Aerial

INVENT CITY

↑ Invent City includes a proposed micro, urban World's Fair, launched with a tall ships event.

CITIES ARE THE DRIVERS OF THE FUTURE

Clusters worldwide

Cities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

This September we are bringing together mission-aligned startups, incubators, and investors in a shared environment to showcase solutions, spark new conversations, and build momentum around scalable climate action. Whether it’s tabling, hosting a panel, or just having a visible presence during the week—we’re creating space for the right people to connect and do meaningful work together.

Were excited to explore how you can be a part of it.

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MISSION:
TRANSFORM FIDI INTO A
MARKETING POWERHOUSE FOR URBAN, CLIMATE INNOVATION

OBJECTIVES

> Accelerate deployment urban climate solutions globally

> Drive breakthroughs to go from niche to mainstream

> Increase demand for FiDi’s ~30% vacant offices

> Turn climate action into a powerful economic engine

> Boost city tax revenue amid potential federal cuts

5 POINT
STRATEGY

1/5. Lead with ECONOMICS — the Strongest Driver — Emphasize the high cost of inadequte action, and the significant economic and investment upside of persuing climate solutions. Focus on market forces that are driving the long term market. Convey the economic implications to all stakeholders.
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2/5. Build an Urban, Carbon Zero INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER — Like Napa for wine, Wall Street for finance, and Boston for biotech, clusters thrive by concentrating businesses, suppliers, and institutions around a shared focus. A climate innovation cluster in FiDi would target key urban systems—transport, buildings, energy, waste, water—focused on both mitigation and adaptation. Supporting sectors like finance, AE, and legal will drive deployment at scale.
trade events
Clusters worldwide
3/5. Anchor the Cluster with a TRADE MART, TRADE EVENTS, and a VIRTUAL PRESENCE — The Trade Mart will showcase global carbon-zero solutions and connect businesses, investors, and policymakers in one dynamic hub. Trade events—expos, competitions, roundtables—will bring the Mart to life, driving deal-making and collaboration. A digital nervous system—metaverse, VR, AR, and a dedicated app—will extend access and engagement 24/7.
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4/5. Locate the cluster and trade mart in the FINANCIAL DISTRIC (FiDi) — FiDi with 13 subway lines, 30 bus routes, 18 ferries, the Downtown Shuttle, and 35 CitiBike stations offers unmatched accessibility, is a node on the blue highway, is surrouned by the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliencey project. and a blue highway node, global recognition, and abundant vacant office space of approximately 30%.
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To strengthen FiDi’s operational backbone, Invent City proposes a network of urban hubs. This network would support selective pedestrianization—unlocking significant economic and investment value for the district.

5/5. Implement a Robust Revenue Strategy — Build long-term brand partnerships through program sponsorships. Offer exhibit and event sponsorships for focused visibility. Provide naming rights for exclusive branding opportunities. Engage community support through contributions from residents, businesses, and advocates. Monetize the app with ads and DOOH integration to drive digital and real-world engagement.
Flooded NYSE

TACTICS.
MAKING IT HAPPEN

economy cluster city
1/11. Identify a pilot location — To prove feasibility, surface issues, collect data, build support, and de-risk scaling.
2/11. Show and Communicate Stakeholder Value — Continuously demonstrate value to building owners, corporations, residents, and the city. Clear communication builds trust and ensures long-term support.
3/11. Identify specific areas in FiDi for specific industry zones — Build the cluster around 11 industries identified by McKinsey, with $12T in potential revenue by 2030. These industries anchor the trade mart and events. See industries.
4/11. Decouple for Continuity — Run sub-initiatives—events, content, trade mart, virtual, and DOOH—on independent tracks. This keeps progress steady, even if one area faces delays.
5/11. Build with Strategic Events — Use roundtables and trade shows to spark dialogue, unite stakeholders, and drive climate solutions. See events.
6/11. Use Virtual Platforms — Virtual spaces—apps and the metaverse—cut costs, boost visibility, and attract new stakeholders. They promote events, enhance the showroom, and strengthen the cluster. See virtual.
7/11. Repurpose Office Space — Use 1M sq. ft. for showrooms and 1.5M for supporting offices from FiDi’s 12M sq. ft. of vacant space. Create modern trade marts showcasing innovative solutions. Learn more.
8/11. Establish a Test Showroom — Launch an early showroom to demonstrate the cluster’s potential. Showcase solutions, build excitement, and attract key stakeholders. Prove the model and refine operations.
9/11. Develop a pilot Urban Hub — Urban Hubs willmanage micro-cargo, transit, waste, and sanitation, cutting GHG emissions and enhancing functionality. Boosts the cluster’s competitiveness. Learn more.
10/11. Leverage Urban Assets — Use alleyways, vacant retail spaces, plazas, FDR land, parking lots, and facilities like Winter Garden for events. See details.
11/11. Partner for DOOH Visibility — Combine traditional and digital out-of-home media to promote initiatives. Use QR codes to drive app interaction and engagement. See strategy.
101 Greenwich

↑ Pedestrianized William Street, between Pine and Liberty Streets.

A Bold Response To An Urgent Crisis

The time for bold action is now.

Global ecosystems are unraveling. The tundra releases greenhouse gases. Arctic fires rage. Sea ice vanishes. The AMOC slows, threatening global weather. The Great Barrier Reef teeters on collapse. Global temperatures hit record highs. CO2 levels reach 427 ppm in 2024. The result? Heat. Floods. Food shortages. Mass migration. Inaction is not an option. NYC must lead with decisive, bold action.

Cities are in crisis. Heat waves kill in Paris. Floods swamp Miami. Hurricanes wreck New Orleans. Rising seas displace millions in Jakarta and Dhaka. Wildfires devastate Sydney and Los Angeles. Air pollution suffocates Delhi. Water shortages paralyze Cape Town.

Invent City is more than a climate initiative — it’s an economic revolution. Anchored by a trade mart, powered by events, and driven by collaboration, it will accelerate solutions and turn ideas into action. Humanity is only 10% of the way to combating this crisis. NYC can lead the charge and secure its place as a global climate leader.

Transform NYC’s economy. Invent City brings businesses, creates jobs, and fuels retail and restaurants. It revitalizes real estate with a 1.5–2.5x economic multiplier. Key impacts: $292.83M annual rent increases, $63M annual property taxes, 33,333 jobs in real estate, 3,800 jobs in tourism.

Turning FiDi into a carbon-zero cluster isn’t just ambitious — it’s essential for NYC’s future. Bold, integrated action is needed to merge environmental responsibility with economic resilience.

Now is the time to act. For NYC. For the planet.

william street
Roadmap

Problem

Mission

Objectives

Strategy

  • FiDi as Center
  • Quantify Costs + Benefits
  • Target $12.3 Trillion Economy
  • Cities
  • Carbon Zero Cluster
  • Trade Mart
  • Events
  • Incubators
  • Deployment
  • Regional
  • App / Virtual
  • PPP
  • Revenue Strategy
  • Urban Hubs
  • Pedestrianized Streets

Tactics

  • Vacant Office
  • Demonstrate Value
  • Other Assets (besides offices)
  • OOH/DOOH
  • Events for Momentum
  • Catalyst/Roundtables

Closing