Shambhavi Gupta’s First Bite of Climate Tech: An Internship Experience with Laero

During the summer of 2024, Shambhavi Gupta, MPA ’25, had the incredible opportunity to work with Laero, a climate- tech startup based in Newlab, Brooklyn, New York. Her role centered around conducting an economic and environmental impact analysis for one of their pioneering products, Cycleau— a portable greywater recycling unit. It is designed for installation under sinks, in shower areas, and in laundry units. The filtration process is capable of recycling up to 80% of the greywater that enters it. By providing point-of-source treatment, Cycleau aims to significantly reduce the pollutant load in New York’s waterways, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable urban environment. As I interacted with both LAERO and the product that is Cycleau through my own internship at climate tech piloting site, I wanted to highlight Shambhavi’s experience in the field.

How did you find out about this internship opportunity?

This internship opportunity stemmed from a passion and interest sparked during the previous semester when I took a course at Columbia SIPA titled Climate Tech and Regenerative Enterprise. The course piqued my curiosity about emerging innovations in the climate-tech sector and motivated me to explore startups working on tangible solutions for urban sustainability challenges. An educational visit organized by the CEE concentration to Governors Island introduced me to the climate-tech startups piloting on the island.

Among them, Cycleau stood out to me because of its potential to address urban water management issues while promoting decentralization and convenience. Inspired by their mission, I reached out to Laero and secured the internship opportunity, turning a classroom insight into hands-on experience.

How was your work structured and what has been its impact on your professional development?

At Laero, I delved into both the economic and environmental dimensions of Cycleau. My work involved analyzing how Cycleau’s implementation could contribute to cost savings for users while simultaneously reducing environmental burdens. The insights derived from this analysis played a part in refining Cycleau’s value proposition and furthering its alignment with sustainable urban living goals.

Being part of this project was especially meaningful because water management has been a consistent focus of my academic and professional journey. From the technical intricacies of the greywater recycling process to understanding the broader implications for urban infrastructure, this internship allowed me to engage deeply with a pressing environmental issue while contributing to an innovative solution.

This opportunity also introduced me to the Newlab space, which is a world in itself. My supervisor, Noemi Florea, founder of Cycleau, was very generous in giving me the opportunity to be part of founders’ lunches and meetings. I also had the chance to attend training events and exhibitions for product demos during the course of the internship.

Did you receive support from SIPA’s Career Advancement Center?

Pursuing this internship wouldn’t have been possible without the support of SIPA’s Career Advancement Center. I was fortunate to receive the Named Summer Internship Scholarship, which enabled me to fully immerse myself in this opportunity.