ClimateTech Incubator Greentown Labs Confirms Layoffs, Seeks to Assist Impacted Employees

Greentown Labs, a climate technology incubator, has cut 30% of its staff -- or 12 of roughly 40 positions -- CEO Kevin Knobloch disclosed in a memo.

The layoffs were required because headcount growth essentially outpaced revenue growth in recent years. In an effort to help affected employees find new jobs, Greentown Labs is asking potential employers to contact HR consultant Lydia Bowers for more information.

Greentown Labs positions itself as the largest climate tech startup incubator in North America. The company "brings together startups, corporates, investors, policymakers, and many others with a focus on scaling climate solutions."

There are hundreds of accelerators and incubators worldwide, but only a few dozen focus on sustainability or green IT startups.

Despite the cuts, "Greentown of today and tomorrow remains relentlessly committed to incubating climatetech startups. We will continue to provide best-in-class labs, desks, programming and resources for our members, and foster strategic partnerships with entities that are equally as passionate about climatetech innovation," Knobloch wrote.

The job cuts surfaced roughly one month after ACCEL, an accelerator from Greentown Labs and Browning the Green Space (BGS), in March 2024 named its latest cohort.

Sustainability and Green Technology Jobs: Climate Tech Training Programs

Despite those anecdotal job cuts, demand for green jobs in the United States has grown roughly 50% since 2019, according to Lightcast.

In response, companies such as Accenture, EY, Goodwill and Microsoft have launched green jobs training programs.