What DeltaClimeVT does

DeltaClimeVT is a Montpelier, Vermont-based business accelerator founded in 2017 that recruits startup and seed-stage ventures across the U.S. and Canada into an annual three-sprint climate economy cohort program. The program is managed by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by the Vermont Legislature in 1995, and is operationally housed at VSJF's 3 Pitkin Court headquarters with in-person sprints held in Burlington. As of the Energy 2026 cohort it has completed 10 cohorts, supported 75 companies and 149 participants, and built a mentor network of 129 industry experts, investors, and entrepreneurs.

The core product is a three-month accelerator built on the licensed ecosVC 'Lens of the Market ACCELERATED' curriculum, which combines online coursework, two online and two in-person intensive sessions (each 2-4 days), bi-weekly webinars, weekly assignments, and 1:1 engagement with program leaders and utility mentors. Participating companies receive the program at no charge and gain direct exposure to a consortium of Vermont utility sponsors - Burlington Electric Department, Green Mountain Power, Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, Vermont Electric Cooperative, Efficiency Vermont, Vermont Gas Systems, and VELCO - that act simultaneously as funders, mentors, and pilot-deployment partners.

The business model is sponsor-funded nonprofit program delivery rather than equity investment: DeltaClimeVT does not charge participating companies, charges no tuition, and takes no equity. Operating revenue comes from utility sponsorships and foundation grants (including Jane's Trust Foundation and the Vermont Community Foundation), with the only direct cash outlay to cohort companies being a peer-selected $25,000 non-dilutive award per cohort plus smaller tiered awards ($15,000, $10,000) in select years. The economic output of the program is the conversion of cohort companies into utility pilots, with over 50% of participating companies historically securing pilot projects with Vermont utilities after program completion.

Name

DeltaClimeVT

Legal name

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

Website

https://deltaclimevt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DeltaClimeVT is a Vermont-based nonprofit climate economy business accelerator, founded in 2017 and run by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, offering annual seed-stage cohorts with non-dilutive awards, mentorship, and direct utility pilot pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD), EMS Training & Competency Development (EUAHAIAH), Transition Plan Development & Implementation Roadmapping (EUABAKAB)

Keywords

• Climate accelerator
• Business accelerator
• Startup mentorship
• Energy innovation
• Sustainability programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpelier

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-dilutive Program Awards: DeltaClimeVT provides non-dilutive awards to cohort companies. The final award of $25,000 is provided to a peer-selected company. Prior programs included $25,000, $15,000, and $10,000 awards to top companies. Over half of participating companies have been selected by Vermont utilities and other sponsors to conduct product pilots after the end of the program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DeltaClimeVT is a Vermont-based business accelerator program serving startup and seed-stage ventures focused on climate economy innovation. The program runs three immersive sprints combining an online curriculum (ecosVC's Lens of the Market ACCELERATED), 1:1 coaching, mentorship from 129 industry experts and investors, and direct engagement with Vermont utilities, culminating in a peer-selected $25,000 non-dilutive award and pilot project opportunities.

