A business accelerator providing startup support, mentorship, and access to capital for climate economy entrepreneurs.

The DeltaClimeVT business accelerator is a Vermont-based program serving startup and seed-stage ventures focusing on climate economy innovation across multiple industries.

As a proven leader in sustainability, Vermont offers participants access to a large number of entrepreneurial climate economy and energy experts throughout the program.

Our three immersive sprints help companies refine their vision, solidify their strategy, and enable rapid growth. Participants graduate with improved business plans, new tools to attract investors, and the potential to grow their business opportunities in Vermont and beyond.

Founder Stories

Net Zero Energy Podcast Interview with Geoff Robertson

Net Zero Energy Podcast Burlington Vermont

The DeltaClimeVT business accelerator is a Vermont-based program serving startup and seed-stage ventures focusing on climate economy innovation across multiple industries. Geoff Robertson & BED’s own James L. Gibbons talk about the successes and opportunities that DeltaClimeVT brings.

Accelerator Winners

ENERGY2024

The Energy 2024 winner, selected through a peer-review process, is Rock Rabbit receiving a $25,000 non-equity award. BED also awarded a pilot project Moduly. Additional Vermont companies and utilities are in talks with cohort companies to implement further pilot projects. Click to learn more.

ENERGY2023

The Energy 2023 winner, selected through a peer-review process, is ProsumerGrid receiving a $25,000 non-equity award. Pilot projects with Burlington Electric Department were also announced. Click to read the recap.

ENERGY2022

The Energy 2022 winner, selected through a peer-review process, is Halitra receiving a $25,000 non-equity award. Pilot projects with Vermont utilities were also announced. Read the recap here.

ENERGY2021

The Energy 2021 winner, selected through a peer-review process, is Neothermal Energy Storage receiving a $25,000 non-equity award. Three pilot projects with Vermont utilities were also announced. Read the recap here.

ENERGY2020

The Energy 2020 winners, selected through a peer-review process, include Pecos Wind Power receiving a $25,000 non-equity award, Medley Thermal receiving a $15,000 non-equity award, and Wex Energy receiving a $10,000 non-equity award. Plus five pilot projects with Vermont utilities announced. Read the recap here.

ENERGY2019

$25,000 Winner – Onboard Data of Massachusetts. Burlington Electric Department Pilot Project Winners: EV Match, Go Together and DCC. Green Mountain Power Pilot Project Winner: EV Match. Read the recap here.

AG & FOOD TECH2018

Winners – AgHelp of Michigan and Ceres Greens of Vermont. Read the recap here.

ENERGY2017

Winners – Emrgy Inc. of Georgia and A.F. Mensah of New Jersey.

“It’s just incredibly humbling, to say the least. The corporate partners and the mentors of the DeltaClimeVT program have been incredibly generous with their time. I’ve never experienced anything like that. Everyone said yes to having a conversation. And then they were very candid about providing feedback, even if sometimes it wasn’t always the feedback you wanted to hear but it helps make your company better and it helps make you develop a product that’s better so that’s been incredible. We’ve been in a few accelerators – this has been the best by far.”

Aimee Gotway BaileyFounder & CEO, Rock Rabbit, Energy 2024 Winner

“This is the best accelerator that we have participated in. Specifically, this program has a unique curriculum that’s designed to create a collaborative competition and allow us to sit across the table from electric utilities, planning directors and CFOs.”

Marcelo SandovalCo-founder, CEO, Chief Scientist, ProsumerGrid, Energy 2023 Winner

 “The DeltaClimeVT program is unique because sponsors are actual customers that are looking to fund pilot projects. The learning that we garnered from our cohort peers was invaluable and the resulting friendships will be long-term. The curriculum from ecosVC has equipped us with tools that we will continue to adapt as we move from lab to pilot to commercialization. We are grateful to VSJF for allowing us to participate.”

Thor JensenHalitra, Energy 2022 Winner

“I can’t recommend this program enough for early-stage pre-seed/seed entrepreneurs. With a small (highly focused) cohort, phenomenal facilitators with decades of experience, and people who truly care about helping to advance your startup in a meaningful way, DeltaClimateVT is an unparalleled program in the accelerator space.

Natasha GeorgeSomEV, Inc., Energy 2019 Participant

DeltaClimeVT

By The Numbers

8
Cohorts
62
Companies
131
Participants
126
Mentors

“This program clearly demonstrated that there is no better place in the United States to convene startups, investors, and industry leaders to solve important climate problems than Vermont.

Emily MorrisEmrgy, Energy 2017 Participant

Industry expertise, a network of established climate economy enterprises, and access to potential partners and growth capital are available to all DeltaClimeVT participants.

Participants are guided through the world-class ecosVC curriculum, designed to test assumptions, expose and remediate business vulnerabilities, prepare for significant investment, and provide a platform for rapid scale. All cohort Members will have the opportunity to forge meaningful relationships with high quality investors and potential customers.

DeltaClimeVT cohort members take part in a three-month intensive training. The accelerator consists of three sprints with homework, webinars and one-on-one time with facilitators in between. The program is centered around the ecosVC Lens of the Market® ACCELERATED curriculum, designed to ensure participating startups produce the a well-grounded case for their business and are able to articulate a compelling plan for success to investors.

Active engagement and peer-mentoring by participants is an essential part of the program and a final award of $25,000 will be provided to a peer-selected company. In prior programs, over half of participating companies have been selected by Vermont utilities and other sponsors to conduct product pilots after the end of the program.

Vermont offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to access services, networks and growth capital, in a state known for its high quality of life. Vermont was recently ranked the #1 state to move to thanks to growing professional opportunities. In-person DeltaClimeVT sprints are held in Burlington, the state’s largest city, which sports a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by:

  • innovative companies willing to pilot new, groundbreaking products and services
  • growing incubation and co-working infrastructure
  • an active lending and investment community
  • like minded companies eager to help and partner
  • regular entrepreneurial meetups and events
  • robust technical and professional services
  • multiple higher educational institutions

The undesirable fact that climate change will have a large effect on the way we all live our lives and how we interact with each other has created an opportunity for innovative entrepreneurs to develop products and services that aim to mitigate the risks and deal with the consequences of climate change.

The Climate Economy includes:

  • Food Systems
  • Water Quality
  • Renewable Energy
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Clean Technology
  • Green Building
  • Sensor Technologies
  • Data Management
  • Resource Recycling
  • Storage Technology