As a tech podcaster and marketing agency owner, I often venture out of my cozy studio to learn from those innovating in the field. My quest for knowledge recently led me to the Arena Challenge, a two-day event showcasing urban challenges and climate tech solutions in Arena Herzliya, a mall located in Herzliya, Israel. Situated along the beautiful Herzliya Marina, the event showcased just how deeply ESG standards are becoming ingrained in business and how much companies and investors are prioritizing them.
The Arena Challenge: Where Sustainability Meets Real Estate
The Arena Challenge is not just another tech conference; it is a vision combining sustainable technologies with real estate betterment. Organized as part of Arena Herzliya and Reality Group’s ESG efforts in collaboration with Herzliya Municipality’s Innovation Center, the event calls on climate tech companies to propose groundbreaking solutions. The winner receives a monetary prize to be used for development and implementation of the solution. The victor also gets a unique opportunity: to pilot their project at Arena. Upon successful completion, they can then offer it as a full-fledged solution.
Conversations with Innovators
Snir Nissim and Smartflow: Keeping Cities Dry
One of the standout entrepreneurs at the event was Snir Nissim, co-founder of Smartflow. The company aims to make urban living more flood-resilient using real-time, data-driven cloud logic that can reduce flood volume by up to 30%. “We’re looking at data not just as numbers but as a tool to foster resilience in the face of increasing flooding disruptions,” said Nissim. It may seem trivial for a country that sees perhaps two-months worth of rain a year, but Snir highlights that with this rain comes urban and municipal inefficiencies that can even go on to affect the whole nation. With this in mind, his team is hoping to change how we relate to rains and flooding from the start of a building project, rather than as an after-thought.
Thelma Cohen Tohar and Smartcon: Building the Future
Next up was Thelma Cohen Tohar, VP of Marketing at Smartcon. Smartcon delivers end-to-end energy solutions for buildings, enabling solar and wind energy generation alongside energy conservation. “What we offer is a system that is as aesthetically pleasing as it is functional,” Tohar elaborated. With their BIPV solution, Smartcon ensures that the smart building of the future is already here.
Gad Marton and SoliDrip: A Revolution in Urban Greenery
Gad Marton, CEO and co-founder of SoliDrip, captivated the audience with his company’s autonomous irrigation system. Designed for both outdoor and indoor urban gardening and agriculture, SoliDrip’s technology ensures each plant receives the optimal amount of water. “We’re changing the way we access greenery in our urban spaces” Marton stated. Whereas many people may be familiar with drip irrigation, it is often used in agriculture and in very specific use cases. Gad sees his solution as being one that could transform greenery inside buildings, in urban areas, and even in agricultural settings.
A Word with Ronen Sharon, the Visionary Behind Arena Challenge
The mastermind behind this initiative, Ronen Sharon, CEO of Arena Mall, Reality Group, shared his insights. “We’ve realized that tackling climate challenges isn’t just good for the planet; it’s essential for business,” he said. Ronen mentioned that Arena is transitioning from a traditional mall setup to a hub for entertainment and conferences. As such, he is keen to position itself as a leader in the ‘green’ space. More significantly, Arena serves as a beta site for sustainability solutions. The mall, along with the group’s 30 other assets, including open parking areas and office buildings, are ready for these solutions.
Ronen’s urgency was palpable. “We need companies that can work now. Just an idea is not worth it; I need solutions for electricity, AC, waste management, and even shading in public areas.” For Ronen and the participating companies, the event was more than just a competition or a networking opportunity. It was a chance to leave a legacy for future generations. “I have three children, and we’re thinking about the world we will leave them after we’re gone,” Ronen reflected.
Looking Ahead
The Arena Challenge serves as a living example that innovation isn’t confined to the walls of a studio or a research lab; it’s being shaped in events like these where ideas meet reality. As I head back to my studio, microphone in hand, I do so with a wealth of stories, insights, and inspiration gathered from this incredible event. The world is in urgent need of sustainable solutions. And, as I learned at the Arena Challenge, those solutions are closer than we think.
Are you interested in learning more about climate tech solutions or hearing from the people who are making them happen? Tune into my podcast, where we will be featuring these incredible innovators in our upcoming episodes.
