Rare Cooling is an outstanding tech startup in the field of sustainable cooling solutions, with its flagship product being RARE paint—a high-tech coating capable of reflecting heat and sunlight, thereby helping to reduce indoor temperatures. This represents an innovative approach amid accelerating climate change and rapid urbanization, both of which are making cities increasingly hotter and driving up energy consumption for air conditioning. Rare Cooling’s technology offers a new alternative to traditional cooling methods, which typically consume large amounts of electricity and place a burden on national energy systems.
RARE paint was developed to enhance passive cooling for outdoor surfaces, particularly roofs and walls—areas directly exposed to sunlight. Thanks to its ability to reflect a broad spectrum of light and limit the absorption of infrared radiation, the paint helps lower surface temperatures and maintain indoor conditions at levels comparable to shaded outdoor environments. In real-world testing, RARE has demonstrated its ability to reduce room temperatures by several degrees Celsius under extreme heat, significantly cutting down on reliance on air conditioning and leading to substantial energy savings. This is a key differentiator from conventional heat-resistant paints, which tend to offer only minimal insulation and do not maintain long-term effectiveness.
Thanks to its breakthrough technology, Rare Cooling’s RARE paint project won First Prize at the 2023 Techfest Hanoi Startup and Innovation Competition. The product has garnered attention for its wide application potential, especially in urban areas where daytime temperatures frequently remain high. Additionally, Rare Cooling was honored as one of the Top 10 at the TECHFEST 2023.
With a clear direction and technology well-aligned with market needs, Rare Cooling’s product development journey reflects a methodical approach from R&D to real-world application. Rather than chasing the latest tech trends, the founding team has focused on solving a highly practical and large-scale challenge: urban heat mitigation. They understand that real-world effectiveness and reliability are key to scaling up their solution, especially in developing cities across Southeast Asia. This pragmatic orientation is what sets Rare Cooling apart and builds trust with potential investors, alongside the sustainable growth story the team is striving to achieve.
From the case of Rare Cooling, a clear lesson emerges for other founders: innovation doesn’t always require groundbreaking global disruption. Solutions that tackle specific, real-world problems and align closely with community needs—especially in sectors like climate, energy, and construction—can deliver high practical value and widespread impact. More importantly, for a tech product to succeed, founding teams must be willing to invest time in R&D, field testing, and actively seek support from the startup ecosystem—from technical advisors to structured product development accelerator programs. These foundations not only help refine the product but also enhance the startup’s ability to convince investors and enter the market effectively.
