Cleantech San Diego
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cleantech San Diego does
Cleantech San Diego is a nonprofit, membership-based business organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Diego, California. It serves as a regional convener for the cleantech economy, bringing together more than 130 businesses, universities, governments, and nonprofits to advance sustainable solutions across the San Diego region and broader Southern California. The organization operates the Southern California Energy Innovation Network (SCEIN), a California Energy Commission-funded accelerator launched in 2016 that provides free business services to energy startups across San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
The organization's product portfolio includes a four-tier membership program ($1,000 to $15,000 annually), three recurring event series (members-only Breakfast/Webinar Series, Leadership Series for policymakers, and public Education Series), the monthly Greensheet newsletter, the Smart Cities San Diego initiative, and an advocacy program targeting local, state, and federal policy. SCEIN functions as the flagship program, offering mentoring, market intelligence, regulatory guidance, capital introductions, and pilot project opportunities to portfolio companies through a consortium that includes UC San Diego, San Diego State University, the Port of San Diego, and regional economic development organizations.
Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership fees across the four tiers, supplemented by event revenue and grants. The largest disclosed funding event was a $5 million California Energy Commission grant awarded in April 2016 to launch SCEIN. The organization has a small staff of six and is governed by a Board of Directors, with Jason Anderson serving as President and CEO since 2010. Cumulative SCEIN outcomes reported include 81 companies served, $714 million in follow-on funding, 560 patents approved, and 867 jobs created across portfolio companies.
Cleantech San Diego firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cleantech San Diego
- Legal name
- Cleantech San Diego
- Website
- https://cleantechsandiego.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cleantech San Diego industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clean Technology Industry Association
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (81392)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
Keywords
Where Cleantech San Diego is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cleantech San Diego business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Cleantech San Diego generates revenue through annual membership fees at four tiers: $1,000 for SCEIN participants and pre-revenue companies, $4,500 for companies with revenues under $2 million, $7,500 for companies with revenues over $2 million, and $15,000 for executive-level membership with board eligibility. These fees provide access to networking, events, advocacy, and member benefits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | $1,000 tier - Available to active SCEIN participants and pre-revenue cleantech companies with complimentary event admission |
| Subscription | Annual | $4,500 tier - For cleantech companies with revenues less than $2 million |
| Subscription | Annual | $7,500 tier - For cleantech companies with revenues greater than $2 million |
| Subscription | Annual | $15,000 tier - Executive-level membership with governance rights |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cleantech San Diego product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cleantech San Diego is a private nonprofit member organization founded in 2007 that convenes businesses, research institutions, and government agencies to position San Diego as a global leader in the cleantech economy. It runs the SCEIN cleantech accelerator for startups, manages the Smart Cities San Diego initiative, and delivers a tiered membership program, event series, newsletter, and advocacy services to its 130+ member organizations.
Product overview
Cleantech San Diego is a nonprofit member-based business organization (not a technology product company) that positions the greater San Diego region as a global leader in the cleantech economy. The organization operates several interconnected programs including the Southern California Energy Innovation Network (SCEIN) accelerator, Smart Cities San Diego initiative, membership program with four tiers, and event series (Breakfast/Webinar, Leadership, Education). The portfolio also includes the monthly Greensheet Newsletter and an advocacy program. These offerings work together to foster cleantech innovation, provide business development services, facilitate policy engagement, and connect stakeholders across the private-public-academic landscape.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Southern California Energy Innovation Network (SCEIN): A California Energy Commission-funded program that provides innovative energy startups in San Diego, Imperial, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties with access to commercialization services.
- Smart Cities San Diego
- The Greensheet
Products and services
- Membership Program
- SCEIN Cleantech Accelerator
Quantifiable outcome
- 81 companies served by SCEIN with $714 million in follow-on funding
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cleantech San Diego
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Cleantech San Diego technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cleantech San Diego partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- New Energy Nexus / CalSEEDcoreSCEIN is a partner in the CalSEED Initiative through which New Energy Nexus distributes $25 million in Series A and B grants and provides business development services to emerging entrepreneurs.
- Energy CentercoreRegional partner organization in the SCEIN consortium providing services to energy startups.
- CONNECTcoreRegional partner organization in the SCEIN consortium supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.
- San Diego State UniversitycoreAcademic partner providing research facilities, student intern projects, and innovation support through the SCEIN program.
- UC San DiegocoreAcademic partner providing research facilities, student intern projects, and innovation support through the SCEIN program.
- University of San DiegocoreAcademic partner providing research facilities and innovation support through the SCEIN program.
- California State University San MarcosminorRegional partner organization in the SCEIN consortium.
- UC RiversideminorRegional partner organization in the SCEIN consortium serving San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
- Imperial Valley Economic Development CorporationminorRegional partner organization in the SCEIN consortium serving Imperial County.
- SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric)coreUtility partner and member; represented on Technical Advisory Committee; supports Smart Cities San Diego initiative.
- City of San DiegocoreGovernment partner in Smart Cities San Diego initiative; participates in Climate Action Plan; represented on Technical Advisory Committee.
- Port of San DiegocorePartner in Smart Cities San Diego; hosts microgrid projects and blue economy initiatives; represented on Technical Advisory Committee.
- JLLcoreJLL's Energy Advisory practice announced strategic collaboration with SCEIN company VECKTA to provide CRE owners onsite energy deployment solutions.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cleantech San Diego competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA): SEPA is an educational nonprofit convening utilities, technology companies, and policymakers to advance grid modernization and clean energy. It is a broad incumbent peer because, like Cleantech San Diego, it offers utility-facing convening, education, and advocacy, but operates nationally and is more research-oriented than regional-ecosystem focused.
Direct peers
- New Energy Nexus: New Energy Nexus is a global nonprofit cleantech startup accelerator network and a direct partner of Cleantech San Diego through the CalSEED Initiative. It is a direct peer because both run startup-support programs for cleantech founders, distribute grant capital, and convene regional ecosystems across California and beyond.
- Greentown Labs: Greentown Labs is the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, providing workspace, prototyping, and corporate partnership programs for hardware-focused cleantech startups. It is a direct peer because it operates the same nonprofit accelerator-and-ecosystem model that Cleantech San Diego pursues through SCEIN.
- Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): CESA is a nonprofit coalition of state clean energy programs and agencies that shares best practices and coordinates on clean energy policy. It is a direct peer because, like Cleantech San Diego, it is a nonprofit member-based organization advancing state-level clean energy policy and program collaboration, though its members are public agencies rather than companies.
- Advanced Energy Economy (AEE): AEE is a national business association that convenes advanced energy companies and advocates for clean energy policy at the state and federal level. It is a direct peer because, like Cleantech San Diego, it operates as a member-based business organization advancing cleantech member priorities through advocacy, networking, and policy engagement.
- California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF): CalCEF is a California-focused nonprofit venture and accelerator organization deploying catalytic capital into clean energy startups. It is a direct peer because CalCEF operates state-level clean energy startup programs and policy advocacy, complementing Cleantech San Diego's SCEIN regional deployment and advocacy work.
- Elemental Excelerator: Elemental Excelerator is a nonprofit cleantech startup accelerator that invests in and supports early-stage companies deploying climate solutions, often partnering with utilities and governments. It is a direct peer to Cleantech San Diego's SCEIN program in terms of funding, mentoring, and pilot-deployment support for energy startups.
- Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI): LACI is a California-based nonprofit cleantech startup incubator and ecosystem builder serving the Los Angeles region. It is the closest direct peer to Cleantech San Diego: both are nonprofit organizations running cleantech accelerators, building regional ecosystems, and partnering with utilities and government on clean energy and transportation initiatives.
Others
- Climate Action Campaign: Climate Action Campaign is a San Diego-based nonprofit coalition advocating for stronger climate and clean energy policy at the local and state level. It is an adjacent peer because it operates in the same San Diego advocacy space as Cleantech San Diego, though it focuses on policy mobilization rather than startup acceleration and member services.
Regional players
- CleanTech Alliance: CleanTech Alliance is a nonprofit member-based industry association serving the Pacific Northwest cleantech ecosystem. It is a regional peer because, like Cleantech San Diego, it operates as a member-driven business organization running events, advocacy, and networking for the regional cleantech sector, though it serves a different U.S. geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cleantech San Diego social profiles
Digital presenceCleantech San Diego financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cleantech San Diego leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Cleantech San Diego funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cleantech San Diego M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cleantech San Diego
What does Cleantech San Diego do?
Cleantech San Diego is a private nonprofit member organization founded in 2007 that convenes businesses, research institutions, and government agencies to position San Diego as a global leader in the cleantech economy. It runs the SCEIN cleantech accelerator for startups, manages the Smart Cities San Diego initiative, and delivers a tiered membership program, event series, newsletter, and advocacy services to its 130+ member organizations.
Is Cleantech San Diego a public or private company?
Cleantech San Diego is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cleantech San Diego founded?
Cleantech San Diego was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cleantech San Diego based?
Cleantech San Diego is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cleantech San Diego make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Fees.
Who are Cleantech San Diego's main competitors?
Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are New Energy Nexus, Greentown Labs, Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF), Elemental Excelerator and Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI). Climate Action Campaign is listed as an others. CleanTech Alliance is listed as a regional player.
Does Cleantech San Diego have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cleantech San Diego.
What industry is Cleantech San Diego in?
Cleantech San Diego's product category is Clean Technology Industry Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAK, Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good), with a secondary code of FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs. Its NAICS code is 81392 and its SIC code is 8600.