What New Energy Nexus does

New Energy Nexus (legal name CalCEF Innovations) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, that operates the world's leading network of funds and accelerators supporting diverse clean energy entrepreneurs. The organization delivers programs through a four-pillar model — Launch (bootcamps, hackathons, educational courses), Accelerate (accelerators, incubators, commercial partnerships), Fund (impact funds, grants, vouchers, loans), and Connect (ecosystem events linking entrepreneurs with corporations, educational institutions, civil society, and financial organizations). It does not develop proprietary technology; rather, it functions as a platform providing capital, acceleration, and ecosystem connectivity services to early-stage clean energy companies.

NEX operates 15+ country chapters spanning the United States (California and New York), China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Australia, Nigeria, Pakistan, UAE, and India, with program-specific sub-brands including NEX Ventures (Southeast Asia venture arm), The Clean Fight (New York climate solutions accelerator), Climate Innovation Pakistan / CLIP, and She Wins Climate. Major institutional funders include the IKEA Foundation, California Energy Commission, Hewlett Foundation, GIZ, NYSERDA, Energy Foundation China, AFD, Woka Foundation, Salesforce, and TEDFUND, supplemented by 573 strategic partners across corporates, governments, universities, NGOs, and financial institutions.

As of 2025, NEX has supported 1,793+ startups and 11,580 entrepreneurs across 48 countries, mobilized US$5.44 billion in funding, distributed US$107 million directly in grants, investments, loans, and vouchers, and engaged 962,540 event and program participants. It generates 8,600 jobs through supported businesses, and 57% of its 2024 entrepreneur cohort came from traditionally excluded communities. Revenue derives entirely from donations, philanthropic grants, and corporate/development-finance partnerships rather than commercial product sales, consistent with its non-profit structure and EIN 26-1339988.

Name

New Energy Nexus

Legal name

CalCEF Innovations

Website

https://newenergynexus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Energy Nexus is a global non-profit network of funds and accelerators supporting diverse clean energy entrepreneurs across 15+ countries, delivering programs in capital, training, and ecosystem connections.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy Startup Acceleration

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Energy & Clean Tech Access (Off-grid, Energy Poverty Solutions) (BPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Carbon Policy Interface for Renewables (ETS/Offsets/Carbon Taxes) (EUAMANAI)

Keywords

• Clean energy accelerators
• Climate startup programs
• Entrepreneurship grants
• Clean energy venture funds
• Startup incubation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and philanthropic funding: New Energy Nexus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 26-1339988) that relies on donations and grants from foundations, governments, and corporate partners to fund its operations and programs. The organization mobilizes funding for clean energy entrepreneurs globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Energy Nexus is a global non-profit network that supports diverse clean energy entrepreneurs through a four-pillar model: Launch (bootcamps, hackathons, educational courses), Accelerate (accelerators, incubators, commercial partnerships), Fund (impact funds, grant programs, voucher programs, loan programs), and Connect (ecosystem-building activities linking entrepreneurs with corporations, education institutions, civil society, and financial organizations). Programs are delivered free of charge through 15+ country chapters across Asia, Africa, North America, and Oceania.

Product overview

New Energy Nexus is a global non-profit organization operating as a network of funds and accelerators for clean energy entrepreneurs, not a software product company. It delivers programs through four pillars: Launch (bootcamps, hackathons, educational courses), Accelerate (accelerators, incubators, commercial partnerships), Fund (impact funds, grant programs, voucher programs, loan programs), and Connect (activities linking entrepreneurs with corporations, educational institutions, civil society, and financial organizations). The organization runs regional chapters and programs across China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, USA (California), USA (New York), Vietnam, Australia, Nigeria, Pakistan, UAE, and India, with specific initiatives including Climate Tech Lab to Market, Green Building Initiative, SolarSTEP, AusTestBed, Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP), and CalSEED. Rather than offering a unified software product, New Energy Nexus provides ecosystem support services, startup acceleration programs, and capital resources to clean energy entrepreneurs worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NEX Ventures: Venture arm focusing on Southeast Asia clean energy startups
• The Clean Fight
• Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP)
• She Wins Climate

Products and services

• Launch Programs
• Accelerate Programs
• Fund Programs
• Connect Programs
• CalSEED
• CalTestBed
• AusTestBed
• Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP)
• Climate Tech Lab to Market
• The Clean Fight
• NEX Ventures
• Online Startup School
• Hub71+ ClimateTech
• She Wins Climate
• Decarbonize Thailand Symposium

