Techstars

Techstars Central LLC, founded in 2006 and based in Boulder, Colorado, operates as a startup accelerator and venture capital firm focused on supporting early-stage technology-oriented companies. It specializes in a mentorship-driven accelerator program, selecting ten startups each summer to participate in a three-month incubation period, offering funding of $120,000 in exchange for equity. Techstars invests primarily in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, blockchain, augmented reality, and IoT, while avoiding investments in medical devices, healthcare technology, and local service-oriented businesses. In addition to its primary accelerator, Techstars has various specialized programs, including those focused on music, retail, mobility, and social impact, with global reach extending to regions such as Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm prefers taking minority stakes, typically between six and ten percent, without seeking board representation or investor rights. Techstars has built a robust network of entrepreneurs, mentors, and corporate partners to foster innovation and growth within its portfolio, which includes over 1,000 companies with a significant collective market capitalization.

Ethan Austin

MD of the Techstars Western Union Accelerator

Mark Tortorella

Advisor

Nathanial Zola

MD

Past deals in Renewables

NeedEnergy

Pre Seed Round in 2023
NeedEnergy is there to provide sustainable and clean energy solutions based on energy data. NeedEnergy is an energy-tech start-up company that leverages innovation, data and modern technology through ai and machine learning relevant with time as its core values.

Ecolectro

Seed Round in 2022
Ecolectro makes materials that make clean fuels and chemicals. The company is commercializing a proprietary platform of novel polymers that are best in class, allowing its customers to produce devices that last longer and cost less. Ecolectro has defensible IP, state-of-the-art facilities, experienced personnel, and strong customer traction.

Cancrie

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Cancrie produces sustainable advanced material for energy storage devices. It transforms waste into quality advanced battery material that increases the efficiency of energy storage devices through a simple drop-in solution.

Carbon Limit

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Carbon Limit transforms CO2 pollution into carbon negative sustainable resources and products. The company was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

Khepra

Seed Round in 2021
Khepra uses proprietary technology and excess renewable electricity to break down plastics and agricultural waste. The company applies ultrasonic technology to breaking waste streams into drop-in fuels in a novel, completely electrified process. This process is used as a method to use excess solar and wind energy during curtailment and provide clean energy generation during times of low generation. The company is operating in San Francisco, California.

LevelTen Energy

Series C in 2021
LevelTen Energy, Inc. operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace that links corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. Founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, the company provides a technology-driven platform that enables a diverse range of customers to access renewable energy solutions. By aggregating buyers and sellers, LevelTen allows smaller corporate and industrial customers to engage with the same projects and terms typically available to larger energy purchasers. This innovative approach simplifies the procurement process, helping customers achieve their sustainability goals while stabilizing energy costs and eliminating the complexities of traditional request for proposal (RFP) processes.

AlgenAir

Non Equity Assistance in 2021
AlgenAir is a company focused on improving indoor air quality through the development of natural air purifiers that utilize algae. Their innovative filters are designed to effectively remove carbon dioxide from the environment while simultaneously producing oxygen, creating a healthier atmosphere for occupants. By harnessing the natural processes of algae, AlgenAir offers an organic solution for air purification, catering to those seeking sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives for enhancing air quality indoors.

Cnergreen

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Cnergreen is an enhanced oil recovery and CO2 storage efficiency via resilient nanoparticle-based foam technology.

Ecolectro

Funding Round in 2021
Ecolectro makes materials that make clean fuels and chemicals. The company is commercializing a proprietary platform of novel polymers that are best in class, allowing its customers to produce devices that last longer and cost less. Ecolectro has defensible IP, state-of-the-art facilities, experienced personnel, and strong customer traction.

Hyperion Global Energy

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Hyperion Global Energy is developing modular carbon capture & recycling technology at a breakthrough industrial scale.

