The cleantech sector is supported by a global network of accelerators and incubators. These programs provide funding and guidance to startups focused on environmental solutions.
For example, Switzerland's Venture Kick has backed over 1,400 companies and seen more than 70 exits. Similarly, Start-Up Chile has funded over 1,000 ventures.
Below is our list of the best 33 Cleantech accelerators and incubators.
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Get the Sheet for $50Venture Kick helps entrepreneurs from Swiss universities transform scientific innovation into commercial ventures with pre-seed funding. Its unique, three-stage financing model provides up to CHF 150,000 to help kickstart promising deep tech and science-based companies.
| Headquarters | Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland |
| Year Founded | 2007 |
| Founders | Jordi Montserrat, Pascale Vonmont, Beat Schillig |
| Investment Amount | CHF 150K total; Kickfund: up to CHF 850K equity |
| Equity Taken | Stage 1: Grant; Stages 2&3: Convertible loan; Kickfund: 20% of next rounds (caps apply) |
| Nº of Investments | 1405 |
| Nº of Exits | 75 |
WILCO accelerates early-stage tech startups through a unique, KPI-driven program designed for rapid growth. They guide companies across various sectors, from FinTech to MedTech, with the goal of scaling them from their first client to their first million euros in annual recurring revenue within three years.
| Headquarters | Paris, Ile-de-France, France |
| Year Founded | 2001 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 211 |
| Nº of Exits | 53 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
Created by the Chilean government, Start-Up Chile attracts global entrepreneurs to bootstrap their startups with equity-free funding. The program supports founders at various stages, from building an MVP to scaling, making it a unique hub for innovation.
| Headquarters | Santiago, Region Metropolitana, Chile |
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Charles Van Norman, Nicolás Shea, Diego Philippi |
| Investment Amount | Build: $15K (early stage/MVP); Ignite: $25K (product-market fit); Growth: $75K (scaling) |
| Equity Taken | 0% |
| Nº of Investments | 1099 |
| Nº of Exits | 48 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 24 |
As one of the longest-running technology incubators, Idealab provides the resources for startups to quickly bring innovative products to market across a wide spectrum of industries. They focus on turning bold ideas into successful companies, providing hands-on support and funding to build foundational businesses, including the search advertising pioneer Overture.
| Headquarters | Pasadena, California, United States |
| Year Founded | 1996 |
| Founders | William T Gross, Marcia Goodstein, Tom Hughes, Mark Goodstein |
| Investment Amount | ~$250K |
| Nº of Investments | 100 |
| Nº of Exits | 38 |
Partnering with other capital providers, the London Co-Investment Fund injects seed funding into high-growth tech, science, and digital startups across the city. They support a diverse portfolio of companies in sectors like FinTech, AI, and SaaS to foster a stronger local innovation ecosystem.
| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Maggie Rodriguez-Piza, John Spindler |
| Nº of Investments | 119 |
| Nº of Exits | 16 |
As one of Europe's most active investors, Startup Wise Guys accelerates early-stage B2B startups in sectors including SaaS, Fintech, and Cybersecurity. The firm provides intensive mentorship and funding, helping its portfolio companies achieve an impressive survival rate of over 80 percent.
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Herty Tammo, Christian Testman, Cristobal Alonso, Jon Bradford, Mike Reiner |
| Investment Amount | $60K-$120K (typically up to €100K) |
| Equity Taken | Negotiable (example: 9% for €55K) |
| Nº of Investments | 636 |
| Nº of Exits | 14 |
| Duration (Weeks) | 22 |
Tech Wildcatters provides mentorship and seed funding for early-stage startups, with a strong focus on the B2B enterprise space. Founders receive between $100K and $130K to help them navigate the critical first steps of building their company.
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Founders | John Reed, Brad Taylor, Jon Feld, Gabriella Draney Zielke |
| Investment Amount | $100K-$130K seed funding |
| Equity Taken | Up to 10% |
| Nº of Investments | 103 |
| Nº of Exits | 13 |
As a family-owned firm, they provide hands-on support and funding to pre-seed and seed stage deep tech companies aiming to make a positive planetary impact. By joining teams as investors, advisors, and even part-time employees, they have helped build notable companies including Klarna.
| Headquarters | Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden |
| Year Founded | 2002 |
| Founders | Jane Walerud, Bengt Walerud, Caroline Walerud |
| Investment Amount | Up to €1M per investment |
| Nº of Investments | 25 |
| Nº of Exits | 10 |
Dedicated to building and scaling globally competitive companies, the Accelerator Centre supports tech startups in sectors ranging from AI and cleantech to advanced manufacturing. They provide a unique blend of in-house mentorship, educational programming, and access to a network of experts and capital to guide founders from the seed stage to market launch.
| Headquarters | Waterloo, Ontario, Canada |
| Year Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Amount | Aerospace Program: up to $600K in-kind tools/services |
| Nº of Investments | 211 |
| Nº of Exits | 9 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 144 |
IDEA operates as a student-led venture accelerator, fostering the development of entrepreneurs in the Northeastern community. They provide essential resources and support to help early-stage companies across a wide range of industries, from AI and healthcare to consumer and enterprise software.
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Year Founded | 2009 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 130 |
| Nº of Exits | 9 |
23 Additional Cleantech Accelerators and Incubators Worth Applying To
Our top picks are a great place to start, but the support for cleantech founders doesn't end there. These additional programs have collectively invested in nearly 1,500 startups and guided over 70 of them to successful exits.
You'll find them located everywhere from North America and Europe to India and Singapore. Here’s a look at the other programs helping founders build a cleaner future.