Climate-KIC Acceleration Programme

What Climate-KIC Acceleration Programme does

ClimAccelerator is the global flagship acceleration programme of EIT Climate-KIC, a non-profit knowledge and innovation community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. Founded in 2012 and operating from Berlin, the programme runs theme- and place-based accelerators across 100+ countries that provide climate-tech startups with coaching, mentoring, peer learning, financial support, and access to a curated network of more than 400 partner organisations. Core products include the ClimAccelerator programme itself, the Climate Impact Framework for pairing climate KPIs with financial KPIs, the Impact Shift impact-measurement suite, the Climate Marketplace investor deal-flow platform, the open-sourced ClimAccelerator Operating System used by partner organisations, and the 'Investing for 1.5C' initiative that channels institutional capital into portfolio companies. EIT Climate-KIC also takes equity in select graduates via SAFE agreements.

The business model combines three streams: institutional grant and sponsor funding from the EU/EIT and public-private partners, equity participation in the most promising graduates through SAFEs, and partner-organisation licensing under the open-sourced methodology. Customer segments are Climate Tech Startups (primary), Entrepreneurship Support Organisations that franchise local ClimAccelerators (primary), Corporate and Institutional Partners such as Ferrovial, UPM and city councils (secondary), and Investors including Almanac Ventures and UnaTerra accessing deal flow via the Climate Marketplace (secondary). Customer acquisition is community-led and event-driven: Demo Days in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas serve as the principal pipeline for both startup inflow and investor engagement.

Across its 15-year operating history, the programme claims to have supported more than 6,000 startups that have collectively raised more than €2 billion in follow-on funding; flagship alumni include direct-air-capture unicorn Climeworks. The 251–500 employee base supports a decentralised delivery model in which regional lead partners (e.g., Impact Hub Bucharest for Black Sea, GrowthAfrica for Diverse African ClimAccelerators, Better Earth Ventures for Agritech Singapore) autonomously execute local cohorts under shared branding, content, and methodology.

Name

Climate-KIC Acceleration Programme

Legal name

EIT Climate-KIC

Website

https://climaccelerator.climate-kic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

ClimAccelerator is a global climate-tech accelerator programme operated by EIT Climate-KIC, the European Union's innovation body. It runs theme- and place-based programmes across 100+ countries, supporting 6,000+ startups with coaching, impact measurement, and investor deal flow via the Climate Marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Tech Accelerator Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

akta.pro primary industry

Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Risk Management (BPADALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Resilience & Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (BPAGABAK), Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Climate Mitigation Programs (Energy, Industry, Transport) (BPADALAC), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Climate tech accelerator
• Startup acceleration programme
• Cleantech incubator services
• Climate innovation network
• Venture development support

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equity Participation in Select Startups: Once startups have successfully completed the programme, EIT Climate-KIC provides continued support to the most promising climate ventures that can demonstrate the highest impact potential. EIT Climate-KIC offers select ClimAccelerator startups funding and support services in exchange for future equity through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) programme.
2. Grant and Sponsor Funding: Many ClimAccelerators are eligible for grant funding from external sponsors. The programme is supported by EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology), a body of the European Union, and various public-private partnerships.
3. Partner Organisation Licensing: Partner organisations run theme- or place-based ClimAccelerators using the open-sourced methodology. Partners include universities, impact hubs, corporations, and government bodies who co-invest in programme delivery.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ClimAccelerator is a global accelerator programme that helps climate-focused startups innovate, catalyse, and scale their cleantech solutions. Powered by EIT Climate-KIC and supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, the programme delivers coaching, mentoring, financial support, network access, and climate impact measurement to selected startups through theme- and place-based accelerators run by partner organisations across 100+ countries.

Product overview

ClimAccelerator is a global accelerator programme powered by EIT Climate-KIC, offering a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core ClimAccelerator programme enables start-ups to scale climate solutions through coaching, mentoring, financial support, and global networking. This is complemented by specialized modules including the Climate Impact Framework and Impact Shift for impact measurement, the Climate Marketplace for investor connections, the open-source Operating System for programme runners, and the Investing for 1.5C initiative for institutional investors. Multiple themed ClimAccelerators operate globally (e.g., Carbon Removal, Clean Cities, Agritech), each addressing specific climate challenges in various geographies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond ClimAccelerator: Cleantech accelerator programme for Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Serbia and Slovenia
• Poland ClimAccelerator
• Black Sea ClimAccelerator
• Built Environment Circular ClimAccelerator
• Carbon Removal ClimAccelerator / CDR ClimAccelerator
• East Mediterranean ClimAccelerator
• Nigeria ClimAccelerator
• MED ClimAccelerator
• Baltics & Slovakia ClimAccelerator
• Clean Cities ClimAccelerator
• New European Bauhaus ClimAccelerator
• Circular Cities ClimAccelerator
• Colombia ClimAccelerator
• Cambridge ClimAccelerator
• Agritech ClimAccelerator Singapore
• Climate Marketplace
• Impact Shift
• Investing for 1.5C

