Martin Yihao Zhu

Professor Martin is the CEO and co-founder of i2Cool, a green tech startup dedicated to combating climate change through sustainable innovation. With a Ph.D. in energy and environmental sciences, his journey began in academia, where he developed electricity-free cooling solutions to mitigate urban heat islands and reduce carbon emissions. Realizing that research alone couldn't drive impactful change, Martin shifted his focus to bringing innovations to real-world applications.

Martin co-led the development of advanced radiative cooling materials designed to reduce energy consumption in commercial and industrial buildings. These innovations, including passive radiative cooling paints and films made from polymers and proprietary nanomaterials, demonstrate exceptional solar reflectivity and mid-infrared emissivity, lowering surface temperatures by up to 42°C. As CEO, he led the company to win more than 100 awards in 3 years, such as the EMARR Innovation Competition (organized by the UAE’s largest developer) and the TERA-Award with a $1 million USD prize in 2023. i2Cool’s technology has been implemented in over 500 projects across more than 30 countries and regions, ranging from building rooftops to industrial facilities—contributing significantly to global net-zero goals. In 2024, he was named to the Forbes China 30 Under 30 list and recognized as one of the Bloomberg New Economy Catalysts.

Martin’s pioneering work establishes him as a leader in developing energy-efficient cooling systems that minimize energy consumption. With expertise in low-carbon solutions, he actively promotes sustainability and works to combat climate change.