Energy2024 Winner Announced
2024/06/13 17:00:00

The DeltaClimeVT business accelerator is a Vermont-based program serving startup and seed-stage ventures focusing on climate economy innovation across multiple industries.

As a proven leader in sustainability, Vermont offers participants access to a large number of entrepreneurial climate economy and energy experts throughout the program.

Our three immersive sprints help companies refine their vision, solidify their strategy, and enable rapid growth. Participants graduate with improved business plans, new tools to attract investors, and the potential to grow their business opportunities in Vermont and beyond.

Founder Stories

Energy2024

The 2024 challenge

To be part of a competitively selected cohort of start-up and/or seed stage ventures who offer innovative products or services aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to help Vermont meet its climate goals. Start-ups addressing the decarbonization of buildings, transportation, heating and industrial processes through electrification, biofuels, thermal energy networks or other renewables with a particular focus on load management controls integrated with storage, heat pumps, electric vehicle charging equipment and building systems are encouraged to apply. Ventures that address energy burden for under-represented and low to moderate income populations are of particular interest.

The eight DeltaClimeVT Energy2024 energy and climate business accelerator program is designed to accelerate the drive towards a zero-carbon future for Vermont, by helping Vermont’s utilities increase adoption of clean energy, smart building and electric vehicle technologies that enable the integration of distributed energy resources with the grid. Entrepreneurs will work directly with Vermont utilities throughout the program to contribute to Vermont’s Comprehensive Energy Plan (90% renewables/efficiency by 2050) and Burlington’s Net Zero by 2030 goals.

We were particularly interested in services and technologies that have wide potential applicability in rural locations and that allow commercial and industrial (C&I) businesses, low and moderate-income Vermonters, underrepresented populations and multi-family building residents to participate in the emerging low-carbon economy.

Examples of technologies or services could include but are not limited to:

  • Smart building technologies such as building controls, dynamic EV charging equipment (V2X), heat pump load management, storage and other devices that can align with utility demand response signals and support data verification;
    • Especially technologies that can overcome communication challenges with limited broadband access, cellular networks, and radio signals with a particular focus on open ADR (due to mountainous terrain);
    • Especially lower cost solutions where aggregator integration costs and software fees are affordable for smaller utilities with fewer connected/controlled devices;
  • EV and EV charging services and technologies related to V2G/V2H/V2X, commercial EV fleet services and telematics;
  • Thermal energy network technologies and services with a focus on community scale systems utilizing waste heat and/or ground source heat pumps;
  • Service models designed to eliminate engagement and participation barriers for underserved customers and encourage whole home decarbonization; and/or
  • DIY electrification opportunities that relieve the need for contractors.

Important Dates

October 20, 2023
Application opens

February 10, 2024
Application deadline

February 23, 2024
Cohort selection announced

March 4 – 5, 2024
Kick-off webinars

March 12 – 14, 2024
One-on-one meetings with facilitators

March 25 – 28, 2024
Sprint 1, Burlington, VT

April 19 – 26, 2024
Webinars and one-on-one meetings with facilitators

May 6 – 8, 2024
Virtual sprint 2

May 24 – June 7, 2024
Webinars and one-on-one meetings with facilitators

June 10 – 13, 2024
Final sprint, Burlington, VT

Accelerator Winners

ENERGY2023

The Energy 2023 winner, selected through a peer-review process, is ProsumerGrid receiving a $25,000 non-equity prize. Pilot projects with Burlington Electric Department were also announced. Click to read the recap.

ENERGY2022

The Energy 2022 winner, selected through a peer-review process, is Halitra receiving a $25,000 non-equity prize. Pilot projects with Vermont utilities were also announced. Read the recap here.

ENERGY2021

The Energy 2021 winner, selected through a peer-review process, is Neothermal Energy Storage receiving a $25,000 non-equity prize. Three pilot projects with Vermont utilities were also announced. Read the recap here.

ENERGY2020

The Energy 2020 winners, selected through a peer-review process, include Pecos Wind Power receiving a $25,000 non-equity prize, Medley Thermal receiving a $15,000 non-equity prize, and Wex Energy receiving a $10,000 non-equity prize. Plus five pilot projects with Vermont utilities announced. Read the recap here.

ENERGY2019

$25,000 Winner – Onboard Data of Massachusetts. Burlington Electric Department Pilot Project Winners: EV Match, Go Together and DCC. Green Mountain Power Pilot Project Winner: EV Match. Read the recap here.

AG & FOOD TECH2018

Winners – AgHelp of Michigan and Ceres Greens of Vermont. Read the recap here.

ENERGY2017

Winners – Emrgy Inc. of Georgia and A.F. Mensah of New Jersey.

“This is the best accelerator that we have participated in. Specifically, this program has a unique curriculum that’s designed to create a collaborative competition and allow us to sit across the table from electric utilities, planning directors and CFOs.”

Marcelo SandovalCo-founder, CEO, Chief Scientist, ProsumerGrid, Energy 2023 Winner

 “The DeltaClimeVT program is unique because sponsors are actual customers that are looking to fund pilot projects. The learning that we garnered from our cohort peers was invaluable and the resulting friendships will be long-term. The curriculum from ecosVC has equipped us with tools that we will continue to adapt as we move from lab to pilot to commercialization. We are grateful to VSJF for allowing us to participate.”

Thor JensenHalitra, Energy 2022 Winner

“I can’t recommend this program enough for early-stage pre-seed/seed entrepreneurs. With a small (highly focused) cohort, phenomenal facilitators with decades of experience, and people who truly care about helping to advance your startup in a meaningful way, DeltaClimateVT is an unparalleled program in the accelerator space.

Natasha GeorgeSomEV, Inc., Energy 2019 Participant

DeltaClimeVT

By The Numbers

7
Cohorts
54
Companies
116
Participants
123
Mentors

“This program clearly demonstrated that there is no better place in the United States to convene startups, investors, and industry leaders to solve important climate problems than Vermont.

Emily MorrisEmrgy, Energy 2017 Participant

Industry expertise, a network of established climate economy enterprises, and access to potential partners and growth capital are available to all DeltaClimeVT participants.

Participants are guided through the world-class ecosVC curriculum, designed to test assumptions, expose and remediate business vulnerabilities, prepare for significant investment, and provide a platform for rapid scale. All cohort Members will have the opportunity to forge meaningful relationships with high quality investors and potential customers.

DeltaClimeVT cohort members take part in a three-month intensive training. The accelerator consists of three sprints with homework, webinars and one-on-one time with facilitators in between. The program is centered around the ecosVC Lens of the Market® ACCELERATED curriculum, designed to ensure participating startups produce the a well-grounded case for their business and are able to articulate a compelling plan for success to investors.

Active engagement and peer-mentoring by participants is an essential part of the program and a final prize of $25,000 will be provided to a peer-selected company. In prior programs, over half of participating companies have been selected by Vermont utilities and other sponsors to conduct product pilots after the end of the program.

Vermont offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to access services, networks and growth capital, in a state known for its high quality of life. Vermont was recently ranked the #1 state to move to thanks to growing professional opportunities. In-person DeltaClimeVT sprints are held in Burlington, the state’s largest city, which sports a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by:

  • innovative companies willing to pilot new, groundbreaking products and services
  • growing incubation and co-working infrastructure
  • an active lending and investment community
  • like minded companies eager to help and partner
  • regular entrepreneurial meetups and events
  • robust technical and professional services
  • multiple higher educational institutions

The undesirable fact that climate change will have a large effect on the way we all live our lives and how we interact with each other has created an opportunity for innovative entrepreneurs to develop products and services that aim to mitigate the risks and deal with the consequences of climate change.

The Climate Economy includes:

  • Food Systems
  • Water Quality
  • Renewable Energy
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Clean Technology
  • Green Building
  • Sensor Technologies
  • Data Management
  • Resource Recycling
  • Storage Technology