List: 56 Technology Accelerators for Sustainability, Green IT and Climate Tech Startups Sustainable Tech Partner

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).

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. 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.

6. Avery Dennison AD Stretch Accelerator Program: This program is a non-dilutive startup accelerator that concentrates on customer engagement, sustainability and materials Innovation. 

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Brinc Accelerator: Brinc in May 2028 selected nine startups for its Spring 2024 Climate Tech program. The startups focus on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and agrifood.

10. 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.

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.).

Here are accelerators 11-20:

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Climate Innovation Platform (CIP) Low Carbon Energy Solutions Innovator Challenge: The fourth cohort launches in January 2024. This accelerator, delivered by the University of Birmingham (UoB) in partnership with Energy Systems Catapult (ESC), supports businesses committed to driving energy technology innovation. Supported by HSBC UK, applications are welcomed from small and midsize enterprises registered in the UK, and particularly those who can travel to Birmingham to engage with in-person workshops.

14. Digital Catapult: The organization in September 2024 launched an International Supply Chain Accelerator focused on two areas:

15. DeltaClime^VT : This business accelerator is a Vermont-based program serving startup and seed-stage ventures focusing on climate economy innovation across multiple industries.

16. EIT Food Entrepreneurship: This group has three pan-European entrepreneurship programs — including the Seedbed Incubator, the Food Accelerator Network and RisingFoodStars.

17. Elemental Excelerator: This global clean technology accelerator, based in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, aims to drive positive change and propel entrepreneurs toward a sustainable future, according to Hawaii Business. May 2024 Update: The accelerator is accepting applications for its 13 cohort through May 31, 2024.

18. Emirates NBD: a financial services firm in Dubai, UAE has launched an accelerator program for green FinTech startups. Microsoft is supporting the accelerator.

19. Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator: This accelerator, led by Acumen with support from Apple, in September 2023 selected 15 startups as its cohorts group. The 12-week program, hosted in India, is designed to help social entrepreneurs scale and refine their businesses to “transform the lives of people living in poverty, while also protecting the environment.”

20. Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA): The Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA) is a “high-integrity carbon finance platform aimed at catalyzing private capital to support ambitious just energy transition strategies in developing and emerging economies,” according to organizers. Key ETA backers include the U.S. Department of State, the Bezos Earth Fund, and The Rockefeller Foundation. Still, we’re not all that clear on how the ETA will engage and fund startups…

See accelerators 21-30 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.).

Here are accelerators 21-30:

21. Gener8tor: The company runs a Sustainable Mobility Accelerator with The Company Lab. Check out the six startups in the January 2024 cohort.

22. Google for Startups Accelerators: Each accelerator features a cohort of 10-15 startups that “come together to tackle specific technical challenges that can help grow their businesses through a mix of remote and in-person, 1-to-1, group learning sessions, and sprint projects,” Google states. Take a closer look, and Google offers sustainability-focused accelerators. Update: The Google for Startups Accelerator: Climate Change is accepting applications through July 21, 2024. This is a 10-week, equity-free hybrid program for Seed to Series A startups tackling Climate Change with tech.

23. Greentown Labs: The climate incubator works with Saint-Gobain on the Greentown Go Build accelerator — which focuses on advanced circularity and building decarbonization startups. Here are the January 2024 startup cohort members.

24. HackZone Scale Up Accelerator: This is a six-month program for startups that address AI and machine learning, gamification, and combating climate change.

25. HP Digital Equity Accelerator: The program offers 10 selected nonprofit organizations a USD $100,000 grant, HP technology (~USD $100,000 value), and six months of virtual training to scale digital equity solutions focused on educational, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

26. Hyundai’s Zero1NE starup accelerator: The organization as of February 2024 was seeking applications through March 10, 2024.

27. IBM Sustainability Accelerator: This is a pro bono program that serves nonprofit and governmental organizations globally. Those organizations, leveraging IBM’s hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, support communities that are especially vulnerable to environmental threats — such as climate change, extreme weather, and pollution. Related: IBM in March 2024 announced a new request for proposals from government and non-profit organizations for the IBM Sustainability Accelerator, focused on technology-driven projects to advance city resiliency.

