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Yes San Francisco, Urban Sustainability Challenge Top Innovators Named to Help Revitalize San FranciscoFrom hydroponic green roofs to accessible solar storage and AI-driven green technology, the solutions aim to make the city of San Francisco a more sustainable place to live and work SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Deloitte announced the 14 Top Innovators that have been selected by UpLink for the Yes San Francisco (Yes SF), Urban Sustainability Challenge, marking a critical milestone for the Challenge and its goals to help revitalize downtown San Francisco. Launched earlier this year in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, Salesforce, Citi, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and more than 20 organizations, Yes SF is the first location-based UpLink Challenge created in direct response to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 11 of making cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
The Yes SF, Urban Sustainability Challenge received nearly 150 submissions that aligned to nine criteria including the viability of the business model and timeline, strength of the local presence, anticipated impact to San Francisco, and alignment with the city's Roadmap to Downtown San Francisco's Future and Climate Action Plan. Fourteen solutions were selected for their potential to bring new life and increased value to buildings, infrastructure and outdoor areas by means of sustainable construction, green energy, water conservation, waste management, vertical farming, urban forest management and more. Each submission was evaluated by a committee of expert reviewers from the San Francisco community who were nominated by Challenge collaborators for their understanding of the city and the challenges it faces, as well as their technical expertise in sustainability. The 14 Top Innovator solutions selected are:
The Challenge aims to convene the skill sets, resources and expertise of businesses, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders to build an ecosystem of support that helps address San Francisco's long-term needs. Top Innovators will have access to two tracks of support: a joint program led by the World Economic Forum and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Foundation that will provide a suite of resources to help innovators deploy their solutions in San Francisco, such as introductions to key local stakeholders and advisory services; and UpLink's global innovation network, which will offer visibility, connections and targeted resources to help Top Innovators grow and scale their solutions. Through place-based change, the Challenge represents a roadmap for action to scale beyond the Bay Area and build more resilient and inclusive cities nationwide. Key quotes "Yes SF is more than simply a challenge; it is a shared commitment from public and private sector leaders to reimagine the possibilities of urban living and revitalize San Francisco's downtown economy for a more sustainable and resilient future. We look forward to leveraging the World Economic Forum's global network and platform to support these world-leading innovators as they scale their solutions in San Francisco and beyond," said Jeff Merritt, head of Centre for Urban Transformation; member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum. "Yes SF is a catalyst for innovation. This new cohort of Top Innovators will contribute to the city's transformation through sustainable innovation and community expertise, benefitting both San Franciscans and the planet. Together with our collaborators and ecopreneurs, we can harness the power of technology, sustainability, and innovation that has been core to the city's identity for decades," said Suzanne DiBianca, EVP and chief impact officer at Salesforce "Yes SF exemplifies how different sectors can collaborate to advance innovative and scalable ideas to drive a more inclusive, equitable and resilient future for San Francisco. The Citi Impact Fund has built a consortium of investors to provide strategic guidance and support the growth of the Top Innovators, and we're excited to see the positive outcomes of their solutions," said Meredith Shields, head of Citi Impact Fund at Citi. "Here in San Francisco, we're well-known for our long history of world-class innovation," said Rodney Fong, president and CEO at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. "We're proud to champion the evolution of that spirit of innovation through Yes SF, which aims to revitalize our great city through meaningful collaboration that is deeply rooted in San Francisco's vibrant community." Find more details on the selected Top Innovators and full list of collaborators here, and to learn more about Deloitte's ongoing purpose initiatives please visit www.deloitte.com/us/purpose. About UpLink About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.
SOURCE Deloitte 
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