Deadline Date: April 08, 2026
Aspire Climatetech is a five-week hybrid program designed to help science- and engineering-based startups prepare for equity investment by engaging with high-caliber investor-mentors and refining deal room materials in real time.
The program provides startups with an opportunity to work one-on-one with investor-mentors, allowing them to simulate due diligence conversations and receive valuable feedback to enhance their fundraising strategy. Through mock board meetings, founders will refine their pitch and gain clarity on their investment needs, including the investment ask and milestones for the round. Additionally, the program focuses on building and refining materials for a deal room discussion, emphasizing practical work over traditional demo-day presentations. Startups also have the chance to stress-test their business by addressing real-world disaster scenarios with their teams, preparing them to handle unexpected challenges. Networking and collaboration with other founders, as well as access to the VentureWell investor network after the program, are key elements of the program’s value.
The Aspire Climatetech program targets science- and engineering-based startups that have made substantial progress and are actively preparing for a round of equity investment within the next 12 months. Applicants must have a committed CEO, a clearly identified team with key roles, and an early-stage prototype with some evidence of customer validation and intellectual property protection. The ideal candidates are those with high-impact inventions that address real customer needs and have a clear value proposition in the market. Startups must also demonstrate that they are beyond the proof-of-concept stage, having developed an initial prototype and conducted pilot studies or field trials.
If you’re still in the process of finding a co-founder, the program may not be the right fit. It typically looks for teams that are already in formation, as investors tend to prefer a founding team over a solo founder. Even if you are a solo founder, involving strategic consultants can help you advance your technology and business development, positioning your startup for greater success in the program.
For more information, visit VentureWell.
