Spark Cleantech

Program Type: In-person
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Investment: $15,000
Equity Taken: None
Program Duration: 12 weeks
Stage: Early Stage

Industry of Focus

• Cleantech
• Energy
• Agtech
• Sustainability
• Renewable Energy Generation
• Energy Storage
• Energy Efficiency
• Advanced Nuclear Solutions
• Decarbonization Options
• Future Grid Performance
• Future Mobility
• Circular Economy
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Built Environment

Key Highlights

Program Overview

The Spark Cleantech Accelerator, created in partnership with Evergreen Climate Innovations and other partners, supports early-stage cleantech businesses to commercialize their technologies in Tennessee, the Midwest, and the Southeast. The 12-week program, starting on August 25, 2025, and ending on November 20, 2025, offers mentorship, connections, stipends, prototyping services, and business acceleration services to help entrepreneurs bring new innovations to market.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Exclusion

The program welcomes top cleantech companies from all over the country to Knoxville.

Investment Details

A $15,000 equity-free stipend is provided to help defray travel and living costs and support business and technical milestones.

Benefits Details and Perks/Credits

• Prototyping services through the University of Tennessee’s Center for Materials Processing
• Mentoring and one-on-one support from experts in various fields
• Connections with customers, investors, strategic partners, suppliers, universities, and national laboratories
• Training workshops and one-on-one support
• Partnership opportunities with organizations such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Lab, the University of Tennessee, the City of Knoxville, and members of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council

Program Format

The 12-week in-person program includes days of instruction from technology and business mentors, development of business plans, and ends with a demonstration day where participants pitch their business to institutional and corporate partners and investors.

Location or Relocation Requirements

The program is located in Knoxville, Tennessee. Participants are encouraged to consider relocating their business or a portion of it to Knoxville or the Tennessee region.

Cohort Size and Program Frequency

Up to six companies are accepted per cohort.

Requirements Related to Users, Revenue, or LOIs:
Applicants must show evidence of customer discovery, market validation, and interest.

Post-Program Engagement

Introductions to corporate partners for technical and business mentorship, pilot project development, and follow-on working relationships where appropriate.

Company Types Requirements

Eligible technologies should focus on climate mitigation, resilience, and natural resource conservation, including bioenergy, buildings, energy efficiency, vehicles, fuel cells, advanced manufacturing technologies, grid modernization technologies, carbon capture, and related fossil energy innovations.

Founding Team Preferences

Dedicated founders and qualified advisors are preferred. Participants are expected to work on their company full-time during the program, though alternate schedules can be accommodated if necessary.

Eligibility

Application from Tennessee, the Midwest, and beyond.

Companies that show strong market

potential and defensible intellectual
property, with issued patents or pending patents filed.
Those who demonstrate their technology can support the challenges and needs of
Spark partners.
Those that create software of hardware technologies including intelligent connected
devices, advanced materials process, with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-6.
Applicants who are open to Tennessee as a permanent business location.

Eligibility

Application from Tennessee, the Midwest,
and beyond.

Companies that show strong market

potential and defensible intellectual
property, with issued patents or pending patents filed.
Those who demonstrate their technology can support the challenges and needs of Spark partners.
Those that create software of hardware technologies including intelligent connected devices, advanced materials process, with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-6. Applicants who are open to Tennessee as a
permanent business location.

Technology Interest Areas

Renewable Energy Generation

Energy Storage Storage Integration

Energy Efficiency Advanced Nuclear Solutions

Decarbonization Options

Future Grid Performance

Future Mobility Circular Economy Sustainable Agriculture Built Environment

Company Acceptance Criteria

Evidence of customer discovery,
market validation, and interest.

Understanding of the competitive

landscape and market forces.

Dedicated founder and qualified

advisors.

A passion for developing and

growing their business in Tennessee
directly or though supply chain
partners in the state.
This is more than an accelerator; it's a launchpad for your cleantech vision,
equipping you with the tools you need to succeed and differentiate yourself in
a competitive market. Apply now to be part of a journey that transforms your
innovative idea into a market-ready, investment-attractive cleantech venture.
A $15,000 equity-free stipend to help defray travel and living costs and
to support business and technical milestones
Prototyping support through programming, and partnerships with the
University of Tennessee.
One-on-one support from our experts in business, market analysis and
positioning, IP/patent strategy, product design, engineering,
prototyping, testing, materials selection, and manufacturing.
Connections with customers, investors, strategic partners, suppliers,
universities, and national laboratories.
Opportunities for strategic partnerships with organizations such as the
Tennessee Valley Authority, the University of Tennessee, Oak Ridge
National Lab, the City of Knoxville, and members of the Tennessee
Advanced Energy Business Council.