PowerMarket

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Climate change is one of the biggest threats today. PowerMarket, supported by the University of Oxford and European Space Agency Business Incubator, is on a mission to facilitate sustainable energy for all, creating energy independence. The traditional energy model is based on centralised, large-scale electricity generation systems. The model is not only capital intensive, but also has high carbon emissions. To combat the threat of climate change, countries are increasingly switching to renewable electricity. However, at a national scale, most still focus on large-scale energy generation plants that require heavy capital investment. Sustainable energy transition challenge is not only for governments and public sector institutions, but for all of us. PowerMarket’s objective is to help individuals and companies to cost effectively install decentralised renewable energy generation and battery storage, so that they can become increasingly energy independent and protect themselves from rising energy prices. First few steps towards an energy revolution - PowerMarket’s pilot Satellite Assessment Tool (SAT) allows individuals and companies to assess their property’s solar feasibility within a few clicks, and for free. Now you can use this information to find suppliers, finance and maintenance solutions fit for your need.

Hydro Wind Energy

Seed Round in 2020
Hydro Wind Energy is focused on becoming a leading sustainable energy provider, dedicated to addressing the environmental crisis through the development of zero carbon emission technologies. The company aims to deliver low-cost clean electricity and grid-scale energy storage solutions. Additionally, Hydro Wind Energy is engaged in creating handheld seawater desalination devices intended for humanitarian use and the marine sector, thereby enhancing access to essential resources. Through these initiatives, the company seeks to make a significant positive impact on the global environment, economy, and overall welfare of humanity.

Tempus Energy

Seed Round in 2019
Tempus Energy is a clean-tech start-up, established to exploit a disruptive technology and business model. The company's technology uses AI and smart algorithms to control and optimize when flexible assets use energy. By predicting volatility in carbon intensity and market prices we allow customers to reduce their energy costs - while simultaneously enhancing their use of renewables. Tempus Energy has experience working with SME’s and large business customers to identify and unlock flexible assets. The company was founded in 2012.

SeeO2 Energy

Seed Round in 2019
SeeO2 Energy is a company focused on efficiently converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into marketable and clean value-added fuels and chemicals using reversible fuel-cell technology. SeeO2 Energy is converting carbon dioxide into marketable and clean value-added fuels and chemicals using reversible fuel technology. Its electrolyzers can efficiently generate gases on-site such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or oxygen in a reliable way. The company is developing an efficient and high performance reversible solid oxide cells (RSOFCs). Its technology, which involves the use of a high-performance catalyst material, allows the electrochemical conversion of water to hydrogen, carbon dioxide (CO2) to carbon monoxide (CO), and CO2 and water to produce syngas, a mixture of CO and H2.

Zeno Power

Pre Seed Round in 2019
They are developing a next-generation radioisotope power system that converts the heat from recycled nuclear waste into electricity.Their novel fuel and shielding design results in a system that is lightweight, cost-effective, and provides always-on, resilient power for years at a time.

LevelTen Energy

Series B in 2019
LevelTen Energy, Inc. operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace that links corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. Founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, the company provides a technology-driven platform that enables a diverse range of customers to access renewable energy solutions. By aggregating buyers and sellers, LevelTen allows smaller corporate and industrial customers to engage with the same projects and terms typically available to larger energy purchasers. This innovative approach simplifies the procurement process, helping customers achieve their sustainability goals while stabilizing energy costs and eliminating the complexities of traditional request for proposal (RFP) processes.

bild

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Bild is an investment platform that facilitates access to smart infrastructure and clean energy projects, primarily utilizing blockchain technology. It addresses the significant barriers to entry that individual investors face when seeking to invest in these asset classes, which have traditionally been dominated by large institutional investors. By connecting project sponsors with a broader pool of flexible capital, Bild enables smaller and medium-sized projects to secure necessary funding, thereby enhancing their project execution capabilities. The platform aims to promote transparency in investments aligned with personal values, while also addressing the urgent need for innovative solutions to combat climate change and stimulate economic growth. Through its peer-to-peer model, Bild positions itself as a key player in the future of clean energy and infrastructure financing.