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,793+ businesses & startups supported globally
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Renewables First (Pakistan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenewables First co-founded Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP) with New Energy Nexus. CLIP held its inaugural Demo Day where 11 startups showcased climate and clean energy solutions. This is a core co-founding partnership for NEX's Pakistan chapter.
• Energy Lab AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy Lab Australia runs programs for New Energy Nexus, supporting clean energy hardware startups in Australia.
• AusTestBedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAusTestBed is a New Energy Nexus Australia program supporting clean energy hardware startups with testing and validation infrastructure.
• Clean Technology Hub NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean Technology Hub is NEX's key partner in Nigeria, supporting the local clean energy entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Hub71 UAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHub71 runs the Hub71+ ClimateTech program in collaboration with New Energy Nexus, supporting climate tech startups in the UAE and Middle East region.
• People of Asia for Climate SolutionsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeople of Asia for Climate Solutions and New Energy Nexus co-authored a study proposing a framework for deeper Philippines-China renewable energy cooperation, including joint ventures, manufacturing linkages, and skills transfer.
• True Digital Park (Thailand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrue Digital Park is the annual partner for the Decarbonize Thailand Symposium, Thailand's leading clean energy event organized by New Energy Nexus Thailand.
• Kasikorn Bank / Thai CBN (Thailand)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKasikorn Bank's Thai Climate Business Network is a program partner for Climate Tech Lab to Market in Thailand.
• SCGC (Siam Cement Group Chemicals)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCGC is a corporate partner for Climate Tech Lab to Market in Thailand, engaging with startups for innovation challenges.
• DENSO (Thailand)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerDENSO Thailand is a corporate partner for Climate Tech Lab to Market, offering corporate innovation challenges to climate tech researchers.
• Siam Cement Group (SCG)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCG is a corporate partner for Climate Tech Lab to Market, providing corporate innovation challenges and potential pilot opportunities.
• Origgin (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner for Climate Tech Lab to Market in Thailand.
• VISUP (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram partner for Climate Tech Lab to Market in Thailand.
• TVCA (Thailand Venture Capital Association)strategicTVCA is listed as a partner of New Energy Nexus Thailand, connecting with Thailand's venture capital ecosystem.
• Thammasat UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for NEX Thailand, collaborating on programs, research, and entrepreneurship development.
• PTT (Thailand)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTT (Thailand's national oil and gas company) is a partner of NEX Thailand, supporting Thailand's energy transition.
• PEA (Provincial Electricity Authority, Thailand)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPEA is a partner of NEX Thailand, supporting solar and clean energy initiatives.
• LONGi (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolar technology partner listed for NEX Thailand programs.
• GreenRocket VCstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreenRocket VC CEO Bobby Mahasith serves as a speaker and mentor for Climate Tech Lab to Market in Thailand.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Elemental Excelerator: Elemental Excelerator is a US-based non-profit climate impact accelerator and investor that deploys capital and resources to startups addressing climate, energy, water, and mobility — closely comparable to NEX's mission, model, and founder support programs.
• Third Derivative: Third Derivative is a climate tech accelerator and fund backed by RMI and New Energy Nexus's own backers, running cohort-based programs that connect startups with corporates and investors — directly comparable to NEX Accelerate and Connect pillars.
• Activate (formerly Cyclotron Road): Activate is a non-profit fellowship supporting science-based entrepreneurs tackling climate and other hard-tech challenges, with fellowship funding, mentorship, and lab/community access — directly comparable to NEX's deep-tech founder support through programs like CalSEED and CalTestBed.
• Greentown Labs: Greentown Labs operates one of the largest cleantech startup incubators in North America, providing hardware prototyping space, mentorship, and corporate connections to clean energy and climate startups — directly overlapping with NEX's Accelerate pillar.
• Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI): LACI is a non-profit cleantech incubator and accelerator operating in California, offering workspace, programming, and corporate pilots to clean energy and transportation startups — directly comparable in mission and operating model to NEX California.

Broad incumbents

• Climate-KIC: Climate-KIC is a European public-private innovation partnership (EIT) supporting climate innovation through accelerators, education, and investment across Europe — comparable in mission to NEX but larger and focused primarily on the European market.
• Echoing Green: Echoing Green is a global non-profit that provides fellowships, seed funding, and leadership development to social entrepreneurs — broader in scope than NEX but comparable as a non-profit social enterprise accelerator with global reach.
• Acumen: Acumen is a non-profit impact investor and ecosystem builder deploying patient capital and leadership programs to entrepreneurs tackling poverty globally — comparable to NEX as a non-profit deploying catalytic capital to mission-driven entrepreneurs, though broader in sector focus.

Emerging players

• Unreasonable: Unreasonable runs a global fellowship and accelerator supporting impact entrepreneurs with mentorship and investor access — comparable to NEX in serving mission-driven founders and offering network-driven acceleration, but with broader sector focus beyond clean energy.
• Powerhouse: Powerhouse operates a solar-focused startup incubator and venture fund partnering with Sunrun, PG&E, and others — narrower in vertical than NEX (solar only) but directly comparable in clean energy founder support and corporate partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NewEnergyNexus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments10 records

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

Frequently asked questions about New Energy Nexus