Product overview

DeltaClimeVT is a single program offering - a business accelerator for climate economy startups and seed-stage ventures. The program is managed by Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and facilitated by ecosVC using the Lens of the Market ACCELERATED curriculum. Participants receive mentorship, investor connections, and pilot project opportunities with Vermont utilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DeltaClimeVT Business Accelerator Program A three-sprint intensive business accelerator for startup and seed-stage ventures in the climate economy. Participants receive access to the ecosVC Lens of the Market ACCELERATED curriculum, 1:1 coaching from ecosVC principals, more than 35 hours of engagement with mentors, investors and potential customers, peer-selected non-dilutive awards (up to $25,000), and direct engagement with Vermont utilities leading to pilot project opportunities. The service is provided free of charge to selected cohort companies and is funded through utility sponsorships and foundation grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 cohorts completed with 75 companies and 149 participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVSJF is the managing organization of DeltaClimeVT. VSJF is a nonprofit organization committed to nurturing the sustainable development of Vermont's economy, providing business assistance, value chain facilitation, network development, and strategic planning.
• ecosVCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerecosVC facilitates the DeltaClimeVT program using its Lens of the Market ACCELERATED curriculum. ecosVC principals provide online coursework, one-on-one coaching, and mentor coordination throughout the three-sprint program.
• Burlington Electric Department (BED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBED is a key utility sponsor providing mentorship, pilot project opportunities, and awards to cohort companies. BED General Manager Darren Springer and team actively engage with startups throughout the program.
• Green Mountain PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMP is a major utility sponsor providing mentorship, pilot project opportunities, and Tier 3 funds for cohort companies demonstrating qualifying projects in Vermont.
• Vermont Public Power Supply Authority (VPPSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVPPSA provides mentorship through its General Manager Ken Nolan and other staff, representing municipal electric utilities across Vermont. VPPSA facilitates connections between cohort companies and its member utilities.
• Vermont Electric CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVermont's largest electric cooperative provides innovation and technology leadership through Cyril Brunner and Lisa Morris, offering mentorship and pilot opportunities for cohort companies focused on rural energy solutions.
• Efficiency VermontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEfficiency Vermont, through VEIC, provides technical expertise and emerging technology program management. Jake Marin and Lara Bonn serve as advisors bringing extensive heat pump and energy efficiency program experience.
• Vermont Gas Systems (VGS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGS provides mentorship and pilot opportunities for companies addressing building decarbonization. Morgan Hood leads new product development focused on decarbonization portfolio development.
• Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVCET provides mentorship through Geoff Robertson (formerly Managing Director of DeltaClimeVT) who now serves as Finance and Venture Investments at VCET, offering startup expertise and investor connections.
• VELCO (Vermont Electric Power Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVELCO provides strategic innovation leadership through Kerrick Johnson and technical expertise, supporting grid-related technologies and distributed energy resource integration.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• gener8tor: Nationwide accelerator network running multiple sector-specific cohorts including sustainability tracks. Comparable accelerator operating model and 12-week intensive format, though generally equity-backed rather than the non-dilutive model DeltaClimeVT uses.
• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused innovation hubs and accelerators supporting social and environmental entrepreneurs. Comparable as an impact accelerator offering, though with a broader (not climate-specific) mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform with dedicated climate, energy, and sustainability programs connecting startups to corporate partners. Comparable corporate-pilot pathway model but operating at a vastly larger multinational scale.
• MassChallenge: Global zero-equity accelerator with a prominent climate/energy track and Boston-area roots. Provides comparable non-dilutive accelerator programming for early-stage startups but operates at significantly greater scale and broader sector coverage.
• Techstars Sustainability: Techstars' sustainability-focused accelerator under one of the world's largest accelerator brands. Overlaps with DeltaClimeVT in climate/energy cohort offering but competes from a much larger global brand and network.

Direct peers

• Activate: Climate fellowship program (formerly Cyclotron Road) supporting science and engineering innovators with funding, mentorship, and lab access. Comparable as a non-equity talent and venture accelerator for climate innovators, though with a more fellowship-oriented format.
• Elemental Excelerator: Climate infrastructure accelerator based in Honolulu that funds and pilots startups with utilities and municipalities. Closest direct peer in terms of utility-pilot-led model, though serving Pacific and national geographies rather than Vermont.
• Greentown Labs: The largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, based in Somerville, MA. Operates a hardware and cleantech prototyping facility plus accelerator programming — directly comparable mission and offering to DeltaClimeVT but at meaningfully larger scale.
• Powerhouse Ventures: Venture firm and accelerator focused on solar, clean energy, and climate startups. Overlaps with DeltaClimeVT in supporting early-stage climatetech founders with investor access and utility/customer introductions.

Regional players

• Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET): Vermont-based technology and clean-energy startup accelerator and seed fund. Operates in the same Vermont geography with overlapping clean-energy and climate focus, serving as both a peer and an ecosystem partner (DeltaClimeVT's former MD now works at VCET).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DeltaClimeVT

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

Investments11 records

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

Frequently asked questions about DeltaClimeVT