Cleantech
Accelerator
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Helping university-affiliated cleantech startups launch, grow, and lead the clean energy transition.
Applications for this year’s accelerator are closed. Thank you to all organizations who have applied!
The Cleantech Accelerator is a one-year program designed to support early-stage cleantech startups with ties to higher education. Based at the INSPYRE Innovation Hub in Syracuse, this accelerator offers founders access capital, mentorship, and a high-growth entrepreneurial community rooted in sustainability.
Applications for this year’s Cleantech Accelerator have closed. Thank you to all organizations who have applied!
Applications Opened
September 3, 2025
Applications Closed
November 14, 2025
Location
INSPYRE Innovation Hub
Syracuse, NY
Cohort Size
Up to 5 startups
What You’ll Gain
We provide the structure, capital, mentorship, and connections to help you build a real company with real traction:
Foundational Support
- $Business and commercialization training
- $Legal, marketing, and operational assistance
- $One-on-one startup coaching and growth planning
Community and Mentorship
- $Curated mentor network across clean energy, climate tech, agtech, and deep tech
- $Networking with GENIUS NY, SURGE, COE, and other top NYS programs
- $Embedded in Syracuse’s innovation ecosystem
Who Should Apply?
This accelerator is built for early-stage startups or founding teams that:
Are affiliated with a university or higher education institution
Operate in one of 12 eligible counties across New York State
Are developing a product or service in cleantech or climate tech
What is Cleantech?
Cleantech (or clean technology) refers to innovative solutions that improve environmental performance through energy, waste, and resource efficiency. Focus areas include:
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Water conservation and waste reduction
Sustainable agriculture and recycling
Green chemistry and bio-based materials
Environmental education tools and services
Capital Access and Support
$40,000 in-kind program benefits, including:
- 12-month Accelerate-tier membership at INSPYRE
- 12-month membership at Syracuse Center of Excellence
Opportunity for $50K investment after 6 months in the program
Local capital access (SEDCO, SBA, banks, and more)
Eligibility Requirements
Academic Engagement
Demonstrate active engagement with a college or university (student, faculty, researcher, or affiliated)
Local Residence
Industry Focus
Applications are Closed
Thank you to all organizations who have applied for the Cleantech Accelerator!
Please send any questions to:
Dr. Emad Rahim
Entrepreneurship Manager
erahim@centerstateceo.com
315-470-1959
Why CleanTech Matters
- $The global cleantech sector is not only in motion, it’s sprinting. Valued at $916 billion in 2024 and poised to nearly double by 2030, the industry continues to outpace growth in most other sectors with a steady 12.7% annual expansion rate.
- $Investment keeps accelerating, with over $2.2 trillion expected to flow into clean energy infrastructure in 2025 alone, eclipsing fossil fuel funding.
- $And the startup frontier? It’s thriving: more than 3,900 cleantech ventures worldwide are growing at a 7% annual pace, signaling vast untapped opportunity.