Hello! 👋
With over 300 registrants last year, our annual Emerald Summit is back on September 19 during New York Climate Week, bringing together leaders for the Greenest Event of the Year. 🍏
We are excited to share behind the scenes planning as we envision this year’s Emerald Summit to be our biggest international stage yet.
In this newsletter, we will also highlight our June and July Planet Positive Pitch competitions, which brought together over 400 registrants and remarkable startups and investors.
Finally, we’ll look back at the Sustainably Social Dinner from April, connecting inspiring leaders and corporate executives towards funding innovations.
Enjoy your reading, and we hope to see you at the Emerald Summit soon!
Join us this September at the Emerald Summit in NYC!
The Emerald Summit is back on September 19th, 2025 for another successful edition!
Wallet Max and Fintech Is Femme are joining forces to give you the premium sustainable action day of the year, right here, in Manhattan, New York City.
Funding sustainable and profitable tech for people, planet, and global communities is the mission of Emerald Summit, together with private markets. Here’s what you can expect!
💡 Actionable Insights – Learn directly from local and global decision makers sharing actionable strategies, not just theory.
💟 High-Value Connections – Meet founders, investors, executives, media, and policy leaders through curated networking that sparks lasting partnerships, along with curated breakfast, lunch roundtables, and intimate dinners.
🌱 Inspiring Atmosphere – Experience a thoughtfully designed program that encourages meaningful conversations and collaboration, with diverse panels and experts from sustainability, climate/clean tech, finance, AI/tech, among others.
🍏 Global Stage in NYC – Join the funding conversation alongside leaders shaping the future, with 10+ sustainable startups pitching LIVE to a panel of impact investors, and selection of top winners for Startup Awards.
We encourage you to apply for pitching at the Startup Awards. Here’s the link to submit your interest (deadline August 29, 2025): http://getwalletmax.com/startup-pitch-summit-2025
Stay in the know, and receive real time programming updates, speaker profiles, and networking opportunities on our dedicated 2025 event page: https://www.getwalletmax.com/summit
Here’s the RSVP link to attend Summit, Awards, and Dinner: https://lu.ma/EmeraldSummit25
Can't wait to join fellow leaders? Here's the official trailer!
Cherishing memories from last year’s Summit…
Last year’s Summit created lasting connections and memorable experiences. This year, we continue to honor that spirit of collaboration and inspiration.
The theme for 2024 was all about increasing venture capital fundraising and project finance for climate startups, particularly those led or owned by women in the sustainability, inclusion, education and technology sectors.
The Emerald Summit 2024 in numbers:
30 speakers
7 startup pitch presentations
300 registrants
As this year’s Emerald Summit approaches, we’d love to share some wonderful memories with you — so you can imagine the impact of joining us this year, and be a part of the experience.
See you September 19 at Civic Hall in Manhattan, New York City!
You don’t want to miss being part of our curated ecosystem from startups to the C-suite.
A look back on this year’s Planet Positive Pitch competitions
In June, during the New York Tech Week, and again in July, Wallet Max proudly joined forces with CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), VU Venture Partners, J.P. Morgan, and Brown Rudnick to host two inspiring editions of the Planet Positive Pitch competition, featuring a panel of tech investors, industry experts, climate leaders, and executives.
Both events brought together an inclusive mix of startup founders, corporate leaders, and private investors — all united by one mission: expanding fundraising access for groundbreaking innovations at the intersection of emerging technology, financial inclusion, and climate impact.
Attendees had the chance to:
💡 Witness diverse startups and founding teams pitch bold ideas shaping humanity’s future.
🥇 Gain insider perspectives from top investors and industry experts, and warm introductions for fundraising diligence.
💚 Network with a powerful community of policy leaders, AI and climate researchers, and mission-driven ecosystem partners.
From discussions on sustainable and inclusive business growth to meaningful resource sharing, the energy in the room was electric. The conversations sparked during these events are already paving the way for new collaborations, funding opportunities, and scalable solutions.
Here are some impactful numbers from both events!
100+ startup applications received
Close to 30 were shortlisted to pitch LIVE.
4 cash prizes attributed
Top 4 winning startups between both events were awarded prizes sponsored by Wallet Max, it rained appraisal!
4 corporate sponsors
Four corporate sponsors from Fortune 500 global institutions through private venture ecosystem leaders supported both of our events and made it possible!
Our event sponsors:
Wallet Max cash prize winners:
A big thank you to all the participants, investors, sponsors, and the pitching startup teams!
As we look back on the event, we are pleased to share a selection of photos from the Pitch Competitions. This September 19, 2025 at the Emerald Summit, a new opportunity awaits startups. Join the next Pitch Competition and showcase your ideas to investors and industry leaders, and win cash prizes and Startup Awards sponsored by Wallet Max.
Sustainably Social Dinner: Thoughtful Conversations, Lasting Connections.
This April, during New York Fintech Week, we hosted a unique evening dedicated to women-led startups and investors in climate, finance, technology/AI, and sustainability.
In an intimate, small-group setting, founders, investors, and executives came together to share ideas, exchange resources, and spark collaborations that go beyond the usual networking.
Guests enjoyed:
💜 Genuine conversations with emerging startup leaders, impact investors, and corporate executives.
📈 Insights on enhancing sustainability practices while scaling impactful businesses.
🌿 The warmth of Wallet Max community that now includes 1,000+ ecosystem leaders and global partners in funding sustainable and profitable tech for people, planet, and global communities.
The dinner wasn’t just about connections. It was about building relationships that can help drive innovation, investment, and sustainable change.
As part of our ‘Climate Forward’ event series, these gatherings will continue throughout 2025 and 2026, offering fresh opportunities to engage with the people shaping the future of humanity-focused climate action.
If you missed this one, keep your calendar open for the next — we’re just getting started.
Press play on knowledge and inspiration
Leading the Climate Fintech movement: Bhuva Shakti & Nicole Caperson
In this episode, Nicole Casperson speaks with Wallet Max founder and CEO, Bhuva Shakti, about the critical intersection of fintech, innovation, and climate action — and how purposeful collaboration can lead to meaningful change.
Bhuva discusses her approach to building ventures that balance profitability with people- and planet-first values. She also underscores the importance of convenings like the Emerald Summit, where leaders across sectors come together to exchange ideas, address urgent climate challenges, and shape sustainable financial solutions.
Don’t miss this conversation if you are curious about how finance and innovation can tackle climate challenges while still driving growth.
Wallet Max ‘Planet Positive Podcast’ welcomes investor Maddi Holman
In July’s episode of Wallet Max’s Planet Positive Podcast, our founder & CEO Bhuva Shakti sits down with Maddi Holman, co-founder of Daring Ventures in NYC.
From walking on to a D1 athletics team while studying pre-med to making a bold pivot into venture capital, Maddi’s journey is all about resilience. She’s built a career spotting “diamonds in the rough” and championing overlooked founders — especially women-led startups in climate, finance, and tech.
Together, Bhuva and Maddi explore how diversity drives better investments, how to balance impact with growth, and how to open more doors for underrepresented innovators.
💡 Tune in for real stories and practical insights on shaping the future of inclusive investing.
Coming up next: Wallet Max Planet Positive Podcast with Investor Emily Zhen
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