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After three months of intense focus, camaraderie and both virtual and in-person learning, The DeltaClime^VT Energy 2022 climate economy business accelerator announces Halitra as the winner.

Sixteen entrepreneurs from seven start-ups focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by enabling the acceleration of electrification graduated from the DeltaClimeVT Energy 2022 climate economy business accelerator during an awards ceremony at Burlington Beer Company June 16. At the event, each company presented their final pitch and shared their plans to scale their start-up companies. The DeltaClime^VT business accelerator program, managed by Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), aims to bring innovative technologies, services, and business models to Vermont to reach Vermont’s climate and renewable energy goals more quickly while also ensuring the inclusion of low-to-moderate income residents in our energy transition.

Halitra, based in Vancouver, Canada, works with financial institutions, utilities, government and building owners to uncover energy saving financing opportunities that can be profitably serviced by stakeholders. Chosen through a peer-review process, the company won a $25,000 cash prize and a joint pilot project awarded by Burlington Electric Department (BED) and Vermont Gas Systems (VGS).

“The DeltaClimeVT program is unique because sponsors are actual customers that are looking to fund pilot projects,” said Thor Jensen, CEO & Co-founder of Halitra. “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.”

BED also awarded a pilot project to MicroEra Power, which is developing THERMAplus, an on-site thermal energy storage solution to provide commercial buildings with resilient, low-cost, low-carbon heating and cooling. Additional Vermont companies and utilities are in talks with cohort companies to implement further pilot projects.

“DeltaClimeVT is a powerful catalyst supporting MicroEra Power to engage with utility partners to pilot a low-cost, low-carbon thermal energy storage solution to heat and cool commercial buildings,” said Eleanor M. Rusling, MicroEra Power CEO.

The sixth DeltaClime^VT business accelerator cohort, Energy 2022 was designed to accelerate the drive to a zero-carbon future for Vermont by helping Vermont’s utilities increase adoption of clean energy, smart building and electric vehicle technologies that enable accelerated integration of distributed energy resources without the need for costly infrastructure upgrades. Entrepreneurs worked directly with Vermont utilities to contribute to Vermont’s 90 by 2050 and the City of Burlington’s Net Zero by 2030 goals.

“After holding Energy 2020 and Energy 2021 completely virtual due to COVID-19, it was great to be back in person for the final sprint of Energy 2022,” said Geoff Robertson, Managing Director of DeltaClimeVT at VSJF. “During this week-long sprint at Burlington Electric Department, all seven cohort companies formed meaningful relationships with industry representatives, entrepreneurs, and investors that acted as mentors. The seven companies also developed solid plans for the future success of their businesses.”

In March seven start-up companies from all over the U.S. and Canada were selected to take part in the three-month intensive learning experience where the entrepreneurs completed an intensive curriculum, developed by ecosVC, which included online workshops, webinars, and mentoring sessions.

DeltaClime^VT Energy 2022 Graduating Cohort Companies:

• $25,000 cash prize and a joint pilot project awarded by Burlington Electric Department (BED) and Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) – Halitra works with financial institutions, utilities, government and building owners to uncover energy saving financing opportunities that can be profitably serviced by stakeholders. Vancouver and Calgary
• Pilot project awarded by Burlington Electric Department (BED) – MicroEra Power is developing THERMAplus, an on-site thermal energy storage solution to provide commercial buildings with resilient, low-cost, low-carbon Heating and Cooling. Rochester, New York
• AirStat is an AI platform that collects data from sensors and people’s comfort profiles that allow the control of HVAC systems. Massachusetts
• ENVIROPOWER designs the SmartWatt Boiler system to transform the existing heating infrastructure into an energy platform that satisfies the heating requirements of buildings while generating onsite electricity at nearly zero-cost. Connecticut
• Farm to Flame Energy develops distributed biomass generation and home heating systems. New Jersey
• GenH is a next-generation hydropower technology company that electrifies unpowered dams. Boston, Massachusetts
• Qilo personalizes electricity usage data making demand side management programs easier for utilities to deploy to reduce utility peak demand expenses, creating a more reliable, cost-effective grid. Chicago and Seattle

Partners and sponsors of DeltaClime^VT Energy 2022 include, Jane’s Trust Foundation, The Vermont Community Foundation, the Vermont Department of Public Service, Burlington Electric Department, Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, Efficiency Vermont, Green Mountain Power, VSECU, Vermont Electric Coop, Vermont Electric Power Company, VGS, and Flexible Capital Fund.

Click here to learn more about DeltaClimeVT Energy 2022.

About DeltaClime^VT – A Climate Economy Business Accelerator

The DeltaClime^VT business accelerator is a Vermont-based program serving startup and seed-stage ventures focusing on energy and climate economy innovation in the energy sector. The program provides an intense accelerated learning and business development process designed to test assumptions, expose and remediate business vulnerabilities, prepare for significant investment, and provide a platform for rapid scaling. As a proven leader in sustainability, Vermont offers participants access to a large number of entrepreneurial climate economy and energy experts throughout the program. The program is managed by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF). deltaclimevt.com

About Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

In addition to offering the DeltaClime^VT business accelerator to startup and seed stage entrepreneurs, the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) provides business assistance, value chain facilitation, network development, and strategic planning to a wide range of stakeholders in the agriculture and food system, forest product, waste management, renewable energy, and environmental technology sectors. Located in Montpelier, Vermont, VSJF was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1995 to partner with state government, private sector businesses, and nonprofits to build a thriving economic, social, and ecological future for Vermont.

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