Here's the scenario: You're building a technology startup focused on green IT, renewable energy, carbon reduction, climate tech or some other opportunity in the sustainability market. The question: Where can you go for mentoring, financial guidance and perhaps even some funding?
One potential answer involves startup accelerators and incubators -- which typically provide executive guidance, business and technology support, and limited funding in exchange for equity. (Side note: Some accelerators and incubators don't involve funding-for-equity.)
List of Accelerators That Support Sustainability Startups
There are hundreds of accelerators and incubators worldwide, but not all of them focus on sustainability, climate tech or green IT startups.
While we don't endorse any particular accelerators or incubators, the list below (updated regularly) provides some potential starting points for you and your sustainability startup:
1. AB Inbev 100+ Accelerator: Through the 100+ Accelerator, AB Inbev is seeking partners that can "deliver breakthrough advancements in water stewardship, farmer productivity, product upcycling, responsible sourcing, green logistics and more."
2. ACCEL: This is an accelerator from Greentown Labs and Browning the Green Space (BGS). The company in March 2024 named its 2024 cohort.
3. Amazon Sustainability Accelerator: The latest Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, announced May 28, 2024, includes 15 startups from across Europe. The startups focus on such areas circular economy, energy in buildings and packaging. The four-week program is "designed to help start-ups navigate the challenges of scaling a sustainability business." Participants will "meet and work with experts in Amazon’s Sustainability, Climate Pledge Fund and Climate Pledge Friendly teams, attend workshops, receive mentorship and £10,000 worth of AWS Activate Credits." And new this year, startups can "can pitch for the chance to pilot their technology with Amazon, with a potential investment of between £50,000 - £2 million," Amazon said. Related: Special thanks to HT Materials Science (HTMS) -- a startup in the accelerator -- for sending us the news.
4. Amazon Clean Energy Accelerator 4.0 cohort: This cohort, announced in August 2024, focuses on Amazon Operations Sustainability; Generative AI for clean energy; water tech acceleration; energy storage; grid modernization and security; and alternative fuels.
5. Amazon 2024 AWS Generative AI Accelerator: Amazon selected 80 startups for the accelerator. Participants include Unravel Carbon (a carbon management software platform) and Multiverse Computing (quantum algorithms that energy efficiency and sustainability of GenAI).
6. Apple's third Impact Accelerator class: The 12-company cohort includes Black-, Hispanic/Latinx-, and Indigenous-owned environmental solution and service providers focused on green technology and clean energy.
7. Avery Dennison AD Stretch Accelerator Program: This program is a non-dilutive startup accelerator that concentrates on customer engagement, sustainability and materials Innovation.
8. Blackbaud Social Good Startup Program: The program is a tech accelerator designed to support early-stage software companies focused on solving problems that matter to the social impact community.
9. Boston University Sustainability Innovation Seed Grant honorees: The grants, announced in November 2024, are designed for "students who are passionate about developing sustainability projects with potential impacts for Boston University and beyond."
10. Breakthrough Energy Fellows -- Southeast Asia (BE Fellows, SEA): Breakthrough Energy, Temasek and Enterprise Singapore in April 2024 launched Breakthrough Energy Fellows -- Southeast Asia, a multi-year effort to "accelerate the development of early-stage climate-tech solutions in the region." More information and application details for BE Fellows - SEA will be announced in the second half of 2024, the organization said." And in September 2024, Breakthrough Energy launched its fourth Fellows Cohort -- featuring 25 startups that are developing technologies in hard-to-decarbonize industries.
See accelerators 11-20 on the next page. Did we fail to mention a sustainability-focused accelerator? If so please email me the details (accelerator name, website, focus, etc.).
