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Vermont is a leader in the nation with its aggressive goals, including requiring utility companies to use only clean energy by 2035. But the system isn’t set up to make the energy transition easy. Adopting new technologies is expensive and requires deep analysis while startup companies need investment and mentorship to bring their products to market. The DeltaClime^VT business accelerator bridges this gap.

NOTE: This story originally appeared in the VSJF Impact Report 2024. Click here to read the entire report.

Each year, we bring a cohort of 8 seed-stage companies with innovative solutions and products to Vermont to participate in our rigorous business accelerator. The program is centered around the ecosVC Lens of the Market® ACCELERATED curriculum, designed to ensure participating startups produce a well-grounded case for their business and are able to articulate a compelling plan for success to investors. Working closely with experienced mentors from Vermont utilities, energy companies, and business professionals, each cohort focuses on growing their businesses and making connections. At the end of the program, one company is chosen by their peers to receive a $25,000 award, and various utilities select companies for pilot projects to further test their products.

2024 Cohort Companies

Bidirectional Energy, California
EarthEn, California
ElecGrid, Vermont
EMPEQ, New York
Induction Food Systems, North Carolina
Moduly, Quebec & Florida†
Noteworthy AI, Connecticut
Rock Rabbit, California*
* Winner of the 2024 Cohort
† Awarded a pilot project

Cohort Participants by State (2017–2024)

Vermont 9
Massachusetts 8
California 7
New York 6
Florida 3
Georgia 3
New Jersey 3
North Carolina 2
Connecticut 2
Washington, DC 2
Michigan 2
Illinois 2
Virginia 1
Pennsylvania 1
Hawaii 1
Maine 1
Texas 1
Canada
Quebec 2
Alberta 1
British Columbia 1
Nova Scotia 1
Ontario 1

Our Impact

DeltaClime^VT has gathered 62 companies over 8 years to work on solutions for Vermont. But our impact is not only statewide. Companies from 17 states and 5 Canadian provinces have participated in our accelerator program. We have positioned Vermont as THE place where companies with cutting edge solutions come to learn, connect with utilities, and pilot their products. As a result, Vermont is seen as a leader in the technology sector and sets an example for other states. Eighteen pilot projects have been awarded by Vermont utilities to test drive their fresh perspectives and technologies in a real-world environment. Some cohort companies have even gone on to be acquired by major energy companies where they can implement their products at scale, making an impact nationwide.

We are deepening our impact in 2025 with the launch of more pilot projects, thanks to the Small Business Administration and the Office of U.S. Senator Peter Welch. These funds will allow us to facilitate longer, more intensive pilot projects between cohort companies and Vermont utilities.

“The corporate partners and the mentors of the DeltaClime^VT program have been incredibly generous with their time. I’ve never experienced anything like that. Everyone said yes to having a conversation. And then they were very candid about providing feedback, even if sometimes it wasn’t the feedback you wanted to hear—but it helps your company and it helps you develop a product that’s better, so that’s been incredible. We’ve been in a few accelerators—this has been the best by far.” – Aimee Gotway Bailey, Founder and CEO, Rock Rabbit, Energy 2024 Alum and Award Winner

Transforming Vermont’s Energy System

From left to right: Jared Duval, Linda McGinnis, Darren Springer, and Cara Robechek of Energy Action Network present the Anne & Arthur Berndt Award at the EAN 2024 Summit to VSJF Executive Director Ellen Kahler. The award celebrates Kahler and VSJF’s vision, leadership, and commitment to creating a renewable energy future for Vermont.

Why It’s Important

In no other state can startup founders meet with the leaders of utility and energy companies on a 1:1 basis and get real time feedback on their product. Thanks to the Vermont Legislature’s goals, utilities must innovate and can move more quickly to adopt greener solutions. As a result, startups want to come to Vermont to test drive their cutting edge technology and gain access to utility leaders. Through DeltaClime^VT, startups have the opportunity to understand what utilities need through conversations and feedback, pivot or hone their business model, and ultimately provide clean energy solutions.

What We Need

The pilot projects awarded by the utilities and energy partners are impactful now, but they are often short in duration and small in scale. We know there’s much more we can do with these innovative products and solutions. With more funding, VSJF can offset costs for longer, more intensive pilot projects that will test the products more rigorously and better prepare for going to market.

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