US: Exelon Foundation Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i)

The Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i) is a 10-year, $20 million, joint commitment between Exelon Corporation and its philanthropic arm, Exelon Foundation, to invest in and cultivate innovative start-ups focused on advancing climate change mitigation, adaptation and resiliency efforts, while also promoting social equality and economic prosperity, in Exelon’s service territories. These service territories include Chicago, IL ; Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; Washington D.C.; Atlantic City, NJ and Wilmington, DE.

Through the combined resources of Exelon Foundation ($10 million equity investment commitment) and Exelon Corporation (up to $10 million in-kind service commitment), 2c2i supports innovative start-ups that catalyze solutions to climate change challenges within Exelon’s major market areas, while advancing social equality and economic prosperity.

Upon selection, 2c2i start-ups realize a number of benefits to accelerate their ventures while delivering real-world impact. These benefits include:

• A minimum of $100,000 equity investment from Exelon Foundation
• In-kind services from Exelon Corporation. These services may include but may not be limited to:
  • Brokering of relationships between the start-ups and key organizations/ stakeholders in Exelon territories that can support the start-up’s activity and mission
  • Subject matter expertise-based guidance and advice
  • Business plan review and guidance
  • Networking opportunities with other 2c2i ventures and alumni
  • Exposure to external sources of follow-on capital
  • Regulatory and financial feedback

Exelon commits to work with each selected start-up on an Impact Project.

Areas of Impact and Investment

• 2c2i was founded to drive positive impact around every dimension of ESG investing:
  • Environmental: Advancing GHG emissions mitigation and climate change resiliency.
  • Social: Supporting economic growth and opportunity for low-income or underserved communities while promoting environmental justice and equality.
  • Governance: Supporting underrepresented women and minority founders: While 2c2i invests in start-ups with leadership teams from all backgrounds, it welcomes participation from and is committed to supporting start-ups that have women or minority representation among its founder or leadership teams.
• 2c2i measures its impact in these areas in accordance with the United Nations Sustainability Developmental Goals and IRIS+ Core Metrics and Catalogue of Metrics.
• Under its Environmental mandate, 2C2i supports start-ups addressing the following areas:
  • Mitigation
  • Resilience & Adaptation
• Under these broad themes, 2c2i invests in start-ups that operate across the functional areas:
  • Water
  • Waste
  • Transport
  • Food
  • Energy
  • Built Environments
  • Nature

Eligibility Criteria

• Businesses can be located outside of the six markets, but the work needs to impact one of them.
• Non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply to the 2c2i program.

For more information, visit Exelon Foundation.