Products and services

• ClimAccelerator Programme A global accelerator programme for cleantech and climate-focused startups to scale their climate solutions. Selected startups receive coaching, mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, financial support, access to a worldwide network of partners, exposure to customers and investors, and access to the ClimAccelerator marketplace. Programmes are run by partner organisations across 100+ countries.
• Climate Marketplace
• ClimAccelerator Operating System An open-sourced operating system providing partner organisations with everything needed to run a successful ClimAccelerator, including management tools, content, coaching, and mentoring networks, built on methodology shaped over 10+ years of accelerator experience.
• Investing for 1.5C An initiative partnering with impact investment funds to develop systems thinking approaches to climate-positive investing, providing investors with access to deal flow from validated climate startups and the ClimAccelerator community.
• Agritech ClimAccelerator Singapore Inaugural Asia-Pacific theme-based ClimAccelerator programme focused on climate-resilient agritech innovation, with nine companies selected for its first cohort from multiple countries across the region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ startups supported globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

48 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Better Earth VenturesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025Better Earth Ventures serves as the lead partner for the Agritech ClimAccelerator Singapore, the inaugural Asia-Pacific programme. They support 9 selected startups with a community of seasoned partners and mentors, providing targeted guidance on product strategy, market access, and funding. Better Earth Ventures is dedicated to accelerating transformative climate technologies and initiatives, serving as a pivotal gateway to Asia-Pacific.
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Lead partner for Clean Cities Spain ClimAccelerator, one of EIT Climate-KIC's longest-running acceleration programmes. UPM has supported nearly 100 startups from 18 countries since 2020 across four editions.
• City Councils of Madrid and ZaragozacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Public-private partnership members for Clean Cities Spain ClimAccelerator.
• FerrovialcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Corporate partner in the public-private partnership for Clean Cities Spain ClimAccelerator.
• Fundación Zaragoza Ciudad del ConocimientocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Foundation partner in the public-private partnership for Clean Cities Spain ClimAccelerator.
• Impact Hub PrahacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Beyond ClimAccelerator programme covering Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Serbia and Slovenia.
• AccelpointcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Poland ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech in Poland.
• Impact Hub BucharestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Black Sea ClimAccelerator covering Romania and Bulgaria.
• GreenTech Innovation HubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Built Environment Circular ClimAccelerator focused on the built environment across Europe.
• TU Delft, ETH Zurich & PPIScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partners for Carbon Removal ClimAccelerator / CDR ClimAccelerator focused on carbon removal across Europe.
• Viveka - A Full Service AcceleratorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for East Mediterranean ClimAccelerator covering Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain.
• InquMax IncubatorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Nigeria ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech in Nigeria.
• Savia VenturescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Chile ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech in Chile.
• Now Sprint AcceleratorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Now Sprint ClimAccelerator covering cleantech and agriculture in Turkey, Sudan, and Baltics.
• BikelycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Green Transport ClimAccelerator focused on transport and logistics connected to cleantech in the United Kingdom.
• BridgizzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Morocco, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Congo ClimAccelerators focused on cleantech.
• Climate CollectivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for South Asia ClimAccelerator covering India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and UAE; also leads Adaptation & Resilience ClimAccelerator for Africa and Asia.
• Deutsch Kazakh UniversitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Kazakhstan ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech.
• GrowthAfricacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Diverse African ClimAccelerators covering Ghana, Ethiopia, Somalia, and other African countries. Also partnered with Carbon Trust for Africa ClimAccelerator.
• Leiso Business LabscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Women in Botswana ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech.
• SarebicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for South Africa ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech.
• Sustainable Cities AfricacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Botswana ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech.
• Vatebra Tech HubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Fight Deforestation ClimAccelerator covering Nigeria.
• Westerwelle FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Rwanda, Tunisia, Tanzania, and Namibia ClimAccelerators focused on cleantech.
• You Think Green Egypt (YTG)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Egypt ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech.
• Building Global Innovators (BGI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for MED ClimAccelerator covering Portugal, Cyprus, and Malta with focus on 10 Impact Goals.
• Riga Technical UniversitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Baltics & Slovakia ClimAccelerator covering Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Slovakia.
