MassCEC Awards $6.4 Million to Climatetech Companies and Researchers

Funding supports 30 companies and researchers across 13 Massachusetts communities 

BOSTON – The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) today announced $6.4 million in funding for 25 clean energy and climatetech companies and researchers. This investment will accelerate innovation and business growth in 13 cities and towns across Massachusetts.  

The grants are awarded through four of MassCEC’s programs: AmplifyMass, Catalyst, Diversity in Cleantech - Early Stage (DICES), and InnovateMass. MassVentures also supports Catalyst, DICES, and InnovateMass. 

“Massachusetts is home to world-class innovators who are leading in the emerging climatetech industry and tackling climate change head-on with the solutions our communities and our economy need,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These grants will help turn groundbreaking ideas into real technologies and successful businesses that drive job creation, strengthen our economy, and keep Massachusetts at the forefront of the climatetech industry.” 

“The impact of climate innovation isn’t just seen in labs and boardrooms—it’s felt in our neighborhoods, schools, and local businesses,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “By investing in these companies and researchers, we are ensuring that communities across Massachusetts have access to the benefits that come with a thriving climatetech sector.”  

“These companies have made Massachusetts a leader in climate technologies,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “As the rest of the world races for the competitive edge in climatetech, Massachusetts is leading the way with smart investments in growing businesses. With these investments, big ideas become jobs and economic growth for our state.” 

“The climatetech industry is an economic development opportunity for every city and town in Massachusetts. These MassCEC emerging climatetech grants empower innovative ideas and transformative solutions that will shape the future of the state’s economy,” said Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC. “By supporting entrepreneurs and innovators, we’re accelerating the deployment of technologies that will lower energy costs and create jobs right here in Massachusetts.” 

“Bringing new technologies to market is a critical step in addressing climate challenges,” said MassVentures CEO, Charlie Hipwood. “At MassVentures, we are committed to providing early-stage support to startups that are developing the next generation of clean energy solutions, ensuring they have the resources needed to scale and succeed."

AmplifyMass provides cost-share or added funding for federal and non-federal prime award recipients, supporting both academic researchers and companies. Since its launch in 2015, the program has awarded $60 million to 135 academic research projects and startups, leading to more than $270 million in follow-on funding.  

AmplifyMass Awardees: 

• rStream Recycling Inc. - Somerville, MA
  • $300,000 to develop an AI-driven waste sorting system designed specifically for low-resource and low-waste volume settings. 
• University of Massachusetts Amherst (PI Sharman) - Hadley, MA 
  • $99,997 to develop a data-driven approach to generate biofouling predictions through machine learning methods. 
• Northeastern University (PI Abur) - Boston, MA 
  • $131,477 to develop a computationally efficient and statistically robust estimator that can track the transient state of inverter-based renewable energy sources in real time.  
• River Otter Renewables, Inc. - Stow, MA 
  • $300,000 to transform sewage waste into fuel while destroying PFAS chemicals in the waste and process water.   
• University of Massachusetts Amherst (PI Zhang) - Amherst, MA 
  • $250,000 to re-invent a new type of low emissions glass manufacturing technology. 
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (PI Tao) - Worcester, MA 
  • $300,000 to utilize hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and the organic content in municipal solid waste to create low-cost, environmentally friendly asphalt solutions while significantly reducing carbon footprints.  
• Lithios, Inc. - Medford, MA 
  • $249,660 to develop the first field-deployable pilot system for Advanced Lithium Extraction (ALE) in Massachusetts.  

The Catalyst program funds researchers and early-stage companies looking to demonstrate initial prototypes of climate technologies, while DICES supports projects led by applicants who are underrepresented in the climatetech industry or those who face economic barriers to entry. Both programs were launched in 2010 and have collectively awarded $11.6 million to 196 companies and research teams, with past recipients raising over $852 million in follow-on investment. 

