Following a selective application process, 14 seed-stage startups have been selected for the Spring 2025 cohort of our Aspire Climatetech investor-engagement program. These companies were chosen for innovations that demonstrate positive impact, a compelling value proposition, and a practical solution to an existing customer need. The startups will participate in five weeks of tailored training, collaborating with experienced investor-mentors and digging deep into the due diligence process, including building out deal room materials and developing a viable fundraising plan.
Discover the companies of the Spring 2025 cohort, which includes one startup that is an E-Team Program alumnus, five startups that recently completed ACCEL (VentureWell is a curriculum and resource partner), and one startup that participated in our Ascend Energy & Mobility Accelerator. They are working on important solutions to reduce the effects of climate change or increase climate resilience, like producing affordable on-site energy with a wind turbine that installs on the edges of building roofs; an improved plastic pyrolysis process to produce fuels from waste plastics; and ultrasonic laundry technology for industrial and commercial applications that drastically reduces energy consumption, emissions, and costs.
Accelerate Wind
Birmingham, Alabama
Accelerate Wind is producing affordable on-site energy with a wind turbine that installs on the edges of building roofs and takes advantage of how wind speeds up over rooftops.
Aquora Biosystems
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Aquora Biosystems is developing a next-generation organic waste biorefinery to overcome the high costs that hinder today’s renewable natural gas (RNG) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production.
Carbonext
Houston, Texas
Carbonext is leveraging a proprietary, off-the-shelf 3D-graphene technology to develop integrated solutions with carbon-coated silicon anodes to address current challenges in the graphite ecosystem, as well as lithium-battery anodes.
Expand Power
Berkeley, California
Expand Power is creating the next generation of smaller, safer, smarter transformers for the grid.
FAST Metals
Stamford, Connecticut
FAST Metals is developing a recovery process capable of producing iron, aluminum, scandium, titanium, and other Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from industrial wastes such as bauxite residue from aluminum waste.
Good Fibes
Chicago, Illinois
Good Fibes is developing bio-based stretch materials, derived from biomass, to impart stretch, moisture-wicking, and antibacterial activity, for which there are no alternatives to synthetics.
Inductive Robotics
Austin, Texas
Inductive Robotics makes autonomous robots that deliver electric vehicle (EV) charging to any parking spot at 93% less upfront cost.
NanoSieve
Miami, Florida
NanoSieve is a woman-founded gas safety startup with proprietary disruptive technology that detects and removes hazardous gases in real time, helping industries meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 69 and 715 standards.
PARTHIAN BATTERY SOLUTIONS
Morgantown, West Virginia
Parthian leverages groundbreaking diagnostics for a battery marketplace consumers can trust, driving value-driven and sustainable EV battery management without compromise.
PLASENE
Houston, Texas
PLASENE is developing an improved plastic pyrolysis process to produce fuels from waste plastics.
Resollant
Houston, Texas
Resollant delivers large-scale, decarbonized hydrogen at steam methane reforming (SMR) cost parity without government incentives or carbon pricing, while producing a high-value structured carbon byproduct for high-volume markets.
Respire Energy
Somerville, Massachusetts
Respire Energy is building a safe and economical battery free of critical minerals to be used for stationary energy storage.
Serida Inc.
Ithaca, New York
Serida sells software that enables solar energy developers to design and optimize solar energy facilities combined with agriculture.
Ultropia
Seattle, Washington
Ultropia develops ultrasonic laundry technology for industrial and commercial applications, drastically reducing energy consumption, emissions, and costs while accelerating throughput and efficiency.
Access to a Dynamic Team of Investor-Mentors
Aspire Climatetech employs a hybrid model, taking place virtually beginning May 19 and culminating in a two-day in-person workshop June 17-18 at Greentown Labs in Houston, Texas. Greentown is one of the leading climatetech startup incubators in North America, serving entrepreneurs with resources, networking opportunities, equipment, and lab space to accelerate their ventures.
Throughout Aspire, participating startups are paired with a carefully selected group of investor-mentors who bring decades of experience in angel investing, venture capital, climatetech, and entrepreneurship. These mentors serve as trusted advisors, offering strategic insights and individualized feedback to help teams sharpen their value propositions, business models, and investment readiness.
We are proud to welcome the following confirmed investor-mentors for Aspire Climatetech 2025: Andrea Course, managing director, Course Investments; Ellington Ellis, angel investor and entrepreneur, Catalyst Angels; Tim Franklin-Hensler, director, Prime NRI; Juliana Garaizar, founder, Energy Tech Nexus; Talona Johnson, Cadillac international product manager, General Motors; Deb Kemper, managing partner, Golden Seeds and Clean Energy Venture Group; Brian Kerns, angel investor and cleantech sector advisor, and technical due diligence lead, SWAN; Anne Maghas, serial entrepreneur, investor, and mentor; Dave McCarthy, tech-to-market advisor; Sheila Narayan, managing director, Golden Seeds; Domineca Neal, investor/entrepreneur and mentor, Commune Angels; DC Palter, angel investor and executive committee, TCA Venture Group and Chemical Angel Network; C.J. Whelan, CEO/founder; and DeWayne Williams, principal consultant, Catalyst Angels and Commune Angels.
These investor-mentors are joined by guest speakers, pitch coaches, and subject-matter experts who offer additional support throughout the program, ensuring that each team receives cross-disciplinary guidance and multiple touchpoints for growth.
Meet the Aspire Climatetech Partners and Sponsors
Greentown Labs contributes to this program annually, with support from VentureWell’s legacy funding partner, The Lemelson Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting the power of invention to improve lives. We are also supported by Cooley LLP, an international law firm spurring the power of innovation through working with clients in the technology, life sciences, and high-growth industries.
We are grateful to the program partners, sponsors, and investors for offering their time and resources to support these startups!
Learn More About the Aspire Program
Since its inception in 2015, Aspire has had a significant positive impact on seed-stage startups. Across 207 startups, the teams have raised over $570 million in funding, with an 81% venture persistence rate. Aspire startups that are also E-Team Program grantees are eligible to receive matching investment from VentureWell.