Here's the scenario: You're building a technology startup focused on green IT, renewable energy, carbon reduction 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 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 2024 accelerator opened for applications on March 4, 2024.
4. 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.
5. Avery Dennison AD Stretch Accelerator Program: This program is a non-dilutive startup accelerator that concentrates on customer engagement, sustainability and materials Innovation.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Caret 360 Accelerator: This accelerator provides capital, customized engagements, subject matter experts, business connections and investor connections. The application process typically opens in May, with the actual accelerator running July through September.
9. Climate Accelerator: Launching in South Asia and Gulf, the Climate Accelerator will grow across the Global South -- accelerating 1,400 climate tech startups each year by 2025.
10. Climate Finance Accelerator South Africa: The Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) is a global technical assistance programme funded by the UK government to support climate smart projects to access finance. The CFA operates in 10 countries (Nigeria, Colombia, South Africa, Egypt, Uganda, Türkiye, Mexico, Peru, Pakistan and Viet Nam) with the aim of encouraging the flows of finance required to deliver on countries’ ambition to limit global warming to 1.5°C, the organizer said.
See accelerators 11-20 on the next page.
