The Challenge: Create New Climatetech Startups
Solving the problems of climate change and environmental degradation takes a combination of new technologies, policy, and business models to ensure that effective solutions make it out of the lab and into widespread, profitable and sustainable commercial use.
Venture capitalists, corporations, and strategic investors who are focused on climate problems face a shortage of attractive and investment-ready ventures. Intellectual property (IP) that is stuck in universities and research institutions needs to be paired with dedicated entrepreneurs who can develop it into viable, investment-ready technology.
About the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio
The Massachusetts Climatetech Studio, a partnership between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and FedTech, helps entrepreneurs launch new climate technology ventures. The Climatetech Studio matches teams of entrepreneurs with cutting-edge technologies from federal and university labs during an intensive 16-week program cohort. Entrepreneurs work closely with expert coaches and advisors to assess the potential of their technologies and form strategies for successful commercialization. Each participant receives a $15,000 stipend and has the chance to win further prize money and grant funding. There is no cost to participate, no equity taken, and the program is designed to be flexible for those working full-time.
Program Schedule
Massachusetts Climatetech Studio is a 16-week, two-phase* program that operates under a yearly deadline schedule. The next application deadline is February 28, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET.
Program workshops will be held weekly on Wednesdays from 6 to 7:30 pm ET.
*Entrepreneurs accepted into the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio will attend both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the program.
Process Step |
Timing |
|---|---|
Application deadline |
February 28, 2025 |
Interviews |
March 7 - 21, 2025 |
Notification of Finalist status |
March 21, 2025 |
Phase 1 |
April 9-May 28, 2025 |
Phase 2 |
(Skip July 4 week): June 4 - July 30, 2025 |
Showcase |
Week of August 4, 2025 |
Who's Eligible
Applications are accepted from aspiring entrepreneurs nationally, and Massachusetts residents are especially encouraged to apply. We know that potential entrepreneurs come from a variety of different backgrounds and experiences with respect to entrepreneurship and technological innovation. We are looking to form teams that have a balance of skills, and we don’t expect you to have experience in all areas mentioned in the application.
Apply
Applications to the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio must be submitted online through the Airtable platform. We recommend applicants dedicate approximately 30 minutes to completing the application.
The application is composed of the following sections:
Section 1: General Information
Section 2: Experience
Section 3: Team Roles & Areas of Interest
Section 4: Demographic Information
Section 5: Short Answer Questions
Once you press "submit," you will receive an email confirming that we have received your application.
Additional Funding Opportunities
AmplifyMass
$300,000
Rolling
InnovateMass
$350,000
(TBD) Mid-March, 2025