Dive Brief:
- Kansas-based engineering and construction firm Black & Veatch is gearing up for another session of its IgniteX Accelerator, this time looking for startups "on the cutting edge of climate technology" that are striving for decarbonization, according to a press release.
- The IgniteX Climate Tech Accelerator program is 12 weeks long and gives startups funding and support, according to the release. The window for applications opened on Sept. 29, and the deadline is Nov. 10.
- Launched in 2019, the IgniteX Accelerator program pairs Black & Veatch with selected startups and provides them opportunities for mentorship, co-development of technology, access to the company's network of subject matter experts, go-to-market support, investor introductions and up to $50,000 in equity funding, according to the release.
Dive Insight:
The program aims to foster up-and-coming technologies that address climate change, Black & Veatch said in the release. Past cohorts of the incubator program have included the CleanTech Accelerator in 2019, and the COVID-19 Accelerator in 2020.
Some inventions and programs that have come from these previous accelerator programs include startup Electriphi, a member of the CleanTech cohort that merged with Ford in June to help provide charging and energy management services to Ford's fleet of electric vehicles.
Another alum is the NovoNutrients collective, which works to turn greenhouse gas emissions into animal feed. NovoNutrients announced a $4.7 million funding venture from Hong Kong-based global venture firm Happiness Capital in July.
According to the IgniteX website, this round the company is looking for innovations in:
- Hydrogen/ammonia
- Alternative fuels
- Carbon capture, utilization and storage
- Consulting, road mapping, accounting
- Fugitive methane emissions
- Renewables/storage/electric vehicles
- Carbon-neutral construction materials
- Mitigation/adaptation
- Circular economy
"As the world faces the increasing impacts of climate change, the need for inventive decarbonization solutions is greater than ever," said Ryan Pletka, vice president of innovation and strategy at Black & Veatch.
The impacts of climate change are already being felt in most places around the world, from the increased intensity and frequency of severe weather and storms to catastrophic flooding. In September, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report chronicling the damage climate change has already caused and how urgent action is immediately needed to reverse course.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect a new date for project submission. The new deadline is Nov. 10.
