Rukhsana Faiz, managing director of environment, sustainability, and planning (ESP), is founder of the CleanTech Cup, a Tetra Tech initiative designed to connect innovative, clean technology small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with investors, developers, and industry leaders.
Innovation is not in short supply in the UK. Every day, ambitious businesses are developing new clean technologies that can help reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and solve some of the biggest challenges facing the built environment. The challenge is not the idea itself; it is finding the right people, partnerships, and opportunities to move ideas beyond concept stage and into real-world application. This is particularly challenging for SMEs, which often lack the network to build those connections.
This is where Tetra Tech can make a difference by creating a platform to enable SMEs to make those connections and move innovation beyond discussion and toward deployment.
Tetra Tech’s CleanTech Cup initiative brought together some of the UK’s most promising clean technology businesses and gave them the opportunity to pitch directly to investors, developers, and industry decision-makers.
The CleanTech Cup is all about supporting innovators in the UK to further develop their products. We want to help them find partners, collaborators, and opportunities that can take their ideas to market.
Connecting innovation with opportunity
UKREiiF was the ideal setting to host this new initiative. As the UK’s largest real estate and infrastructure event, it attracts thousands of professionals responsible for shaping the future of places, assets, and infrastructure across the country. For growing SMEs, access to that audience can be transformative.
The CleanTech Cup invited organisations developing solutions for built environment, infrastructure, and climate resilience challenges to enter a competitive selection process. Entries were evaluated on both innovation and their ability to address real-world challenges. The result was a shortlist of companies representing a broad spectrum of technologies, each seeking to make a measurable environmental impact.
Rather than focusing on a single technology category, the competition showcased the diversity of innovation taking place across the sector. From smart ventilation systems and low-carbon materials to energy solutions and carbon verification platforms, the finalists highlighted the range of approaches being developed to support a more sustainable future.
Supporting participants across the process
What made the CleanTech Cup different was its commitment to practical outcomes and the support provided before participants ever stepped onto the stage.
Tetra Tech worked directly with shortlisted companies, helping them strengthen their commercial propositions and prepare compelling investor-focused pitches. The objective was not simply to help them deliver a better presentation, but to improve their ability to engage with industry stakeholders and communicate the value of their solutions.
Many innovative businesses have the technology, but struggle to articulate the commercial case. Tetra Tech helped bridge that gap by providing mentoring and coaching.
There is no shortage of innovation. The challenge is accelerating adoption. Our role is to help companies find the partnerships and collaborations that enable them to scale, develop, and succeed.
The judging panel reflected that same commitment to practical outcomes, bringing together leaders from infrastructure, development, investment, and energy. For participating SMEs, it was an opportunity to gain direct feedback from the very people who could help accelerate the adoption of their solutions.
Delivering social value through SME support
SMEs play a vital role in the UK economy, yet many face barriers when trying to access large industry events, influential networks, and major decision-makers. The programme was designed to reduce those barriers and create meaningful opportunities for businesses that may otherwise struggle to gain visibility.
By giving SMEs access to investors, developers, and asset owners, Tetra Tech created an environment where engagement could translate into genuine opportunity. Participants gained exposure, strengthened their commercial readiness, and built relationships that have the potential to extend far beyond the event itself.
This is where the greatest value of the programme may ultimately lie. Success should not be measured solely by who lifts the trophy, but by the conversations started, partnerships formed, and opportunities unlocked.
Building momentum
The CleanTech Cup reflects Tetra Tech’s broader commitment to innovation and our Leading with Science® approach. By creating routes between innovators, investors, and delivery partners, we are helping to accelerate the adoption of solutions that can improve environmental performance and support net zero ambitions.
As the industry continues to search for new ways to meet climate commitments and improve resilience, initiatives such as the CleanTech Cup have an important role to play.
The inaugural event provided a glimpse of what can happen when innovators are given a platform, expert support, and access to the right audience. The ambition now is to build on that momentum and continue creating opportunities for the next generation of clean technology businesses.
Key takeaways
- The CleanTech Cup was created by Tetra Tech to connect innovative clean technology SMEs with investors, developers, and industry leaders
- Hosted at UKREiiF, it provided direct access to decision-makers from across the infrastructure and built environment sectors
- Shortlisted companies received mentoring and pitch coaching to strengthen their commercial readiness
- The initiative delivered social value by helping SMEs access networks, opportunities, and industry expertise that are often difficult to reach
- The CleanTech Cup demonstrates how targeted SME support can accelerate innovation while creating long-term economic, environmental, and societal benefits
About the author
Rukhsana Faiz
Rukhsana has nearly 30 years’ experience working in the industrial, energy, utilities, and municipal sectors managing projects, people, budgets, facilities, change, and strategy development in complex technical and global business environments.
She also has nearly 10 years’ experience working in the environmental and sustainability sector, circular economy, and clean technologies and is managing director of ESP at Tetra Tech.
Rukhsana is a qualified ESOS Lead Energy Assessor and holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education. She is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers, and is a strong advocate for early careers, mentoring and women in business and leadership positions.
