# Cooling innovation from a hot startup

> Startup Eztia Materials' HydraVolt cooling tech helps workers in extreme heat.
- Title: Cooling innovation from a hot startup · The Japan Times
- Summary: Startup Eztia Materials' HydraVolt cooling tech helps workers in extreme heat. Eztia Materials' HydraVolt cooling material reduces skin temperature by up to…
- Keywords: eztia materials, hydrovolt, tiffany yeh, sushi tech challenge 2026, tokyo big sight, kajima corporation, hydra volt, cooling technology, worker safety, sustainable cities, heat relief, wearable cooling
- Source: The Japan Times — https://japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/10/12/tech/hydrovault-startup
- Author: Louise George Kittaka
- Published: 2026-10-11T23:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: eztia materials, hydrovolt, tiffany yeh, sushi tech challenge 2026, tokyo big sight, kajima corporation, hydra volt, cooling technology, worker safety, sustainable cities, heat relief, wearable cooling
## Startup Eztia Materials
Eztia Materials is a US-based startup offering reliable heat relief through wearable cooling solutions.
## HydraVolt technology
HydraVolt is a next-generation cooling material that lowers skin temperature by up to 10 degrees celsius for 8 hours without electricity.
## How it works
The material absorbs and dissipates body heat through evaporative cooling, recharged by water exposure and launderable like regular clothing.
## Tiffany Yeh's background
Yeh was born in Taiwan, studied materials science at mit, earned a medical degree from pennsylvania university, and conducted fieldwork in asia, africa, and latin america.
## Inspiration for innovation
Yeh's research on cooling polymers for buildings and vaccine packaging inspired her to develop HydraVolt as a side project after medical school.
## First Tokyo partnership
Kajima Corporation, a major construction firm, used HydraVolt at a Tokyo construction site and helped refine the technology through detailed feedback.
## Global applications
HydraVolt is being used by police and corrections officers in singapore and construction firms in the us and japan for heat relief.
## Social impact
Eztia's production base in taiwan employs women, international students, and trade school graduates, providing opportunities for historically overlooked talent.
## SusHi Tech Challenge 2026
Yeh was selected as a finalist for the SusHi Tech Challenge 2026 pitch contest at Tokyo Big Sight from april 27-29, 2026.
## Co-creation strategy
Eztia uses a co-creation approach where initial partners provide detailed feedback to improve the technology before wider adoption.
## Future plans
Eztia aims to expand partnerships globally while deepening collaborations within organizations to scale implementation across multiple sites.
## Heat relief impact
HydraVolt could improve city resilience against heatstroke and support public safety workers in extreme heat conditions.
## Key takeaway

Eztia Materials' HydraVolt cooling material reduces skin temperature by up to 10 degrees Celsius for 8 hours without electricity, aiding workers in construction, logistics, and defense.