28. Intel Ignite: This is the chip giant’s accelerator program for early-stage startups. Intel in October 2023 selected 10 companies for its U.S. cohort. Among sustainability-oriented startups to note:

• Gaia AI: Measurement and analytical tool for data-driven forest management.
• Intramotev: Self-propelled battery-electric railcars for the railroad industry.
• Mesodyne: Power generator that provides reliable, efficient, quiet, portable and long-endurance power from any fuel.
• TryCarbonara: A platform to measure and reduce the carbon emissions of software.

29. Ireland’s National Sustainability Accelerator: Also known as the 2050 accelerator, the program gives “top Irish and international startups the opportunity to work with companies leading Ireland’s transition to Net Zero.”

30. Logitech Future Positive Challenge: This isn’t a traditional accelerator. But the challenge, organized by Logitech, helps startups to “showcase your innovative, sustainability-focused solutions to engineering and process design challenges in consumer electronics.”

See accelerators 31-40 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.).

Here are accelerators 31-40:

31. Made Smarter Innovation Sustainability Accelerator (MSISA): This program, focused on sustainability in the UK manufacturing market, is “designed to accelerate industrial sustainability and leverage cutting-edge technologies to drive environmental impact.” Participating startups and SMEs (small and midsize enterprises) will each receive £75,000 funding to develop a proof of concept and a further £100,000 will be available for up to four companies to progress to phase two. Phase two will support the successful companies to develop pilot prototypes, culminating in a showcase in early 2025 to pitch their solutions to investors and industry leaders, the accelerator said. The MSISA accelerator involves these companies and organizations.

32. Mega Green Accelerator: The accelerator will be open to startups in the MENA region focusing on circular economy solutions, clean energy transition and climate mitigation technologies, including water and agriculture. The Accelerator is a collaboration between PepsiCo, SABIC, AstroLabs and other strategic partners.

33. Michigan Justice40 Accelerator: The accelerator in June 2024 launched to “provide funding and technical support to 25 community-based organizations in frontline communities across the state helping them access federal funding for clean energy and climate-related projects.” The accelerator is a joint initiative of EGLE’s Office of Climate and Energy and Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate.

34. Microsoft GrowthX Accelerator Cohort 4: This accelerator supports B2B technology startups that address sustainability in the Middle East. The latest effort, known as GrowthX cohort 4, is an eight-week, equity-free accelerator program that aligns with the COP28 climate conference — which is set for December 2023.

35. MIT DesignX Dubai Accelerator: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) partnered to introduce the MIT DesignX Dubai Accelerator. The accelerator has a “strong focus on sustainability” in such areas as water, climate, food security and energy.

36. Montauk Climate: This is an incubator focused on energy systems, workforce development, power consistency and quality, financial enablement, electrification and energy equity. Montauk Climate launched with $8.5 million in operating capital in March 2024. Co-founders include Philip Krim, former CEO of Caspe and co-founder of Haven Energy; Riverstone veteran Evan Caron; and Alyeska Investment Group veteran Sharo Atmeh.

37. Morgan Stanley Sustainable Solutions Collaborative Cohort: The cohort honorees included EarthEnable, MycoTile, Puraffinity, RECARBON and Sparxell.

38. Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC): The organization in February 2024 announced its 2024 TechX start-up cohort — which spans “12 high potential startups.” Each startup will receive up to £100,000 in funding and access to NZTC’s network of mentors, investors, and sponsors, including bp, Equinor, ADNOC and ConocoPhillips, the accelerator said.

39. Norrsken Accelerator: This accelerator supports early stage founders who are “looking to build the impact companies that create a better future.” The eight-week accelerator runs July through September in Stockholm, Sweden. The accelerator has been active since 2021 and has 60 companies within its portfolio. Each intake accepts 20 companies, with fewer than 1% of applicants accepted. 

40. PepsiCo Greenhouse Accelerator: This is PepsiCo’s initiative to accelerate sustainable, breakthrough innovations.

40. Pi Labs: The venture capital firm announced Cohort 12 of its accelerator in March 2024.

See accelerators 41-50 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.).

