Anushree Sreedhar stands at the forefront of innovation as the Director of Innovation Programs at the Partnership for New York City. With an impressive background in engineering and technology, Anushree is driving critical advancements within the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the agency responsible for overseeing the biggest wastewater infrastructure in the United States. Her role comprises recognizing and advocating for investors, collaborators, and progressive startups that are leading the charge in manufacturing technologies, water, and wastewater. Navigating the complex regulatory landscape of New York City, she helps accelerate the adoption of groundbreaking solutions in these essential sectors.
Anushree’s track record of leveraging technology for social good is unparalleled. From developing machine learning models for City Harvest to steering tech teams in building vertical farms, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation, particularly in industries unnoticed by cutting-edge technology. Her expertise spans analytics, rising technologies, and product management, honed at leading businesses like Yext and Bowery.
Anushree also holds a patent for an innovative fire extinguishing design. She has also spearheaded projects that have achieved remarkable outcomes, including enhanced public health. This is what she shared.
Can you tell us a bit about your upbringing? Were there any early experiences or influences that sparked your interest in engineering, innovation, and public service?
I spent my early childhood on the island of Seychelles, surrounded by nature. Although I don’t remember much from those years, I feel a deep connection to the environment, which has stayed with me ever since. When my family moved to NYC and then the suburbs of New Jersey, I found myself immersed in a diverse, multicultural environment, sparking my creativity and interest in the world around me. From an early age, I began experimenting with technology, launching my own podcast and starting a blog called NatureTalkKids, where my sister, a friend, and I used natural resources to create functional products like chalk. These small but meaningful projects were my first experiences in innovation, blending nature and creativity to solve problems.
My roots in Kerala, known for its lush forests and beautiful lakes, as well as my mother’s passion for Ayurvedic practices, instilled a strong appreciation for the natural world and its ability to heal. This connection to both nature and innovation was passed down from my grandfather, a chemical engineer who dyed Indian flags during the movement for Indian independence. His work inspired me to pursue engineering with a sense of civic responsibility. I began exploring chemistry more deeply in high school through projects like the Chem E Car competition, where I built cars powered by chemical reactions. Diving into research, chemical reactions, and concentrations was absolutely thrilling and new to me. Chemistry may seem boring to some and a simple memorization of laws, but to me it required a level of understanding the outcomes desired and coming up with various, equally plausible possibilities of achieving the results. This hands-on experimentation fuelled my passion for engineering, which I followed into my undergraduate studies in chemical engineering.
Your role at the Partnership for New York City involves driving innovation in one of the city’s most critical infrastructures—water and wastewater management. What inspired you to focus on this particular field, and how do you see your work making a difference in the daily lives of New Yorkers? Also, navigating the intricate regulatory landscape of New York City can be challenging. How do you balance the regulatory complexities with the need for rapid innovation? Can you share an example of how you’ve managed to do this successfully?
I’ve always been driven to revolutionize overlooked industries that have a profound impact on society, and water management is a prime example. Water is essential to nearly every facet of our lives—outside of literally sustaining the human body, it fuels the farming industry, sustains healthcare and life sciences, and is critical for heating and cooling in buildings and data centers. It’s also unique in being the only element that can naturally exist as a solid, liquid, or gas, which gives it the power to shape landscapes, balance ecosystems, and sustain life. Yet, many people, including New Yorkers, often take for granted the immense infrastructure that delivers clean, reliable water to their homes. Behind every drop are thousands of workers ensuring the system runs smoothly.
The political and social consequences of water management decisions can be immense, as we’ve seen in places like Flint, Michigan, or Parkersburg, West Virginia. Our water systems, if not properly managed, can expose us to harmful contaminants like PFAS and microplastics, contributing to significant public health risks. My work at the Partnership for New York City is driven by a passion for improving urban health through better management of water and wastewater systems, as well as environmental compliance with the city’s noise and air codes—an often invisible yet vital aspect of city life. Ensuring that these systems are not only safe but proactive in addressing potential threats is essential.
Moving the needle on government innovation can be thrilling and yet also slow. Our mission with the programs is to be able to allow the city the opportunity to test technologies based on their operational needs at no cost to them. This incentivises the city to explore emerging technologies while limiting risk and, conversely, allows early-stage companies the access they would otherwise never have given the large, bureaucratic nature of NYC agencies.
