Did you know that petrochemicals found in everyday products like coatings, paints, and adhesives—commonly used in cosmetics, textiles, and industrial applications—contribute to over three billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually? These chemicals also pose significant health risks, particularly to women who are constantly exposed to chemical fumes from nail polish such as the 400,000+ nail salon workers across the U.S., many of whom are immigrant women. Anew Material is tackling these challenges head-on by developing groundbreaking, solvent- and plastic-free coatings using sustainable and cost-effective plant sources. Their innovative approach aligns with the chemistry and nano/micro-structure of target materials, ensuring optimal performance without relying on harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). By doing so, Anew has the potential to not only slash carbon emissions but also make a meaningful impact on public health.

Leading this mission is Jiye Son, Founder and CEO of Anew Material. With a Ph.D. in nanotechnology and materials chemistry from the City University of New York (CUNY), Jiye brings a wealth of expertise to the table. She previously served as Associate Director of the Nanoscience Initiative at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), where she spearheaded programs to bridge entrepreneurship and academic-industry collaboration. Her diverse background also includes roles in the Toxicology and Safety Department at Estée Lauder Companies and over a decade of firsthand experience working in nail salons. Jiye’s unique perspective and dedication drive Anew’s vision of creating safer, more sustainable materials for a better world.

BioSapien is a pre-clinical biotech company developing MediChip, the band aid for cancer. This localized delivery platform innovates on traditional chemotherapy to create a treatment that is less toxic, more accessible, and compliments preexisting procedures. Over 30% of systemic chemotherapy patients experience dose-limiting toxicities, leading to treatment reduction or discontinuation. When combined with a demanding regimen of 2 sessions per week, lasting 5-6 hours each, within a therapeutic range of 6-8 weeks, the overall quantity of life for patients is drastically decreased

CarbonBridge converts waste gasses into fuels and chemicals using a novel gas fermentation platform that unleashes microbe performance, while slashing the costs of bioprocessing. Our first process, as supported by ARPA-E, is the conversion of biogas into the lowest carbon intensity methanol (liquid fuel) in the most energy efficient process to exist. Using a different microbe, we have also recently shown that we can make ingredients for cleaners, shampoos, and antibiotics from waste oil and air. This platform paves the way for renewable fuels and chemicals that achieves fossil parity - with a green discount.

NYCEDC Consortium for Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub, starting at HB

The NYCEDC has launched a new $45 million sustained materials innovation hub called the Gotham Foundry, which will initially be located at Harlem Biospace beginning Summer 2025.  This new consortium will comprise Columbia University, the Advanced Science Research Center at the City University of New York’s Graduate Center (ASRC), the Fashion Institute of Technology at the State University of New York (FIT), and Genspace.  

Utilizing NYC’s resources in research and development, Gotham Foundry will focus on revolutionizing materials innovation to help deep tech startups further develop regenerative materials from biodegradable plastics to textiles made from food products.  Further, the sustainable materials science initiatives through Gotham Foundry will generate a novel ecosystem for research and entrepreneurship where key industries that serve as the backbone for the City including fashion, construction, and regenerative medicine will gain fundamental support to further economic output and create high quality careers for New Yorkers.