Sustainable Innovations Challenge

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In 2023, I launched the Sustainable Innovation Challenge as a radical experiment in imagination, systems thinking, and regenerative vision.

The goal was simple but ambitious: to create one original sustainability innovation concept per day — not just for a year, but until the challenge was fully realized. I completed it on January 28, 2025, with 365 bold, actionable concepts that span energy, water, food, materials, AI, biodiversity, and beyond.

Born from my experience as a cleantech founder, designer, and endurance athlete, this challenge tested not just creativity, but discipline, foresight, and my belief that sustainability must become the default framework for innovation.

Each concept explores overlooked possibilities and anticipates future crises, while aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These are not abstract ideas — they are blueprints for action, rooted in feasibility, imagination, and systems transformation.

The challenge became the foundation of my upcoming book, Imagine Next — a global atlas of innovation for a regenerative future.

As an investor and systems strategist, this challenge continues to guide how I source, evaluate, and support the next wave of planet-positive solutions.

I started the Sustainable Innovation Challenge on May 24, 2023.

The inspiration for the Sustainable Innovation Challenge came from recognizing the urgent need to rethink how we approach innovation, particularly in sustainability. With the world at a critical crossroads, I felt compelled to act after seeing a study highlighting the paradox of growing knowledge but fewer disruptive breakthroughs. My background in endurance sports like marathons and Ironmans, along with my experience in sustainable innovation—from R&D to collaborating with various innovation ecosystems—motivated me to create this challenge. It pushes my creativity to its limits while contributing to real-world solutions, fostering a culture of sustainable innovation, collaboration, and impactful change.

I maintain a record of my daily innovation concepts on my Instagram account (@juliadaviy), as well as in my Evernote and Google Drive for consistency. Posting the concepts on my website typically requires a bit more time.

Coming up with fresh concepts consistently comes down to having a system. Over the course of my Sustainable Innovation Challenge, I developed a process rooted in design thinking and systems thinking—methods that foster empathy, iterative problem-solving, and the ability to see overlooked connections. Conversations with clean tech professionals, UC Berkeley colleagues, and my diverse experiences—from co-founding green startups to developing portable solar chargers—fuel my ideas.

By blending sustainability, technology, and (often) economics  with creativity, I turn everyday observations into actionable, impactful concepts. I believe anyone can adopt this approach to spark innovation, create planet-first ventures, and drive real-world change. The world needs more entrepreneurs ready to make a difference, and this mindset is something anyone can learn.

Sustainability isn't just my professional focus—it's deeply personal. A decade ago, I took on a one-year challenge to live the most eco-friendly lifestyle possible. This experience revealed numerous pain points and untapped market opportunities, leading me to create my own line of organic clothing. That journey ultimately paved the way for my innovations in sustainable 3D-printed fashion and fully digital supply chains and delivery (something that we tried to implement in Imageneria).