Women in Cleantech and Sustainability

What Women in Cleantech and Sustainability does

Women in Cleantech and Sustainability (WCS) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional network organization headquartered in San Francisco that operates a global community of more than 10,000 members across 16+ countries, with 11 active chapters spanning major US cleantech hubs (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Denver, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., New York) and four European cities (London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Zurich). Founded in 2011, the organization is purpose-built to advance the roles of women and minorities in the green economy, delivering a portfolio of programming that includes Individual, Startup, and Corporate membership tiers; a mentorship program; the FoundHER in Climate women entrepreneurs coaching series; an annual pitch competition; AI Workshops 2026; a weekly podcast (WCS Talks Unplugged); twice-monthly members-only virtual networking sessions; a job board; a merch store; and chapter-based in-person events. Champion Corporate Members — including First Solar, Sungrow, Cleantech Group, NextPower, and USGBC California — anchor the corporate sponsorship base.

The organization has no proprietary technology stack; its core 'platform' is a community operating model delivered through a member login portal, the WCS Insights blog, social media channels, and a Galaxy Digital volunteer portal. Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring membership fees (individual, startup, corporate), event revenue from ticketed programming, corporate sponsorships, and donations accepted via PayPal. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The GTM motion is community-led: growth is driven by word-of-mouth referrals, chapter-based local engagement, and corporate membership sponsorships rather than paid acquisition. As a 501(c)(6) organization, WCS is governed by a board and volunteer leadership structure and has no traditional owners, funding rounds, M&A activity, or headcount growth signals disclosed.

Name

Women in Cleantech and Sustainability

Legal name

Women in Cleantech and Sustainability

Website

https://womencleantechsustainability.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women in Cleantech and Sustainability is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional network with 10,000+ members across 11 chapters in the US and Europe, advancing women in the green economy through membership tiers, mentorship, pitch competitions, AI workshops, and a weekly podcast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Networking and Community Services (Cleantech & Sustainability)

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Business, Entrepreneurship & Case Competitions (DECA-style, Pitch, Case) (EDAMAGAJ)

Keywords

• Cleantech professional network
• Women sustainability community
• Green economy membership
• Cleantech career mentorship
• Sustainability chapter events

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: WCS generates revenue through individual, startup, and corporate membership subscriptions. Members receive discounts on events, access to mentoring, job postings, and partner event discounts.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from ticketed events, workshops, and programs including AI workshops, mentorship sessions, and pitch competitions.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate members and supporters (Champion Corporate Members) provide financial support to the organization.
4. Donations: Accepts donations through PayPal to support the organization's mission of advancing women in the green economy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

WCS is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership organization that sells Individual, Startup, and Corporate Memberships and operates programs (Mentorship, FoundHER in Climate coaching, annual Pitch Competition, AI Workshops, virtual networking, a Job Board) through 11 chapters in the US and Europe to advance women in the cleantech and green-economy workforce. The organization supplements dues revenue with ticketed events, Champion Corporate Sponsorships, and donations.

