New College Thesis Student Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt Earns National Recognition for GismoPower Invention
The U.S. Department of Energy recently recognized GismoPower—a portable, solar-powered vehicle carport invented by New College thesis student Antonia “Toni” Ginsberg-Klemmt.
GismoPower is one of 20 Hardware Track semifinalists in the American-Made Solar Prize Round 5 contest—a competition designed to spark U.S. solar energy innovation.
The recognition comes with a $50,000 grant for further development of GismoPower and the opportunity for a $100,000 award if selected for the next stage of the competition.
“We are so proud of Antonia’s latest award,” said New College President Patricia Okker. “She is a wonderful example of what you can do with a New College education—one grounded in self-directed learning and an emphasis on innovation.”
Ginsberg-Klemmt also received a VentureWell E-Team Grant of $5,000 in recognition of the potential of GismoPower to create a positive social, health or environmental impact.
She will take part in the Pioneer workshop—part of the nationally-recognized Early-Stage Innovator Training Program, which provides student teams with the training, coaching and peer networking opportunities that will help them launch their innovation. During Pioneer, students will orient themselves and understand possible pathways for their venture, creating action plans to check fundamental assumptions.
“I will be going to Tempe, Arizona, representing GismoPower and New College for a Pioneer workshop sponsored by VentureWell,” said Ginsberg-Klemmt, who is double majoring in physics and environmental studies, and is a 2018 graduate of Pine View School in Sarasota County. “The E-Team Grant Program supports student-led science- and engineering-based teams from across the nation in bringing their high-impact innovation out of the lab and into the market.”
The VentureWell E-Team Program offers up to $25,000 in grant funding and entrepreneurship training to student teams across the United States that are developing science and technology innovations focused on solving the world’s biggest challenges. Through E-Teams, VentureWell has trained almost 400 student teams and more than 800 student innovators. These teams have raised close to $200 million in follow-on funding and have launched 180-plus ventures since taking part in the program.
In May, Ginsberg-Klemmt was also chosen out of thousands of applicants countrywide as one of 2021’s OZY Genius Award recipients for GismoPower. The $10,000 annual honor is awarded to 10 college students pursuing “projects or ideas that have a positive impact on society.”
For more information on Ginsberg-Klemmt and GismoPower, read ncf.edu/news/news/ncf-student-named-a-2021-ozy-genius. Also visit gismopower.com and watch a video about the project here.