Optimise or Transform: two novel approaches to datacentres cooling efficiency

Cooling accounts for up to 40% of a data centre's operational costs — so how do you optimise it? In this Meet the Startups session, moderator Romain Tranchant is joined by two innovative companies from the iMasons Innovation Incubator with very different — but equally compelling — answers. 🔹 George Hancock, Co-Founder & VP of Strategic Partners at OptaiPipe, presents ACE (AI for Cooling Efficiency) — an AI-driven cooling control system that combines deep reinforcement learning with a guardian AI agent to deliver safe, explainable, and actionable energy optimisation. Deployed entirely on-premise, it's built for the realities of mission-critical data centre operations. 🔹 Matt Stroud, P.E., CEO at Icebox Energy, showcases an innovative reutilisation of proven technologies, purpose-built for the demands of modern data centres — tackling the mounting complexity of liquid cooling at scale. The conversation goes beyond the technology, exploring how operators build trust in new systems, the gap between investor metrics and industry decision-making, and the lessons learned from a year inside the iMasons Incubator programme. A must-watch for anyone navigating the future of data centre innovation. 👉 Want to get involved? Visit the iMasons website to learn more about the Innovation Accelerator program, join a working group, or share your own thought leadership with the community via our Innovation Engagement Hub. 📅 Upcoming Events: https://imasons.org/initiatives/innov... #DataCentre #StartupIncubator #AI #EnergyEfficiency #Cooling #Innovation #iMasons #TechStartups *** Originally streamed live on May 19, 2026. To participate in future sessions, live—and ask questions in real time—visit the Events – Infrastructure Masons page and register. *** Infrastructure Masons (iMasons) is a global, non-profit, professional association of individuals connected and empowered to build a greater digital future for all. #iMasons #InfrastructureMasons #Innovation #ThoughtLeadership