For example, the work we do at the Partnership brings cutting-edge technology to city agencies at no cost, helping them modernise and future-proof their operations. The Environmental Tech Lab, in partnership with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, recruited eight innovative startups, such as AI for sewer inspection and hydropower technology to return energy to the grid. These initiatives may operate behind the scenes, but they’re making a tangible difference in how New York City tackles environmental compliance and water management, reduces harmful emissions, and addresses climate challenges. For me, that’s what makes this work so fulfilling—driving innovation in one of the city’s most critical infrastructures to protect public health and the environment.
You’ve led tech teams through some transformative projects, from vertical farming to machine learning for social good. What project are you most proud of, and why? Was there a defining moment that stood out during your journey? Also, your patent for a fire extinguishing design is impressive! Could you share the story behind that invention? What motivated you to create it, and what was the process like?
At the age of 19, my partner and I filed for and received a patent. During my undergraduate years at The Cooper Union, I participated in a highly selective program called Invention Factory, which immersed students in the intense world of rapid innovation, prototyping, and patenting. Each pair of students was given just six weeks and $2,000 to develop a patentable invention. My partner and I zeroed in on a real-world problem, one that I had encountered in the most unexpected and unnerving way.
One day, the LED Saraswati lamp my sister and I gifted our mother for Christmas suddenly caught fire. It was a quiet day, and I was home alone. I had never experienced a fire in our home before, even with the daily lighting of agarbattis and diyas. Panic surged through me as I saw the flames rapidly spread to the surrounding photos of my grandparents. Acting on instinct, I ran to the kitchen, filled a vessel with water, and doused the fire—only to make it worse. I had forgotten that it was an electrical fire, and the flames reignited with renewed intensity. At that moment, I was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness and frustration. Not only was a fire extinguisher out of reach, but I realized I had no idea how to properly use one. Worse still, I learnt that many common household extinguishers require regular servicing to be functional in an emergency.
That experience shook me, and my partner also had a similar story that hit close to home. We both resolved to spend our time with the invention factory inventing something that would put out fires in a safe, effective manner.
Those six weeks were all encompassing, and we were thinking of nothing else other than how we can solve these issues and prevent residential fires from wreaking havoc, damaging properties, and even costing lives. We spoke to a local fire house, several building fire marshals, and polled the general population on their fire safety literacy. We then focused on the subproblems that we could solve and developed a prototype that was small and aesthetic. We called this prototype the SEAL (Supplementary Easy-to-Use, Accessible, and Lightweight) Handheld Fire Extinguishing Device.
This project became a defining moment in my journey and a milestone that I am proud of because it marked the first time I realized my ability to tackle social challenges using a combination of engineering principles, creative problem-solving, and a human-centred approach. It was also my introduction to the world of rapid innovation and patenting, giving me the confidence to pursue further opportunities in accelerator programs and initiatives like the US Patent and Trademark Office’s collegiate program, Venturewell, and MIT Lemelson.
Going through the process of inventing, patenting, and exploring business models was a pivotal moment that reshaped how I approached my career after college. Through attending several accelerators and product demo days, I was exposed to the rapidly changing world of software technology, and big data. I knew that these industries would be pivotal when applied to essential services and critical infrastructure industries that had yet to undergo their digital revolution. I was fortunate to intern with Credit Suisse on their blockchain team, which gave me early exposure to cutting-edge innovation, and at Becton Dickinson as a test engineer. After that, I joined Accenture full-time in Philadelphia, working with pharma and insurance companies on their tech transformations. These experiences in large enterprise settings were crucial in helping me understand how technology drives strategic change on a broader scale.
You have a background that spans product management, analytics, and emerging technologies at leading companies. How have these diverse experiences shaped your perspective on innovation, and what unique insights do they bring to your current role?
I’ve had the opportunity to work across a large consulting conglomerate, a public tech company, a vertical farming startup, and now a nonprofit VC fund, holding roles ranging from consultant to partnerships manager to platform product manager, and now innovation programs director. What ties all these experiences together is my ability to connect the dots between resources, innovation, and strategic outcomes. Whether it’s aligning technical expertise with business goals or managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders, my background in engineering and software product development allows me to deeply understand the challenges clients face and deliver tailored, human-centric solutions. This cross-disciplinary approach, grounded in both technical insight and strategic thinking, enables me to drive impactful innovation in my current role.
Looking ahead, what emerging technological trends are you most excited about?
I’m most excited about the accelerated development and adoption of emerging technologies, like AI, in public health and sustainability industries that are now going through their own digital revolutions. For example, AI has the power to enhance operational efficiency, predict problems before they happen, and, ultimately, improve quality of life for communities on a broader scale. By integrating these advancements, we ensure that these essential industries continue to serve the public good effectively in an ever-evolving world.