Here are accelerators 41-50:

41. Pi Labs: The venture capital firm announced Cohort 12 of its accelerator in March 2024.

42. Plug and Play accelerateAZ: The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) has launched a Sustainability accelerator program for startups in Arizona.

43. ReGen Accelerator: The accelerator, a partnership of Kaplak Ventures and ClimateHaven, launched its inaugural cohort of climate tech companies in March 2024. Participants included: Global Biochar; Tolam Earth; TeamStack.ai; Aich2; and Tesleon, which is incubated out of Midnight Oil Collective. The first ReGen program will culminate on May 28, 2024 with the ReGen Showcase — a demo day and networking event at ClimateHaven. The event will be held on the eve of the Yale Innovation Summit.

44. Stanford Sustainability Accelerator: The latest Sustainability Accelerator at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability will target five markets: (1) climate adaptation, (2) food and agriculture, (3) water, (4) electricity and grid systems, and (5) industry. Related: 50+ sustainability accelerators to help climate tech startups.

45. Startup Wise Guys – Sustainability Accelerator Program: The deadline to apply is January 18, 2024. The focus is primarily on startups from the Nordics and Eastern Europe offering B2B software or services that capture, store, or reduce CO2 emissions. Participants can receive up to €120K convertible investment (€85K cash + €35K program) with a €250K follow-on possibility.

46. SUITz Tokyo: This is a global acceleration program for Climate Tech startups. The program has two tracks — one for Tokyo-based Climate Tech startups, and another for overseas-based Climate Tech startups that want to expand their business into Tokyo.

47. Tampa Bay Innovation Center: The ClimateTech and Sustainability Startup Accelerator is accepting applications for Q1 of 2024.

48. Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator: This program is “committed to supporting and advancing world-class startups focused on emerging technologies across industries including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, quantum information science, 5G/advanced wireless technology, biotechnology, and clean energy technology.”

49. TechStars Sustainability Paris Accelerator: This accelerator invests in early stage high-growth startups looking to “build a better future thanks to technology, willing to thrive globally. We want to solve some of the greatest challenges our planet faces today such as climate change, pollution, poverty, disease.”

50. The Company Lab: This is an accelerator in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Key focus areas include sustainable mobility. The organization will host Co.Mobility Summit in May 2024. A kick-off event, hosted in 2023, attracted such keynote speakers as AOL founder Steve Case.

See accelerators 51-56 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.).

Here are accelerators 51-56:

51. TotalEnergies On accelerator program: This accelerator program supports start-ups “developing innovative solutions in the electricity and renewable energy sectors.”

52. Toyota Open Labs: The organization nurtures sustainability startups across five market segments — energy, circular economy, carbon neutrality, smart communities and mobility for all.

53. Unreasonable Food: Launched by Mars and Unreasonable Group, the Unreasonable Food accelerator supports startups that focus on four business areas: Shaping the Future of Food, Improving Farmer Livelihood, Transforming Food Supply Chains and Reimagining Sustainable Packaging. The Year 1 Cohort, announced in April 2024, included 15 startups.

54.  Venture For ClimateTech: The organization in January 2024 opened applications for its fourth cohort. ClimateTech startups can apply to join the accelerator here. Venture For ClimateTech provides cohort teams with up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding, along with one-on-one mentoring, access to investors, and educational programming to prepare early-stage companies for first customers, pilot runs, and investment, the organization said.

55. Ycombinator ClimateTech: The accelerator of of February 2024 has funded more than 100 climate tech startups, and together they are worth over $10 billion. Startups in this accelerator typically focus on such areas as Energy Related, Science Required, Climate Adaptation, Green Fintech, and Carbon Accounting & Offsets.

56. YouWeb IV: This is a climate change and carbon management incubator. Companies in the incubator include Equatic, Heirloom and CarbonBuilt.

More Sustainability Accelerators: Did we fail to mention a sustainability-focused accelerator? If so please email me the details (accelerator name, website, focus, etc.).

Note: Blog originally published September 1, 2023. Updated regularly thereafter.