SOMERVILLE, Mass. and HOUSTON, Nov. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Greentown Labs, the largest climatetech incubator in North America, and Browning the Green Space (BGS), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in clean energy and climatetech, are accepting applications from BIPOC-led climatetech startups for Year 3 of the Advancing Climatetech and Clean Energy Leaders Program (ACCEL).
ACCEL bolsters startups as they develop critical climatetech solutions by offering access to funding, networking connections, resources, and opportunities that structural inequities put out of reach. The year-long program combines acceleration with a curated curriculum, incubation at Greentown, and extensive mentorship from Greentown and BGS’s networks of industry experts.
Startups selected for ACCEL will benefit from the accelerator by:
- Receiving non-dilutive grant funding up to $25,000 to support their development
- Participating in trainings led by Curriculum + Resources Partner VentureWell, including its Ascend and Aspire programs, covering customer discovery, pitch decks, financial models, and fundraising
- Engaging in additional workshops spanning product development, market strategy, capital raising, legal guidance, and team building
- Gaining valuable mentorship from experienced industry experts
- Experiencing fundraising and investment support, including pitch-deck development and investor introductions
- Receiving desk space and membership within Greentown for the duration of the program, which grants access to $1M+ of in-kind resources, including software and legal support; 75+ corporate partners; community resources; and more
- Receiving BGS membership to unlock opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with practitioners in the clean-energy sector on a just energy transition for Black and Brown communities
- Presenting to investors and industry leaders at public kickoff and showcase events
- Experiencing enhanced visibility through ACCEL marketing
The first two years of ACCEL have supported more than a dozen early-stage climatetech startups, supplying $325k in grant funding, hosting more than 50 workshop sessions, and engaging 20 expert mentors. The seven Year 2 startups (participating from 2024 through early 2025) are working on innovations as diverse as yeast-centered water treatment, vertical-axis offshore wind turbines, and algae- and cellulose-based fashion beads and embellishments. Their accomplishments during the accelerator have included conducting pilot projects, securing prize wins, and more. Further results from the first two years of ACCEL can be found here and here.
ACCEL is supported by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth; Microsoft, a global technology company working to accelerate progress toward a more sustainable future by reducing its environmental footprint, and providing solutions that help its customers do the same; and the Barr Foundation, a Boston-based foundation with a regional focus, working with partners to elevate the arts, advance solutions for climate change, and connect all students to success in high school and beyond.
“Greentown Labs and Browning the Green Space have created a critical program that provides diverse entrepreneurs with the funding, mentorship, and connections needed to overcome barriers and bring transformative solutions to the clean energy space,” said Jennifer Applebaum, Managing Director of Workforce Development at MassCEC. “Each new cohort expands the reach of climate innovations, and MassCEC is proud to support ACCEL’s third year of breaking down barriers and expanding opportunities.”
November 13, 2024