Cohort grows >20% year-on-year +++ largest group of international companies ever +++ over 220 entrepreneurs and 150 mentors and volunteers attend National Academy
Los Angeles, 6/23/2021 - Cleantech Open, the largest and longest-running cleantech accelerator in the world, has welcomed 121 startups enrolled into its 2021 cohort. The cohort size has grown by over 20% compared to 2020, following a 20%+ increase in applications.
“We’re excited to kick-off the 2021 accelerator with one of the largest cohorts in Cleantech Open’s recent history,” said Ken Hayes, Executive Director, Cleantech Open. “The rise in applications is a clear testament to the resurgence of cleantech in 2021 and the ever-increasing need for innovative solutions to save our planet. By offering sound business training and invaluable connections to our 2021 cohort, we’re getting one step closer to achieving our mission of finding, funding, and fostering the most promising cleantech startups on the planet.”
Cleantech Open commenced its 2021 program with a three-day online symposium, the National Academy, from June 2-4. The event featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops with speakers from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Browning the Green Space, Clean Energy Ventures, Energy Foundry, Exelon, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, New Energy Nexus, NYSERDA, Schneider Electric, Urban Future Lab, US Department of Energy, and Wells Fargo, among others. See the full speaker line-up here.
Over 220 entrepreneurs attended the event, in addition to over 150 Cleantech Open mentors and volunteers.
The companies accepted into the 2021 Cleantech Open accelerator program are diverse in nature, both in terms of geographies, technology, and background:
- 41% of companies are assigned to the Northeast region, 43% to the West and 16% to the central regions.
- 20% are international companies from outside of the US, taking advantage of the online nature of the program this year. Countries represented include Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the UK.
- Technologies and solutions in the Energy category continue to dominate at 40%, while Agriculture/Water/Waste grew to 24%. 92% of companies are hardware-focused.
- 39% of companies are founded by BIPOC and/or women entrepreneurs
Find out more about all the participating companies here.
28 companies participate in Cleantech Open as part of the California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) grant program. CalSEED is administered by CalCEF Ventures (an organization of New Energy Nexus) on behalf of the California Energy Commission.
“2021 is an incredible moment for cleantech, with all the policies being passed around the world to promote clean technologies, and the money flowing into the space from institutional investors and VCs,” said Danny Kennedy, Chief Energy Officer, New Energy Nexus, in his inspirational “State of the Industry” address on Friday afternoon. “Yet, it’s not enough. We need groundbreaking ideas - like the ones coming out of Cleantech Open - to fight the climate crisis this decade. We’re excited to be collaborating with Cleantech Open who provide the entrepreneurship curriculum for our 28 CalSEED companies.”
Cleantech Open’s six-month accelerator will remain virtual throughout 2021. During the program, startups will receive training through webinars and business clinics, gain insight from expert mentors, build connections with strategic investors, angel groups, and venture capital firms, and receive products and services from in-kind sponsors.
Cleantech Open is supported by national sponsors Wells Fargo, Start Engine, and the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2). See the full list of regional and in-kind sponsors here.
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