PurCity's Victory at the CISCO Global Problem Solver Challenge

PurCity was recently announced as the first-place winner for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region in the 2022 Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge. This remarkable achievement came after a competitive journey that saw 1,186 submissions from around the world, with PurCity advancing through to the semifinals and then being selected as one of 44 finalists.

The Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge recognizes early-stage startups and social entrepreneurs who are developing technology-based solutions to address the world’s most pressing social and environmental issues. PurCity's winning technology, the Wall GapS (4.0, the forth generation) system, is a testament to this mission. As Morteza Ghorbani Eftekhar, the company's founder, explained in an interview, the patented, multi-functional construction panel is installed on buildings to directly capture carbon dioxide from the air. This innovative system also contributes to substantial energy savings—between 30% and 48%—on a building's HVAC systems by returning cleaned air indoors. What makes GapS 4.0 a truly groundbreaking solution is its integrated PV solar panels, making it the world's first unplugged, constantly operating carbon capture technology.

The prize money from the challenge, $75,000, will be used to further develop and commercialize this technology, enabling PurCity to scale up for large-scale projects and continue its work in capturing carbon from cities, cleaning the air, and saving energy.

The company's mission is deeply personal for its founder, who was inspired to create this solution after losing a friend to lung cancer caused by air pollution. Eftekhar shared his journey and advice for other social entrepreneurs, encouraging them to be passionate about their cause and to persevere through challenges, drawing on his own experiences as a Judo champion to highlight the importance of resilience.

PurCity's success is a result of the hard work and dedication of its team, with significant support from partners and collaborators including Impact Hub Vienna, DTU, Toyota Motor Europe, and others. This victory not only provides crucial funding but also validates PurCity's vision for a more sustainable future, reinforcing its commitment to "Changing the World to a Better Place."