Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative)

Climate Technology Acceleratorc2vinitiative.com

The Carbon to Value Initiative is a partnership accelerator founded in 2020 by Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon, Greentown Labs, and Fraunhofer USA with NYSERDA support, running annual six-month cohorts that connect carbontech startups with corporate, government, and investor partners.

Company typePrivate
Founded2020
HeadquartersBrooklyn, United States
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) does

The Carbon to Value (C2V) Initiative is a partnership-focused accelerator program launched in 2020 that supports carbontech startups developing technologies to capture, convert, utilize, remove, or sequester carbon dioxide and other carbon-rich streams. It is structured as a multi-organization consortium jointly operated by Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon, Greentown Labs, and Fraunhofer USA, with NYSERDA providing funding support. The initiative is positioned as the world's first accelerator dedicated exclusively to carbontech, and it operates through annual cohorts (currently in its sixth year) of startups at Technology Readiness Levels 4-7.

The core product offering is a six-month accelerator that delivers over 80 hours of customized workshop programming on go-to-market strategy, licensing, pilots, and business model refinement, alongside access to the Carbontech Leadership Council (CLC) — an invitation-only group of corporate, nonprofit, and government leaders including Fluor, Shell, TotalEnergies, L'Oréal, Johnson Matthey, Veolia, Energy Impact Partners, NYSERDA, Carbon180, and CO2 Value Europe. Selected startups receive up to $10,000 in discretionary stipends and engage in mandatory in-person events across New York City, Boston, and Houston. Through 2024, C2V has supported 45 startups that collectively raised over $700 million in follow-on funding and facilitated 600+ ecosystem connections.

The business model is grant-funded rather than fee-based, with NYSERDA as the primary disclosed funder and no equity, take rate, or fees charged to participating startups. Revenue mechanics are not disclosed, and the program operates with a small core team (1-10 employees) led by Director Brian Worfolk. Distribution is via direct application through a competitive global process, with secondary channels including public events, webinars, podcast appearances, and a newsletter that drives awareness across the carbontech ecosystem.

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative)
Legal name: Carbon to Value Initiative
Website: https://c2vinitiative.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2020
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: The Carbon to Value Initiative is a partnership accelerator founded in 2020 by Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon, Greentown Labs, and Fraunhofer USA with NYSERDA support, running annual six-month cohorts that connect carbontech startups with corporate, government, and investor partners.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) industry classification

Industry

Product category: Climate Technology Accelerator
NAICS: Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
SIC: Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
akta.pro primary industry: Sector-Specific Net-Zero Pathways & Benchmarking (hard-to-abate methodologies) (EUABAKAI)
akta.pro secondary industries: Carbon Offtake Structuring & Contracting (ERPA, Long-term Offtakes, Price Floors) (EUABADAE), Project-Originated Carbon Credit Marketing & Offtake (Primary Market) (EUAGAIAC)

Keywords

Carbontech accelerator program
Startup commercialization support
Corporate startup partnerships
Climate technology accelerator
Carbon capture startups

Where Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Brooklyn
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

Grant Funding and Program Support: The initiative operates as a multi-stakeholder program supported by NYSERDA and other partners. It provides up to $10,000 discretionary stipends per selected startup to support participation in the accelerator.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Other	Multi-year contract	Six-month accelerator program with stipend support

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The Carbon to Value Initiative runs a six-month, partnership-focused accelerator program that selects carbontech startups (TRL 4-7) developing solutions to capture, convert, utilize, remove, or sequester carbon dioxide and other carbon-rich streams. Selected startups receive customized workshop programming (80+ hours), mentorship, and facilitated introductions to the Carbontech Leadership Council — an invitation-only body of corporate, nonprofit, and government leaders — to advance market validation, pilot opportunities, demonstrations, and strategic partnerships. Each cohort receives up to $10,000 in discretionary stipends to support participation, with no participation fees charged to startups.

Product overview

The Carbon to Value Initiative is a partnership-focused accelerator program that supports carbontech startups through yearly cohorts. The core offering consists of a six-month accelerator program featuring customized workshop programming (80+ hours), connections to the Carbontech Leadership Council (CLC), corporate-startup partnership facilitation, and mentorship from Urban Future Lab, Greentown Labs, and Fraunhofer USA networks. The program operates through annual cohorts (Year 1 through Year 6) that provide startups with market validation, pilot opportunities, demonstrations, and strategic partnerships for technologies that capture, convert, utilize, remove, or sequester carbon dioxide and other carbon-rich streams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Carbon to Value Accelerator Program A six-month, partnership-focused accelerator program that selects carbontech startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-7 developing solutions to capture, convert, utilize, remove, or sequester carbon dioxide and other carbon-rich streams. Each annual cohort receives mentorship, market validation support, pilot introductions, and up to $10,000 in discretionary stipends.
Carbontech Leadership Council (CLC) An invitation-only body of executive leaders from corporations, nonprofits, and governments that identifies partnership, validation, testing, and demonstration opportunities for cohort startups. Members include Fluor, Shell, TotalEnergies, L'Oréal, Johnson Matthey, Veolia, Energy Impact Partners, Carbon180, CO2 Value Europe, and NYSERDA.
Customized Workshop Programming

Quantifiable outcome

45 startups supported with $700M+ in follow-on funding raised
+4 more outcomes

Companies that use Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative)

Customer profile

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core founding partner, clc member, clc champion, key partner and observer member.

Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandoncore founding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three founding partners of the C2V Initiative. Provides access to NYU Tandon's innovation ecosystem, research facilities, and startup support resources. Located in New York City.
Greentown Labscore founding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three founding partners of the C2V Initiative. North America's largest climatetech startup hub, providing co-working space, resources, and network access for carbontech startups. Located in Boston.
Fraunhofer USAcore founding partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three founding partners of the C2V Initiative. Provides access to Fraunhofer's extensive research network, technical expertise, and international connections in carbontech development.
Carbon180clc memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLC member; Executive Director Erin Burns represents the organization. Focuses on carbon removal and utilization policy and research.
CO₂ Value Europeclc memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLC member; Anastasios Perimenis represents the organization. European association promoting carbon capture and utilization.
Fluorclc championStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLC Champion member; Curt Graham (SVP Office of Technology) represents Fluor. Year 2 Cohort Champion. Has partnered with multiple startups including Carbonfree and Carbfix. Jim Shih (Executive Director, Business Incubation) actively engaged.
Johnson Mattheyclc memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLC member; Liz Rowsell (Chief Technology Officer) represents the company. Focuses on sustainable technologies and catalyst development.
L'Oréalclc memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLC member; Olivier Rolland (Global Director Strategic Initiatives) represents L'Oréal. Partnership with Dioxycle to produce packaging materials from captured carbon emissions.
Shellclc memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLC member; David Kordonowy (Head of Commercial Partnerships) represents Shell. Interest in carbontech solutions for energy transition.
TotalEnergiesclc memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLC member; Renaud Maillard (Vice President CO₂ Techno Hub) represents TotalEnergies. Focus on carbon management technologies.
Veoliaclc memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLC member; Jonathan Cruysberghs (Director of Innovation North America) represents Veolia. Interest in waste, water, and energy solutions including carbontech.
Carbon Directkey partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed Air Company's Series A funding. Active in carbontech investment and offtake agreements. Facilitated Octavia Carbon's offtake agreement.
Carbon Business Councilobserver memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2V Initiative became an observer in the Carbon Business Council, a business association of carbon management startups focusing on policy advocacy.
DAC Coalitionkey partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2V Initiative joined the DAC Coalition bringing together global innovators to mobilize society for direct air capture.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Elemental Excelerator: Non-equity accelerator funding and supporting climatetech startups through cohorts and corporate partnerships, including in decarbonization. Comparable cohort + corporate partner model and similar climate-tech mandate to C2V.
Third Derivative: Climate-specific accelerator program affiliated with Rocky Mountain Institute that supports climateseed startups with corporate market access and capital. Overlaps with C2V on cohort programming, partnership facilitation, and decarbonization focus.
Activate (formerly Cyclotron Road): Deeptech/climate fellowship accelerator that recruits scientist-founders developing hard-tech, including carbontech. Directly comparable model of cohort-based programming, mentor/investor networks, and stipend support for technology commercialization.

Others

Carbon180: Nonprofit focused on carbon removal policy and deployment, and a C2V CLC member. Adjacent ecosystem partner with shared portfolio startups but distinct nonprofit policy focus rather than accelerator programming.
CO2 Value Europe: European association promoting CCU and a C2V CLC member; operates networking and policy programs addressing the same carbon conversion/utility startup ecosystem in Europe.
Fraunhofer (parent organizations, including ISI and ISE): Applied research organization network and C2V founding partner providing scientific validation, technical due diligence, and international R&D reach; relevant as ecosystem enabler rather than direct accelerator competitor.

Broad incumbents

Greentown Labs: North America's largest climatetech incubator and a founding partner of C2V. Operates a hardware/cleantech prototyping member program that complements C2V's cohort model, and is the direct incubator parent of many C2V-adjacent startups.
Y Combinator (Climate track): Premier general startup accelerator with an increasing share of climatetech, including carbontech, in recent batches. Competes indirectly for application flow and partner attention.
Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon: NYU Tandon cleantech incubator and a C2V founding partner operating Impact Hub and incubator programs in NYC. Overlaps with C2V's ecosystem role and shares its startup pipeline regionally.
Techstars Sustainability Accelerator: Techstars accelerator network with thematic climate/sustainability cohorts offering capital, mentorship, and corporate partner access. Comparable cohort-plus-corporate model but with a much broader climatetech (not carbontech-exclusive) lens.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments8 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative)

What does Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) do?

Is Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) a public or private company?

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) founded?

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) based?

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) is headquartered in Brooklyn, United States, in the North America region.

How does Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) make money?

One revenue line is on record: grant Funding and Program Support.

Who are Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative)'s main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Elemental Excelerator, Third Derivative and Activate (formerly Cyclotron Road). Others are Carbon180, CO2 Value Europe and Fraunhofer (parent organizations, including ISI and ISE). Broad incumbents are Greentown Labs, Y Combinator (Climate track), Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon and Techstars Sustainability Accelerator.

Does Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) have an API?

No public API is recorded for Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative).

What industry is Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative) in?

Carbon to Value Initiative (C2V Initiative)'s product category is Climate Technology Accelerator. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAKAI, Sector-Specific Net-Zero Pathways & Benchmarking (hard-to-abate methodologies), with a secondary code of EUABADAE, Carbon Offtake Structuring & Contracting (ERPA, Long-term Offtakes, Price Floors). Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 8742.