LevelTen Energy

Series A in 2017
LevelTen Energy, Inc. operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace that links corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. Founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, the company provides a technology-driven platform that enables a diverse range of customers to access renewable energy solutions. By aggregating buyers and sellers, LevelTen allows smaller corporate and industrial customers to engage with the same projects and terms typically available to larger energy purchasers. This innovative approach simplifies the procurement process, helping customers achieve their sustainability goals while stabilizing energy costs and eliminating the complexities of traditional request for proposal (RFP) processes.

OffGridBox

Funding Round in 2017
OffGridBox is a modular and compact unit that provides renewable energy and clean water in remote areas and developing countries. Their OffGridBox™, an all-in-one system, fits entirely inside a 6x6x6 feet shipping container and is equipped with all the hardware needed to produce electricity and clean water. This innovative technology is a solution for more than 2 billion people worldwide that need energy and clean water on a daily basis. One unit potentially managed by a local women co-op in a Rwandese village can impact up to 300 families (circa 1500 people) providing Tier 1 electricity and sterilized water. They deployed 38 units in 9 Countries (Italy, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Philippines, Madagascar, US and Colombia) for different segments: humanitarian, household retail, service to industry. These units have operated more than 400,000 working hours.

OffGridBox

Seed Round in 2017
OffGridBox is a modular and compact unit that provides renewable energy and clean water in remote areas and developing countries. Their OffGridBox™, an all-in-one system, fits entirely inside a 6x6x6 feet shipping container and is equipped with all the hardware needed to produce electricity and clean water. This innovative technology is a solution for more than 2 billion people worldwide that need energy and clean water on a daily basis. One unit potentially managed by a local women co-op in a Rwandese village can impact up to 300 families (circa 1500 people) providing Tier 1 electricity and sterilized water. They deployed 38 units in 9 Countries (Italy, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Philippines, Madagascar, US and Colombia) for different segments: humanitarian, household retail, service to industry. These units have operated more than 400,000 working hours.

OffGridBox

Pre Seed Round in 2017
OffGridBox is a modular and compact unit that provides renewable energy and clean water in remote areas and developing countries. Their OffGridBox™, an all-in-one system, fits entirely inside a 6x6x6 feet shipping container and is equipped with all the hardware needed to produce electricity and clean water. This innovative technology is a solution for more than 2 billion people worldwide that need energy and clean water on a daily basis. One unit potentially managed by a local women co-op in a Rwandese village can impact up to 300 families (circa 1500 people) providing Tier 1 electricity and sterilized water. They deployed 38 units in 9 Countries (Italy, South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Philippines, Madagascar, US and Colombia) for different segments: humanitarian, household retail, service to industry. These units have operated more than 400,000 working hours.

LevelTen Energy

Pre Seed Round in 2017
LevelTen Energy, Inc. operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace that links corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. Founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, the company provides a technology-driven platform that enables a diverse range of customers to access renewable energy solutions. By aggregating buyers and sellers, LevelTen allows smaller corporate and industrial customers to engage with the same projects and terms typically available to larger energy purchasers. This innovative approach simplifies the procurement process, helping customers achieve their sustainability goals while stabilizing energy costs and eliminating the complexities of traditional request for proposal (RFP) processes.

LevelTen Energy

Seed Round in 2016
LevelTen Energy, Inc. operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace that links corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. Founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, the company provides a technology-driven platform that enables a diverse range of customers to access renewable energy solutions. By aggregating buyers and sellers, LevelTen allows smaller corporate and industrial customers to engage with the same projects and terms typically available to larger energy purchasers. This innovative approach simplifies the procurement process, helping customers achieve their sustainability goals while stabilizing energy costs and eliminating the complexities of traditional request for proposal (RFP) processes.