For ClimateTech

Program Type: Online
Location: Rochester, US
Investment: Up to $50,000
Equity Taken: None (non-dilutive funding)
Program Duration: 28 weeks
Stage: Early Stage, Pre-seed
Industry of Focus: Climate Tech

Program Description

Venture For ClimateTech is a global non-profit venture studio and accelerator that provides innovators with non-dilutive funding, tools, training, and talent to launch impactful climate tech solutions. The program is virtual and spans six months, offering participants the opportunity to:

• Validate the Market Opportunity: Conduct customer discovery and receive coaching to test innovations within true market realities.
• Secure Funding: Launch your ClimateTech business with up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding, receive coaching on capital stack strategy, grant applications, and investor pitches, and get introductions to investors.
• Build a Robust Team: Tap into a diverse ecosystem for help with early hires and turn your vision into reality with tools, mentor-driven education, connections, and coaching.

Applications for Cohort 5 are open from January 21, 2025, to March 7, 2025. The program is designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs and solo founders, particularly those in the pre-seed stage, to overcome commercialization challenges and scale their impact.

Key Highlights

Program Overview

Venture For ClimateTech is a global non-profit venture studio and accelerator that provides climate tech innovators with non-dilutive funding, tools, training, and talent to launch impactful solutions. Sponsored by NextCorps and SecondMuse, and supported by NYSERDA, the program offers a six-month virtual experience to help founders build strong teams and tackle commercialization challenges.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Exclusion

Companies with solutions that positively help communities impacted by climate change are strongly encouraged to apply.

Investment Details

Up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding.

Benefits Details and Perks/Credits

• Validate the Market Opportunity through customer discovery and coaching.
• Secure Funding with up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding and investor introductions.
• Build a Robust Team with help from a diverse ecosystem.
• Access Free or Discounted Services through perk partners.
• Comprehensive Support including tools, mentor-driven education, connections, and coaching.
• Gain a Pathway to Scale with manufacturing support and introductions to other programs.

Program Format

The program is part-time, requiring 10-15 hours per week over six months. It includes phases such as V4C Bootcamp, Mentor Madness, Customer Discovery, Business Model Canvas, CXO Candidate Matching, Story Telling, Investor Bootcamp, Demo Day, Business Development, Investor Matching, and Partnership and Pilot Building.

Location or Relocation Requirements

Applicants can be located anywhere in the world but must have plans for how their solution can help New York State reach its climate goals.

Cohort Size and Program Frequency

20 companies funded per year.

Company Types Requirements

Eligible companies are those developing technologies with the potential to substantially reduce GHG emissions globally and in New York State, focusing on decarbonizing buildings, transportation, grid, and industry sectors.

Founding Team Preferences

Open to early-stage entrepreneurs and solo founders, including those who have not yet formed a legal entity. Pre-seed stage companies are preferred.

Up to $50k grant

per company

Virtual

location
$0
cost
20 companies
funded per year

Venture For ClimateTech is a new global non-profit venture studio + accelerator providing innovators with non-dilutive funding, as well as the tools, training, and talent to launch a company around their impactful climate tech solution.

Participation in the free, virtual six-month program is open to applicants anywhere in the world. Applications are open now through March 7th.

Get an opportunity to

• Validate the Market Opportunity

Conduct customer discovery and receive coaching to help you test your innovation within true market realities.

• Secure Funding

Launch your ClimateTech business with up to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding
Receive coaching around your capital stack strategy, grant applications, and investor pitches, as well as introductions to investors once you are ready

• Build a Robust Team

Tap into our diverse ecosystem and get help with early hires.
Turn your vision into reality with tools, mentor-driven education, connections, and coaching.