• Technical University of Madrid and Impact Hub ViennacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint lead partners for Clean Cities ClimAccelerator focused on clean cities across Europe.
• Trinity College, DTU, Luvent ConsultingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartners for Circular Cities ClimAccelerator focused on cities across Europe.
• Cleantech Hub ColombiacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Colombia ClimAccelerator 2022 focused on cleantech.
• Allia Future Business CentrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Cambridge ClimAccelerator covering Cambridge and London, UK.
• IED / Human Nation EarthcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for CircularInnoBooster - CirCoAX - ClimAccelerator focused on fashion and reduction of emissions across Europe.
• Amazon Launchpad, EIT Climate-KICcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint partners for Amazon Launchpad Sustainability Accelerator focused on sustainability products in specific European countries.
• ACTEDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Tajikistan ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech.
• Tao Venture Partners & Tsing CapitalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint lead partners for China to Germany ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech.
• X23- The Innovation BakerycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Exoo|23™ Radical ECO-TOURISM ClimAccelerator covering Italy, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, and Greece.
• tech2B Inkubator GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for ClimAccelerator Companion in Austria.
• FinnovacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for CILIFO ClimAccelerator focused on firefighting open innovation in Spain and Portugal.
• Mentor DaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for ClimAccelerator Companion in Spain and Europe.
• Growers for ChangecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Italy ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech.
• Carbon TrustcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner with GrowthAfrica for Africa ClimAccelerator focused on cleantech across Africa.
• Anza EntrepreneurscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Irish Aid Accelerator in Tanzania focused on cleantech.
• Behold SA, Indalo Inclusive SA NPC and Water FinancialcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint partners for Irish Aid Accelerator in South Africa focused on cleantech.
• CCS - Center for Creativity and SustainabilitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Irish Aid Accelerator in Vietnam focused on cleantech.
• IdeialabcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Irish Aid Accelerator in Mozambique focused on cleantech.
• Kenya Climate Innovation CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Irish Aid Accelerator in Kenya focused on cleantech.
• Nigeria Climate Innovation CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Irish Aid Accelerator in Nigeria focused on cleantech.
• Renewable Energy Business IncubatorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead partner for Irish Aid Accelerator in Uganda focused on cleantech.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Third Derivative: Third Derivative is a globally-operated climate tech accelerator and seed fund. Directly comparable as a climate-focused accelerator with startup cohort programmes and investor connections for early-stage decarbonisation ventures.
• Greentown Labs: Greentown Labs is North America's largest climatetech incubator/accelerator. Directly comparable as a climate-focused startup accelerator supporting hardware and software climate solutions with mentorship, funding access, and community programming.
• MassChallenge: MassChallenge is a global non-profit accelerator network with a strong climate and cleantech vertical. Comparable as a multi-region, partner-driven accelerator offering equity-free funding, mentorship, and corporate connections to early-stage impact startups.
• Elemental Excelerator: Elemental Excelerator is a non-profit climate accelerator that funds and scales startups addressing climate challenges. Directly comparable in mission, non-profit structure, and cohort-based cleantech acceleration methodology.

Emerging players

• URBAN-X: URBAN-X is an accelerator for startups reimagining city life, including climate resilience, clean cities, and built environment solutions. Directly comparable as a thematic accelerator overlapping with ClimAccelerator's Clean Cities, Built Environment Circular and Circular Cities programmes.
• SOSV (HAX, IndieBio, dlab): SOSV is a multi-stage venture capital firm operating vertical-specific accelerator programmes including climate-relevant deep-tech and biotech verticals. Comparable in operating multiple climate-adjacent vertical accelerators with cohort programmes and seed funding.

Broad incumbents

• Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play is a global innovation platform and accelerator with sustainability and climate programmes. Comparable in multi-region accelerator structure and corporate-startup partnership model, though broader in sector scope.
• Antler: Antler is a global early-stage venture capital and accelerator firm with presence across multiple continents. Comparable as a globally-distributed startup accelerator competing for similar international cohorts of climate and impact founders.
• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the world's largest generalist startup accelerator. While not climate-focused, it competes for the same early-stage cleantech founders globally and offers a benchmark for accelerator scale and ecosystem value.
• Techstars: Techstars is a global accelerator network with multiple cleantech and sustainability programmes. Comparable in its multi-region accelerator model and corporate partnership structure, though broader in sector focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/climatekic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/climate-kic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments41 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Climate-KIC Acceleration Programme