Apply for the Carbon to Value Initiative

The C2V Initiative is unlocking a new carbontech economy, bringing innovative solutions to scale as rapidly as possible through the creation of a robust, powerful, and collaborative ecosystem. The C2V Initiative’s world-class partnership accelerator brings exclusive access to industry leaders and nonprofit experts who are shaping the carbontech marketplace of tomorrow. Startups selected to participate in the program will have the opportunity to engage with the CLC, an invitation-only group of executive leaders across diverse industry sectors driving the future of carbontech.

Startups will gain market insights and explore collaboration opportunities with CLC members to unlock this trillion-dollar market. Specifically, startups will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from CLC members about their carbontech strategies, present to them directly, and benefit from expert advice and industry knowledge from within the participating corporations.

Benefits

• Accelerate
  • A six-month accelerator designed to help you advance your technology within the burgeoning carbontech market and policy landscape.
• Scale
  • With leading corporates from strategic industry sectors, non-profits, and governments from the Carbontech Leadership Council to de-risk and accelerate your path to commercialization.
• Access
  • Carbon to Value Initiative’s rich networks and resources from the Urban Future Lab, Greentown Labs, and Fraunhofer USA, as well as high quality, experienced mentors.
• A $10,000 stipend will be given to each selected startup to help cover expenses associated with travel and any other program activities.

Eligibility Criteria

• Innovation Scope:
  • Applicants must demonstrate that the technology, product, or service is not only differentiated and scalable, but also incorporates captured carbon as a major input for valorization. Below is a partial list of example technologies that are in scope for the fifth cohort of the C2V Initiative. These categories are not exhaustive, and overlap is possible.
  • Startups with novel carbontech innovations are encouraged to apply even if their technology is not listed below.
  • Carbon Conversion to Added-Value Products:
    • CO₂ to fuels (e.g. SAF/e-fuels, methanol, LPG, RNG)
    • CO₂ to chemicals (e.g. C2-C4+)
    • CO₂ to materials (e.g. carbonates, fertilizers, advanced carbon materials)
    • Carbon-rich waste (e.g. waste biomass, municipal and industrial waste) to value (e.g. via gasification, fermentation, pyrolysis)
  • Carbon Capture:
    • Point-source capture (e.g. from energy or process emissions)
    • Direct air capture (DAC) and direct ocean capture (DOC)
    • Gas-separation technologies (e.g. purification, biogas upgrading)
  • Carbon Sequestration and Removal:
    • Marine CDR/blue carbon (e.g. ocean alkalinization, biomass sinking)
    • Biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) (e.g. waste biomass, biochar, biomass burial)
    • Enhanced mineralization/rock weathering
  • Enabling Technologies:
    • Hardware for measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) (e.g. remote sensing, IOT/sensors, continuous emissions monitoring, isotopic tracing)
    • Hardware that improves carbon capture or conversion processes
• Not in scope:
  • Previously established direct CO2 uses, such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), are not in scope
  • Enabling technologies that solely focus on software, carbon marketplaces, carbon credits, registries, financing, or insurance, although critical to the industry, are not in scope for this year
• Stage:
  • Technological maturity: TRL 4-7, i.e. validated in a laboratory environment
  • Commercial maturity: actively investigating product-market fit and seeking partnerships
  • There is no minimum or maximum public/private funding limit
• Geography:
  • Applicants may apply from anywhere in the world.
  • Events will take place in-person in Boston, New York, Houston, and virtually.
    • Attendance is mandatory for in-person events, regardless of startup location. Failure to participate could result in removal from the program

For more information, visit CLC.