The biggest opportunities often hide in plain sight.
Millions of homes around the world are inefficient, uncomfortable, and wasting energy – quietly contributing to one of the largest sources of carbon emissions. So that's where startup Evitat began.
Founded by Sonja Markovic, Armin Towfigh Nia, and Srikanth Kondaparthy, Evitat is tackling a deceptively simple but critical question: how do we transform the homes we already have into the sustainable homes we need?
The answer is rethinking how we renovate homes to make them smarter, greener, and better to live in.
How Evitat make invisible decisions visible
The heart of Evitat's innovation lies in their approach—akin to a service book for cars, they are developing a logbook for sustainable home renovation.
This tool enables homeowners to track and measure their decisions, ultimately translating them into valuable, sustainable property enhancements and highlighting the often unseen sustainable investments within homes.
Speaking on their innovative technology, co-founder and CEO Sonja explains:
“In Australia we have 8 million homes which, compared to other developed countries, are largely underperforming in terms of energy efficiency and they’re contributing massively to carbon emissions. To solve this, we’re encouraging and empowering home owners and renovators to make climate resilient and low carbon renovation choices.”
Sonya elaborates “We provide an impact around these choices and really highlight for future buyers everything you have invested in your home, which is sustainable, healthy, and contributes to a low carbon future.”
The power of supportive communities
Stone & Chalk and its vibrant, supportive community has played a pivotal role in Evitat’s journey. Discussing the impact on Evitat, Sonja says:
“Stone & Chalk is an incredible environment for startups and it really supports you along the way. With the big roadmaps you have in mind and the big milestones you want to achieve, you’ll have a supportive community similar to raising a child. It really does take a village.”
Being part of an innovation community, according to Sonja, is an empowering experience. The exchange of knowledge, experience, and support among founders and startups within the ecosystem accelerates growth and helps milestones to be achieved.
“There are a lot of aspects when you embark on a startup journey as a founder,” Sonja says.
“When you first step into that space, you’re not aware of all these layers which might come along the way. We came to Stone & Chalk because we thought it’s really the right way and the right surroundings.”
Elaborating on the other ways Stone & Chalk has helped their growth, Sonja says:
“All the programs within the office, like connecting you to mentors, the programs and initiatives, and events to participate in, it builds the self esteem you need as a founder. It builds the experience along the way to talk in front of 50 to 100 people. All these kinds of steps are really important for a founder and a startup to grow and Stone & Chalk definitely provides that environment.”
To shape a sustainable future
Evitat's story reveals how impactful change can be achieved through innovation and collaborative ecosystems. The key insight here is that sustainable transformation doesn't happen in isolation—it thrives at the intersection of bold ideas and collective effort.
Sonja's dedication to creating a sustainable future through home renovations exemplifies what’s possible when startups are driven by a clear vision.
Her work shows that the most effective solutions often address problems at their roots. By rethinking how we build and live in our homes, she’s reducing waste. But also she’s shifting perspectives, inspiring others to prioritise sustainability in their own choices.
Startups like Evitat remind us that building a sustainable future isn’t just a lofty goal; it’s a practical mission that depends on the courage to reimagine what’s possible.
One where you if you find the right balance between vision and execution, you can take big ideas and make them work in the real world.
Stone & Chalk isn’t for everyone, but it is for founders like Sonja, who is making a positive change through Evitat’s innovative tech. Interested in joining our community? Visit our website to learn more.
