DeltaClimeVT Business Accelerator Program – Canada and US

The program is centered around the ecosVC Lens of the Market® ACCELERATED curriculum, designed to ensure participating startups produce a well-grounded case for their business and are able to articulate a compelling plan for success to investors.

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.

The program features an extensive online curriculum plus 1-1’s facilitated by ecosVC principals, active engagement with sponsoring Vermont utilities, business mentors, investors and successful venture leaders. Startups must have at least two senior members of their team actively participate in all aspects of the program. The program includes two online and two in-person intensive sessions (each 2-4 days in duration), weekly assignments and bi-weekly webinars as well as frequent 1:1 engagement with program leaders and mentors. Active engagement and peer-mentoring by participants is an essential part of the program and a final prize of $25,000 is provided to a peer-selected company. The DeltaClimeVT program managers work to ensure that startups in the cohort are non-competitive.

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.

Criteria

• They 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.
• 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.

For more information, visit Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund.