The Clean Fight

What The Clean Fight does

The Clean Fight is a not-for-profit climate-tech accelerator founded in 2020 and headquartered in New York, operating as a chapter of the international nonprofit New Energy Nexus. Its mission is to accelerate the adoption of proven climate solutions by bridging the gap between initial deployment and broad market adoption for growth-stage climate tech companies. The organization runs cohort-based accelerator programs focused on four core verticals: building decarbonization (including the $10M Empire Technology Prize for tall buildings), energy storage deployment (including the Energy Storage Capital Challenge), food services decarbonization, and affordable housing decarbonization for low- and moderate-income communities.

The Clean Fight does not develop proprietary technology itself; rather, it operates as an ecosystem orchestration platform. Its core offering is the Deployment Accelerator, which provides high-touch customer and capital partner matchmaking, tailored technical assistance, structured summits, and non-dilutive grant funding of up to $250,000 per company (requiring a 2:1 private match). Since 2020, it has supported 70 companies, administered $5.4M in grants with a 5:1 private-to-public match ratio, facilitated 5,000+ deployments in New York State, helped portfolio companies raise $784M in follow-on capital, and created 945 new jobs. Supporting programs include the International Landing Pad for European entrants, the Affordable Housing Cohort, and the national Deployment Grant Fund launched in 2025.

The business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating in a traditional sense. The Clean Fight is sustained by awards from government entities (NYSERDA, NYC Economic Development Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Economic Development Administration) and philanthropic foundations (Rockefeller Foundation, Builders Vision, Breakthrough Energy). It takes no equity in cohort companies and charges no fees to applicants. Revenue derives from program administration budgets associated with each accelerator cohort and prize program. The customer base spans three groups: growth-stage climate tech companies (cohort applicants), enterprise customer and capital partners (real estate firms, utilities, construction companies, VCs, green banks), and government/philanthropic funders.

Name

The Clean Fight

Legal name

The Clean Fight

Website

https://thecleanfight.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Clean Fight is a New York-based not-for-profit climate-tech accelerator, powered by New Energy Nexus, that runs cohort-based programs providing non-dilutive grants, customer/capital matchmaking, and technical assistance to growth-stage companies deploying proven clean energy, building, energy storage, and affordable housing solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Tech Accelerator

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Target-Setting, Transition Planning & Performance Management Platforms (EUABAEAF)

Keywords

• Climate tech accelerator
• Clean energy programs
• Non-dilutive grants
• Building decarbonization
• Energy storage deployment

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-Dilutive Grant Funding: The Clean Fight administers grant programs that provide non-dilutive funding to cohort companies to support demonstration projects, partnerships, and deployments. Companies can receive up to $250,000 per award with required 2:1 private match. No equity stake is taken. The organization has administered $5.4M in grants total.
2. Accelerator Program Administration: The Clean Fight designs and runs accelerator programs for growth-stage climate tech companies, funded by awards from NYSERDA, NYC EDC, U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Department of Energy. Programs include the core Deployment Accelerator, Empire Technology Prize ($10M prize program), and specialized cohorts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Clean Fight designs and runs high-impact accelerator programs for growth-stage climate tech companies to accelerate the scaling of existing climate solutions. It administers non-dilutive grant funding, customer and capital partner matchmaking, technical assistance, and market navigation support across cohorts focused on building decarbonization, energy storage, food services, and affordable housing, primarily in New York State.

Product overview

The Clean Fight is a not-for-profit climate-tech accelerator that operates multiple programs designed to accelerate the scaling of proven climate solutions. Its core offerings include the Deployment Accelerator (providing growth-stage companies with customer/capital matchmaking, technical assistance, and grants), the Empire Technology Prize ($10M prize for tall building decarbonization), the Energy Storage Capital Challenge (capital alignment program), International Landing Pad, Deployment Grant Fund, and Affordable Housing Cohort. The organization acts as a platform connecting climate tech companies with partners, financing, and market access in New York State and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deployment Accelerator Cohort-based accelerator providing growth-stage climate tech companies with high-touch customer and capital partner matchmaking, technical assistance, and non-dilutive investments to help scale in New York State.
• Empire Technology Prize A $10 million prize program administered by The Clean Fight in partnership with RMI and NYSERDA, focused on advancing the development and deployment of easy-to-adopt clean heating solutions for tall buildings in New York State (7+ story residential, 15+ story commercial).
• International Landing Pad Program helping international clean energy companies establish and scale operations in the New York market through partnerships with ICN and EU Techbridge.
• Energy Storage Capital Challenge A capital alignment program designed to support innovative energy storage projects needing financing to advance deployment in New York State, addressing the valley of death for development-stage projects through a six-month intensive program.
• Deployment Grant Fund A national grant program launched with Builders Vision and Breakthrough Energy to help proven building solutions get deployed faster and more widely, with non-dilutive grants of up to $250,000 per award and required 2:1 private match.
• Affordable Housing Cohort Deployment Accelerator edition focused on decarbonizing multifamily low-to-moderate income (LMI) and affordable housing in New York State, partnering with affordable housing providers and mission-aligned capital.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 companies supported across all cohorts
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• New Energy NexuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Energy Nexus is the parent organization that powers The Clean Fight. It is an international not-for-profit that supports clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, accelerators, and networks, operating programs in the US, China, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. The Clean Fight is a chapter of New Energy Nexus.
• RMIflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) partnered with The Clean Fight to co-create and co-manage the $10M Empire Technology Prize program for advancing building decarbonization in tall buildings.
• NY-BESTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium is a key industry partner providing resources, networks, and expertise for energy storage cohort programs. Collaborated on Supercharge NY and Energy Storage Capital Challenge.
• Binghamton UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome to Nobel Laureate M. Stanley Whittingham, inventor of Li-ion battery. Provides lab space, facilities, and research expertise for energy storage cohort companies.
• International Cleantech NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlliance of 16 leading cleantech clusters representing 16,000 businesses, 100+ cities, and 80+ research institutes. Cooperation agreement to bring European clean building innovators to New York.
• EU TechbridgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEU-funded project led by Sustainable Business Hub (Swedish Smart Cities Cluster) bringing together five European cluster organizations to match innovative European solution providers with North American customers.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elemental Excelerator: Climate tech deployment accelerator that funds and supports growth-stage companies scaling climate solutions in buildings, energy, mobility, and water. Directly comparable cohort-based, non-dilutive deployment model with deep public- and philanthropic-funding ties.
• Greentown Labs: Largest cleantech incubator in North America, providing hardware prototyping space, mentorship, and programming to climate startups. Comparable as a sector-specialized incubator/accelerator with a focus on helping hardware and energy startups scale from prototype to deployment.
• Activate: Climate-tech fellowship and incubator supporting scientist- and engineer-founders building deep-tech climate companies. Comparable as a deployment-focused accelerator for technical founders, with non-dilutive fellowship funding and ecosystem support.
• Third Derivative: Climate tech startup accelerator launched by RMI with a cohort-based model focused on scaling emerging climate solutions. Directly comparable as a cohort accelerator partnering with corporates, investors, and technical experts to drive deployment of climate technologies.
• ACRE (Agriculture Climate Readiness & Equity / Climate Capital): Climate venture catalyst that convenes founders, capital, and corporate partners to scale climate solutions, with strong NY focus. Comparable as a deployment-focused accelerator using cohort-style programs and matchmaking between startups and corporate customers.
• LACI (Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator): Cleantech incubator and accelerator supporting early- and growth-stage companies across energy, transportation, and built environment. Comparable cohort-driven accelerator model with strong utility and municipal partnerships, though focused on the LA region rather than NY.

Regional players

• Urban Future Lab: NYC-based cleantech incubator affiliated with NYU Tandon and partners, supporting early- and growth-stage climate startups. A regional peer operating in the same NYC ecosystem with overlapping building decarbonization and energy focus.

Broad incumbents

• Powerhouse Ventures: Solar and broader cleantech-focused venture firm that also runs accelerator-style programming for cleantech founders. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the cleantech venture ecosystem with adjacent accelerator programming.
• Climate-KIC: EU-backed climate innovation accelerator operating across Europe with accelerator, accelerator-program-management, and innovation-funding capabilities. Comparable as a broader, geography-distant incumbent operating climate accelerator programs at scale.

Emerging players

• Entrepreneurs for Impact: Community and program operator supporting climate-tech founders through peer cohorts, programming, and capital introductions. An emerging player with partial overlap in supporting growth-stage climate founders via community-led programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NewEnergyNexus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/thecleanfight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-clean-fight
• TikToktiktok.com/@thecleanfight

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Clean Fight