For Immediate Release: September 12, 2024
Media Contact: Emily Abraham, SF Chamber of Commerce, 916-294-5029
***PRESS RELEASE***
Yes SF Expands Support for Sustainable Innovators with Grand Opening of Downtown Community Hub and Announcement of Second Sustainability Challenge
Yes SF Headquarters officially opened to the public on September 12; Applications for second Yes SF Challenge are now open
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, September 12, 2024 – Today, the Yes SF, Urban Sustainability Challenge announced two new offerings to support sustainable innovation and help revitalize San Francisco: the opening of Yes SF headquarters, a ground-floor community space and innovation hub for sustainable entrepreneurs, and the launch of a second Yes SF challenge to support an additional cohort of green innovators.
Launched in 2023 in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, Deloitte, Salesforce, Citi, and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Yes SF was created in direct response to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11 of making cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. It has since grown to involve more than 35 local organizations. Today, the opening of the Yes SF Headquarters and second challenge will further the expected impact and support of sustainable innovation in the city.
Yes SF headquarters: A visionary community space
Yes SF headquarters, a ground-floor community event hub, coffee shop, and co-working space for sustainable startups, is now open to the public as of Thursday, September 12. Yes SF headquarters is operated by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and is the first space to take advantage of legislation passed last year that allows for office space on the ground floor in downtown San Francisco, as long as it is paired with a retail, food and beverage, or entertainment use. This first-of-its-kind space, located in The Swig Company’s Mills Building at 220 Montgomery Street, is illustrative of a new downtown that is a diverse destination to live, work, and visit.
“This new location is all about saying Yes to SF – saying yes to being a part of Downtown and yes to taking advantage of new laws that make it easier to open up a new location where people can come be a part of our present and our future. I’m proud that we passed laws to make it easier for places like this to exist, and I’m thrilled that doors are opening today because of those changes. These new Yes SF Headquarters will surely lead to even more great things happening and I cannot wait to see what’s next,” said Mayor London N. Breed.
As a co-working space, Yes SF headquarters aims to build a community of support that enables startups to share learnings and expertise with each other—ultimately building on the success of the ecosystem already in place to help entrepreneurs like the Yes SF Top Innovators as they deploy their solutions in San Francisco. Yes SF Top Innovators were selected by UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s open innovation platform, for their potential to help make San Francisco a more sustainable place to live and work and, in effect, provide economic and social benefits like job creation, increased connectivity, and investment opportunities. Yes SF will host regular community gatherings and events to support the revitalization of San Francisco, and programming for sustainability-focused startups.
“The Yes SF Headquarters will serve as a central hub, a welcoming ‘living room’ for downtown, where residents from all neighborhoods can gather, collaborate, and participate in shaping San Francisco’s future. Our long-term goal is to contribute to the city’s resurgence by providing a dynamic environment that fosters sustainable innovation, economic growth, and community connection,” said President and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Rodney Fong.
Coinciding with the opening of the headquarters space, Yes SF is thrilled to announce open applications for a second challenge, calling on additional entrepreneurs to submit solutions that have the potential to help to drive innovation on sustainability and climate issues in San Francisco. Applications will be accepted through Monday, November 4. Entrepreneurs are asked to submit solutions that serve the local community and display innovative use of technology in one of several key focus areas: renewable energy and energy efficiency; sustainable transportation and mobility; resource management; sustainable construction and materials; and other solutions aimed at advancing San Francisco’s Climate Action Plan.
“Yes SF Challenge sets a bold vision for creating greener, more equitable, and resilient communities and the energy surrounding this type of place-based change continues to grow,” said Kwasi Mitchell, Deloitte Chief Purpose & DEI Officer. “Now with the launch of the second challenge and the opening of the new headquarters, San Francisco is shaping a blueprint for urban revitalization and transformative impact—one that cities around the globe are excited to learn alongside.”
If selected, Top Innovators in the second Challenge cohort will receive access to two tracks of support: a joint program led by the World Economic Forum and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Foundation that will provide a suite of resources to help innovators deploy their solutions in San Francisco, such as introductions to key local stakeholders and advisory services; and UpLink’s global innovation network, which will offer visibility, connections, and targeted resources to help Top Innovators grow and scale their solutions.
