State Invests $2 Million to Support Climate Tech Business Development

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) announced more than $2 million in awards through its Innovation Ecosystem Program (IEP) to 10 entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) in six communities across the state, including one in Western Mass.; Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield will receive $120,000.

The funding will help accelerators, incubators, universities, and other business development organizations expand hands-on programming that moves early-stage climate tech startups from idea to market, strengthening business readiness, sharpening commercialization pathways, and accelerating growth within Massachusetts’ innovation ecosystem.

“Massachusetts has always led by bringing together bold ideas and the people who can turn them into real-world solutions,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “These investments help ensure that entrepreneurs have the support they need to grow here, create jobs here, and deliver technologies that make life better.”

The other nine awardees are InnoVenture Labs in Beverly ($60,000); Leading Cities ($100,000), MassChallenge ($120,000), and MassRobotics ($110,000) in Boston; Activate Global ($120,000 plus $600,000 in fellowship funding) and the Engine ($120,000) in Cambridge; UMass Lowell ($120,000); and FORGE ($120,000) and Greentown Labs ($120,000 plus $300,000 in fellowship funding) in Somerville.

The IEP is designed to support ecosystem business development activities that advance climate tech startups through their commercialization life cycle. The program invests in ESOs, such as accelerators and incubators, that provide critical technical assistance, mentorship, and networks that improve both the likelihood and the speed of startup success. These organizations play a critical role in helping early-stage companies pressure-test ideas, refine technologies, validate market fit, and clear early commercialization hurdles faster.

“Massachusetts is building a strong innovation pipeline where research, entrepreneurship, and industry reinforce one another,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said. “These awards help ensure that promising ideas do not stall early, but instead move forward into deployment and impact.”

In addition to operational expense funding, these awards include targeted fellowship funding at select organizations to support entrepreneur fellowship grants that translate research into climate tech businesses, products, and jobs across the energy, transportation, and buildings sectors.

“These investments help founders move from concept to company faster and with stronger support behind them,” said Ben Downing, CEO of MassCEC. “These organizations are embedded in the work of building climate tech companies every day, and we are investing in their ability to scale that economic impact across Massachusetts.”