Cleantech Open is the world’s largest cleantech accelerator, providing entrepreneurs and corporate innovators the resources they need to launch and grow successful cleantech businesses. Our one-of-a-kind innovation ecosystem built over the last 19 years of programming spans key cleantech innovation hubs in the U.S., linking labs and universities, service providers, investors, corporations, governments, and other cleantech incubators and accelerators. Through our annual accelerator, we provide between 100-150 companies in the U.S. with a rich program of customer discovery, extensive mentoring, training, investor meetings, startup-corporate matching, and showcasing at both the regional and national levels. Since 2005, more than 70% of our reporting U.S. alumni companies are still operating and have collectively raised over $2B in external funding. Join this exciting community and be a part of our global network of innovation.

We are using our proven early-stage accelerator playbook to put AI to work for climate and nature. Our focus on diverse AI founders and high-impact priority areas will level the playing field and accelerate environmental outcomes. We support underserved early-stage founders bringing products to market across world regions. We don’t take equity and provide non-dilutive grants, setting a new generation of diverse founders up for success. Our international perspective keeps founders in lock-step with global climate commitments and communities.

Be part of a groundbreaking NOAA-funded accelerator empowering early-stage ventures to drive the future of the blue economy. Stage 1 of the VentureWell Ocean Enterprise Accelerator is here to make waves! Whether you’re a student, researcher, entrepreneur, industry professional, or innovator passionate about building ocean solutions, this transformative national suite of programs is designed to equip blue innovators like you with the tools, resources, and support needed to turn bold ideas into impactful solutions. The accelerator offers an unparalleled opportunity to grow your expertise, gain funding, and connect with a powerful network of industry leaders, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) researchers, and academic partners. We are proud to build off of the success of the previous NOAA Innovates pilot program, and to bring even deeper support to ocean innovators in the coming years.

The program will bring together entrepreneurs from across the U.S. and the globe, empowering them to address climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. Founders will receive expert training, critical resources to accelerate their ventures, and an 8-week in-person residency at Halcyon in Washington, DC. The cohort is selected of up to 8 ventures from across the U.S. and the globe. Ventures receive training in Halcyon’s methodology on product-market fit, investment readiness, and leadership.

This program brings together founders from across the U.S., empowering them to address climate challenges, health barriers, and equity gaps. Founders gain expert training, critical resources to accelerate their ventures, a one-week in-person residency in Washington, DC, and a one-week in-person residency in Atlanta. The cohort is selected of up to 10 ventures from across the U.S. Ventures receive training in Halcyon’s methodology on product-market fit, investment readiness, and leadership.

The Transit Tech Lab (TTL) provides an accelerated pathway for early- to growth-stage companies to work with New York’s regional transit agencies to solve public transportation challenges. Transportation partners include the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and its agencies, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), NJ TRANSIT, and the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT). Early- to growth-stage technology companies registered to do business with the State of New York and with innovative technological solutions to one or more of the TTL Challenges: 1) Ridership Improvement and 2) Inspection and Maintenance.

Smart Futures Lab offers an invaluable opportunity for growth in the tech space through a free incubator and accelerator program. Open to new majority tech founders, professionals, and students, looking to develop and scale their smart city innovation solutions. The Incubator Program caters to tech startups in the early stages of development, whether they are ideating, designing, or testing their products. The Accelerator Program is for mature companies looking to scale, build government partnerships, refine their business model, and find funding investors.

The E-Team Program, part of the VentureWell Accelerator, supports student ventures as you embark down the path you’re likely to take as an innovator and entrepreneur. We help you advance your invention through a powerful mix of up to $25,000 in grant funding, entrepreneurship training, mentorship by dedicated staff, national recognition, and networking with peers and industry experts.

Greentown Labs and Evonik are looking for startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-7 that create or enable biodegradable polymers and other sustainable specialty chemicals that reduce the impact of personal-care products on humans, ecosystems, and the climate. Through Go Make 2025, your startup will have access to:

• A structured platform to engage leadership from Evonik and explore potential partnership outcomes, including joint development, licensing, investment, and more
• Mentorship, networking opportunities, and partnership-focused programming from the Greentown community of climatetech startup experts
• Exclusive access to the Greentown and Evonik networks

The fifth edition of The Clean Fight will be focused on decarbonizing existing multifamily low-to-moderate income (LMI) and affordable housing. In collaboration with leaders in the affordable housing market at the Climate Friendly Homes Fund administered by The Community Preservation Corporation, we are seeking high impact, market-proven climate solutions that break down barriers to decarbonization and simplify the retrofit process for multifamily LMI and affordable housing within New York City and State. Our non-residential program will run from May-October 2025.

The 2025 competition offers $75,000 to $150,000 in prize awards during two stages to organizations to accelerate the growth and maturity of innovation ecosystems. Stage One offers $75,000 in cash prizes to organizations that identify challenges within their innovation ecosystems and propose unique solutions. The SBA encourages submissions from a broad range of organizations with a collaborative vision to nurture a national ecosystem for equitable access to entrepreneurship. Applicants are asked to align their application with one of the following GAFC Theme Areas: Lab-to-Market and Capital Formation.