For more information on applying to the second Yes SF challenge and upcoming events visit: yessf.org.
Notable Quotes
“The opening of the Yes SF Headquarters marks an important milestone in San Francisco’s development as one of the world’s leading hubs for climate innovation and urban sustainability,” said Jeff Merritt, Head of Urban Transformation at the World Economic Forum. “This community space is more than a showcase; it’s a forum for new ideas, inspiration and shaping the next generation of innovative companies, products and solutions.”
“At Salesforce, we believe business can be the greatest platform for change, and our long-standing support for ecopreneurs—those focused on climate solutions—reflects that commitment. We’re proud to see these innovators leading the charge toward a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for San Francisco through initiatives like the Yes SF. The new Yes SF Headquarters will help these innovators scale and amplify their impact, driving meaningful change across San Francisco and beyond,said” Hydra Mendoza, VP and Chief of Strategic Relationships in the Office of the Chair and CEO at Salesforce.
“Designing Yes SF’s headquarters not only aligned with our goals as a firm to help support and revitalize the City, but also our sustainability initiatives,” said Daniel Pamperin, Principal at Gensler. “Our approach to reactivating the corner of Montgomery and Bush considered the mission of Yes SF; a place to welcome, activate, and inspire everyone who enters the space, while carefully considering the life cycle of materials. We focused on reuse and refurbishing materials and finishes to keep the project’s carbon footprint to a minimum. As Yes SF’s upstairs neighbor, we are thrilled to welcome them to the area.”
“Yes SF is a key part of the exciting renaissance now underway in the city of San Francisco. Their Urban Sustainability Challenge closely aligns with our company’s goals of supporting the revitalization of downtown San Francisco and pursuing sustainability throughout the Built Environment, so we are absolutely delighted to support Yes SF and welcome them to the Mills Building, an iconic, LEED Platinum certified building offering a unique blend of historical character and modern infrastructure in the heart of the city,” said Stacia Keisner, Vice President of Asset Management, The Swig Company.
“Our continued partnership with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce is part of our constant work here in San Francisco, in which we’re striving to advance digital equity and workforce readiness in communities across the city,” said Alan Goldsmith, Vice President of Comcast Business. “We’re thrilled to be able to partner with the SF Chamber in providing broadband connectivity solutions at the Yes SF cafe and coworking space, to help not only support our collective work in revitalizing downtown San Francisco, but providing the tools and resources needed to support small businesses, students, families and seniors to get connected and achieve their goals.”
“IKEA San Francisco is proud to announce its donation of office furniture to Yes SF. Yes SF is dedicated to fostering community growth and sustainability development within San Francisco city. This contribution is part of IKEA’s ongoing commitment to supporting local initiatives that promote environmental stewardship and social responsibility. By equipping Yes SF with sustainable office solutions, IKEA aims to enhance the organization’s capacity to serve the San Francisco community and drive impactful, eco-conscious programs. This partnership underscores IKEA’s dedication to creating a positive and lasting difference in the cities it serves,” said Scott Jackon, Market Manager IKEA San Francisco store.
About Yes SF Headquarters
The Yes SF Headquarters’ mission is to spark a renaissance in San Francisco by empowering the city’s visionaries, innovators, and communities. We provide a dynamic space where small businesses and local organizations can thrive, drawing strength from collaboration and shared resources. Through tailored support, from workforce development to creative community programming, we aim to shape a future where opportunity and sustainability go hand in hand. Our work is about more than economic growth—it’s about cultivating the spirit of San Francisco.
Yes SF Headquarters is now open to the public five days per week, Monday through Friday from 7am through 5pm with daily coffee.
San Francisco companies came together to support the Yes SF Initiative and its Headquarters. This includes the building owner, Swig Company, who has supported the vision of Yes SF. The space was designed by locally headquartered architecture firm Gensler and was built out by local construction company Principal Builders. All of the furniture in the co-working office was donated by IKEA, which also recently opened up a location downtown. Café-goers and co-workers will have access to high-speed internet from Comcast.
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