.