BOSTON, MA, June 8, 2023 - Cleantech Open Northeast (CTONE), the northeast region of the nation’s largest cleantech startup accelerator, has welcomed 47 startups from across the northeast and around the globe into its 2023 cohort, NECEC announced today. Selected from a pool of 80 applicants, this year’s cohort is diverse, and extremely driven to commercialize high-impact solutions to improve the environment and combat climate change.

“Greeting the new Cleantech Open Northeast cohort is one of the most exciting times of year for us here at the Northeast Clean Energy Council,” said NECEC President Joe Curtatone. “It's like getting a preview of what the future is going to look like. These are the people and ideas that are going to shape the climate economy in the years and decades to come. One of the best things about CTONE is the diversity of the cohort and the deep commitment these startups have to equity, inclusion and justice. They understand climate impact and social impact have to happen together in order to succeed.”

Beth Zonis, Senior Director of Cleantech Open Northeast, NECEC stated: “This year at Cleantech Open Northeast, NECEC should be both exciting and meaningful. We are leaning more into Environmental Equity; we are welcoming startups from Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia; and we are back in-person for our first Academy since 2019.”

In 2023, Cleantech Open Northeast expanded its borders south to include Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The 2023 cohort includes startups from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia, Maine, Vermont, Delaware, Maryland, France, and Spain. Ventures participating in the 2023 cohort represent a range of cleantech sectors, including energy generation, energy distribution and storage, chemicals and advanced materials, information and communications technologies, transportation, green building, agriculture, water, and waste. A full list of participating companies is available here. 

“Cleantech Open Northeast aims to propel new technologies that address critical climate concerns, foster a diverse workforce in the clean energy sector, and expedite our progress towards achieving net zero emissions,” said MassCEC CEO Jennifer Daloisio. “MassCEC is proud to continue its long support of Cleantech Open Northeast’s successful startup accelerator and advance this cohort’s path toward commercialization and its efforts to combat climate change.”

CTONE’s six-month accelerator kicked off this week with its first in-person National Academy East since 2019. The Academy was held at The Engine in Cambridge, MA. During the accelerator program, startups will access training through webinars and business clinics, gain insight from expert mentors, build connections with strategic investors, angel groups, and venture capital firms, and compete for cash prizes. They will also be able to receive products and services from in-kind sponsors. This year, CTONE is continuing the work that started with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute – enabling startups to calculate their greenhouse gas emissions reduction potential. An increasing number of investors are focused on companies that can demonstrate a significant environmental impact. This is a great first step. Building on the work that we have started with Browning the Green Space and others, Cleantech Open Northeast will also continue to help startups build diversity, equity, and inclusion values into their companies. 

In late September, the accelerator program will culminate in a regional pitch competition. This year the semi-finals and finals will be hosted by National Grid and Newlab, respectively, in Brooklyn, NY. During these events, startups will showcase their ventures before a panel of judges that select four regional winners to each receive a $10,000 cash prize, plus three winners of $10,000 cash prizes in specialty areas. Thanks to the continued support from the Sire Foundation, CTONE will once again offer a 2023 Carbon Sequestration/CCUS Prize as well as a 2023 Cleantech Open Ag/Food/Land Use Prize. New for 2023, thanks to the generosity of Xylem, CTONE will also be offering a brand new Water Prize. These are for startups that complete the annual accelerator. The regional winners and finalists will continue on to compete for the National Grand Prize at the Cleantech Open Global Forum in San Jose, CA in October.

Cleantech Open Northeast is grateful for the continued support of Regional Premier Sponsor MassCEC. In 2023, Cleantech Open Northeast added several new sponsors: CVS Health, Connecticut Innovations, Climate Haven, and the Connecticut Green Bank. New in-kind sponsors include FORGE and the Innovation Space.

About Cleantech Open Northeast

Cleantech Open Northeast is the Northeast region of Cleantech Open and is managed by NECEC as the on-the-ground affiliate. Cleantech Open is the world’s oldest and largest cleantech accelerator and is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and technologists with the resources needed to launch a successful cleantech company. Its mission is to find, fund, and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental, and economic challenges. Cleantech Open provides the infrastructure, expertise, and strategic relationships that turn clever ideas into successful global cleantech companies. Fueled by a network of more than 1,000 volunteers, Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America’s cleantech sector a thriving economic engine. Between 2005 and 2023, Cleantech Open Northeast has trained 555 early-stage clean technology startups through its annual business accelerator. 71% of Cleantech Open Northeast alumni are still active or have had a successful exit. Cleantech Open Northeast alumni have raised more than $1.05 billion, created more than 3,100 clean economy jobs, and generated more than $486 million in revenue. For more information, visit cleantechopen.org

About NECEC

NECEC leads the just, equitable, and rapid transition to a clean energy future and a diverse climate economy. NECEC is the only organization in the Northeast that covers all of the clean energy market segments, representing the business perspectives of investors and clean energy companies across every stage of development. NECEC members span the broad spectrum of the clean energy industry, including clean transportation, energy efficiency, wind, solar, energy storage, microgrids, fuel cells, clean buildings, and advanced “smart” technologies. For more information, visit www.necec.org.