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The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) is proud to announce the selection of eight innovative companies to participate in the 2025 Forest Business Accelerator. Hosted by VSJF in partnership with Vermont State University and supported by funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission, the program supports early-stage companies that are transforming the forest and wood products industry through innovation, sustainability, and regional impact.

The 2025 cohort includes companies from across North America, each developing or scaling products that utilize forest byproducts, underutilized wood species, or advanced technologies to improve forest management, renewable energy, and sustainable manufacturing.

“This year’s cohort reflects the incredible diversity of innovation happening in the forest economy,” said Christine McGowan, Forest Products Program Director, VSJF. “These entrepreneurs are not only creating new markets for forest products, but they’re also helping to build more resilient rural communities across Northern New England and beyond.”

The Forest Business Accelerator provides a four-month ecosVC Lens of the Market® ACCELERATED curriculum, mentorship, and peer learning opportunities to help these companies scale their impact and bring innovative forest-based solutions to market. The top company will be awarded $15,000 in November 2025.

“The Forest Business Accelerator is about more than just business growth—it’s about empowering founders to bring bold, sustainable ideas to life,” said Judy Giordan, Managing Director, ecosVC. “This cohort is tackling some of the most pressing challenges in climate, conservation, and rural development, and we look forward to providing them the tools to empower their creativity, determination and success.”

The 2025 Forest Business Accelerator selected companies:

• Bullfinch Earth (https://www.bullfinch.earth/), – Bullfinch Earth equips conservation teams with wearable sensors and Edge AI that automatically collect real-time ecological data—no extra effort required. Maryland and British Columbia
• Carbion (http://carbion.xyz/) – Carbion converts biomass into high-performance graphite for batteries and critical industries, strengthening domestic supply chains and advancing a circular economy. New York
• Fable Forestry (https://fableforestry.com/) – Fable Forestry uses aerial robotics and rapid prototyping to scale forest health and transform invasive pathogens into biochar. Maine
• Fox Forestry (http://www.foxforestry.com/) – Fox Forestry is a passionate team of forest management experts dedicated to preserving natural forests while providing high-quality forestry equipment across North America. Maine
• Haze Automotive (https://hazeautomotive.com/) – Haze Automotive is building a 3D printing platform for large-scale structural components, exploring sustainable feedstocks like wood pulp, with applications from vehicles to furniture. California
• Home Grown Fuels (https://homegrownfuels.net/) –Home Grown Fuels harvests carbon from wood and makes BioCarbon. Using a proprietary process, Home Grown Fuels converts the BioCarbon into a graphitic platelet material that they size and shape into pebbles, nanotubes, and flakes. Maine
• Pachyderm Industries (https://www.pachydermindustries.com/) – Pachyderm Industries designs cutting-edge tools for professional tree trimmers, improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability in vegetation management. Iowa
• PK Wood Pellets – PK Wood Pellets is launching a modern pellet facility in Vermont to turn sawmill waste into renewable heating fuel, creating jobs and reducing regional emissions. Vermont

To learn more about the Forest Business Accelerator 2025, visit forestaccelerator.com.

About the Forest Business Accelerator
The Forest Business Accelerator is a Vermont-based program serving startup and seed-stage ventures commercializing new and improved products, services, and technology in the forest and wood industry. 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. The Forest Business Accelerator is made possible through a partnership between the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), Vermont State University (VTSU), and the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), supporting the growth of the Forest Economy in Northern New England. forestaccelerator.com

About the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
In addition to managing the Forest Business Accelerator for startup and seed stage entrepreneurs, the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF) also manages the DeltaClimeVT energy accelerator, provides business assistance, supply chain coordination, 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. vsjf.org

About Vermont State University
Vermont State University provides a high-quality, flexible, and affordable education for students seeking associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, certificates, and in-demand professional credentials. The university builds upon a history of public higher education in Vermont dating back to 1787. More information about Vermont State University can be found here: vermontstate.edu

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