Catalyst/DICES Awardees: 

• Andros Innovations Incorporated - Cambridge, MA
  • $75,000 to prototype a new reactor designed to produce ammonia in a cheaper, safer, and more environmentally friendly way. 
• Prospect Growth, Inc. - Newton, MA
  • $75,000 to complete field trials of nanoparticle-based fertilizers ("nanofertilizers") to increase crop yields while decreasing nutrient inputs and environmental losses. 
• Rock Zero, Inc. - Cambridge, MA
  • $75,000 to develop a prototype of their proprietary low-temperature, circular process to chemically process lithium hardrock using less energy and heat than incumbents. 
• Orien Energy Inc. - Cambridge, MA 
  • $75,000 to build the first lab-scale prototype that can convert energy from humid air to generate steam.  
• Heliotrope Photonics, Inc. - Cambridge, MA 
  • $75,000 to develop a prototype of their proprietary solar panel coating, which transforms sunlight to improve silicon solar panel performance.  
• Vertical Horizons - Cambridge, MA 
  • $75,000 to develop prototype designs for high-efficiency power supply units for AI data centers.  
• Fast Metals LLC - Worcester, MA 
  • $75,000 to develop a prototype for their process that can produce iron, aluminum, titanium, and other valuable metals from industrial waste byproducts.  
• BitEnergy AI - Cambridge, MA 
  • $75,000 to test their technology, which drastically reduces the energy consumption of AI systems by replacing traditional algorithms with more efficient ones.  
• Propriety, Inc. - Amherst, MA 
  • $75,000 to test that their bio-solvent/PFAS-free binder-based batteries perform as well or better than the incumbent technology.  
• Respire Energy - Lexington, MA 
  • $75,000 to prototype and validate the performance of their iron-air battery cell.  

InnovateMass offers grants and technical support for teams deploying new clean energy technologies or innovative combinations of existing technologies with strong commercialization potential. Including this latest round of awards, InnovateMass has provided over $18 million to 93 demonstration projects since 2013, leveraging more than $26 million in additional private and public funding.

InnovateMass Awardees: 

• Transaera, Inc. - Somerville, MA
  • $294,000 to demonstrate its novel materials that enable dehumidification without the need for overcooling in commercial rooftop AC systems. 
• Luminous Robotics, Inc. - Boston, MA 
  • $334,290 to demonstrate its flexible robot fleets that reduce the cost of solar construction.   
• LoCI Controls, Inc. - Wareham, MA 
  • $350,000 to demonstrate its methane abatement technology that enables landfill-gas-to-electric generation.  
• Reframe Systems - Andover, MA 
  • $277,000 to demonstrate solar integration within its robotic micro-factories that build modular net-zero homes quickly and efficiently.   
• SparkCharge, Inc. - Dorchester, MA 
  • $316,118 to demonstrate its off-grid DC fast EV charging hub technology for decentralized ride-share fleet charging.  
• SpadxTech LLC - Worcester, MA 
  • $350,000 to demonstrate its natural, flame-retardant thermal insulation technology to protect battery test chambers.  
• Carnot Labs, Inc. - Boston, MA 
  • $350,000 to demonstrate its intelligent, grid-connected heat pump water heater for efficient residential use.   
• Fleet Robotics - Somerville, MA 
  • $349,839 to demonstrate its autonomous, robotic hull maintenance technology to reduce biofouling and maritime emissions.  
• Eden Climate LLC - Somerville, MA 
  • $290,726 to demonstrate its Electrical Reservoir Stimulation technology to increase the availability of geologic hydrogen, an alternative fuel. 
• EVident Battery, Inc. - Somerville, MA 
  • $350,000 to demonstrate its automated, diagnostic solutions to extend the lifespan of electric vehicle (EV) battery packs. change:
• Water Labs, Inc. - Cambridge, MA 
  • $35,000 to demonstrate its waterless, water-evaporating toilet technology for places with no sewerage plumbing. 
• Measured Air Performance - Manchester, NH 
  • $58,075 to demonstrate its ventilation management solution that optimizes airflow for idle laboratory fume hoods, providing significant energy savings. 
• Aquatic Labs - Cambridge, MA 
  • $350,000 to demonstrate its scalable, marine carbon sensor technology capable of providing real-time industrial scale monitoring for marine carbon and pH. 

About the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center 

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, and to secure long-term economic growth for the people of Massachusetts. 

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