Product overview

Women in Cleantech and Sustainability is a 501 C (6) nonprofit organization that functions as a membership-based professional networking and development platform rather than a traditional software product. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including Individual, Startup, and Corporate Membership tiers, a Mentorship Program, FoundHER in Climate coaching series, annual Pitch Competition, AI Workshops 2026, WCS Talks Unplugged Podcast, Members Only Virtual Networking, a Job Board, Merch Store, and a geographically distributed Chapter Network spanning 11 regions. These offerings work together to foster an influential network of over 10,000 community members and further the roles of women in growing the green economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership Paid membership tier for individual professionals in the cleantech and sustainability sectors, providing access to a global network of over 10,000 community members, discounts on WCS events, partner event discounts, mentoring access, and jobs delivered to members' inboxes.
• Startup Membership Paid membership tier designed for startups in the cleantech and sustainability sector, providing access to the WCS green-economy network and growth resources.
• Corporate Membership (Champion Corporate Member) Paid corporate membership program allowing companies to support WCS and gain visibility as Champion Corporate Members, with partner logos displayed on the organization's supporter page.
• Mentorship Program Mentoring program connecting professionals in the cleantech and sustainability sectors for career development and guidance, delivered as a WCS membership benefit.
• FoundHER in Climate 2026 – Women Entrepreneurs Coaching Series 2026 coaching series for women founders and entrepreneurs in the climate and cleantech space, designed to elevate women and minorities in the green economy.
• 2026 Pitch Competition Annual pitch competition for women-led startups in the cleantech and sustainability sector, providing visibility and opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.
• AI Workshops 2026 2026 series of AI-focused workshops for professionals, including sessions on AI for time-constrained professionals and AI literacy to AI fluency.
• WCS Talks Unplugged Podcast The organization's podcast featuring new episodes released every Wednesday, covering cleantech, sustainability, and women's leadership in the green economy.
• Members Only Virtual Networking Events Twice-monthly virtual networking sessions at 9 am and 4 pm PST, plus quarterly industry and regionally focused sessions, exclusive to WCS members.
• Job Board Online employment platform providing cleantech and sustainability job listings to WCS members, with jobs delivered directly to member inboxes.
• Merch Store Online store offering WCS-branded merchandise for supporters and members.
• Chapter Network Geographic chapter network spanning 11 regions (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Colorado, Midwest, Washington D.C., New York, UK, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Zurich), providing local community engagement, in-person events, workshops, and networking.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and champion.

• PaintLab Santa MonicaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026Event venue partner for WCS Los Angeles Chapter leadership workshop on March 19, 2026. PaintLab Santa Monica hosted the workshop featuring Kimberlee Centera, CEO of TerraPro Solutions, as headline speaker.
• TerraPro SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 March 2026CEO Kimberlee Centera of TerraPro Solutions led a WCS leadership workshop on March 19, 2026, focused on building equitable workplace cultures and mentoring tools for elevating women and minorities.
• Cleantech GroupchampionStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampion Corporate Member supporting WCS. Cleantech Group is a leading cleantech organization that provides research, consulting, and networking services in the sustainability space.
• First SolarchampionStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampion Corporate Member supporting WCS. First Solar is a leading global provider of photovoltaic (PV) solar solutions, manufacturing solar panels and developing solar power plants.
• NextPowerchampionStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampion Corporate Member supporting WCS. NextPower is a renewable energy investment firm focused on solar and energy storage projects.
• SungrowchampionStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampion Corporate Member supporting WCS. Sungrow is a leading global inverter and energy storage system solutions provider for solar applications.
• USGBC CaliforniachampionStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampion Corporate Member supporting WCS. USGBC California (US Green Building Council) promotes sustainability in the built environment and administers LEED certification.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• All Raise: Nonprofit dedicated to increasing the representation of women in venture and tech, including cleantech founders. Operates a similar community + programming model (events, mentorship, fellowships) and is the most direct analog in terms of mission, structure, and target members.
• Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE): Membership-based community advancing women's participation in the renewable energy sector. Closest mission-fit peer: same 'women in [cleantech sub-sector]' framing, comparable programming around networking, mentorship, and recognition awards.
• Ellevate Network: Global professional women's network offering membership, mentorship circles, and events for women in business. Direct comparison on member-based GTM, chapter/circle structure, and corporate partnership model.
• Athena Alliance: Membership-driven community for senior women leaders in technology and related industries. Comparable as a women-in-X professional network with paid memberships, curated programming, and corporate engagement models.
• Women Who Tech: Nonprofit working to close gender gaps in technology through community programs, advocacy, and events. Comparable as a women-in-tech nonprofit with virtual programming and corporate sponsorship revenue model.
• AnitaB.org: Nonprofit supporting women in technology through communities, events, and awards. Comparable programmatic model (conferences, member networking, recognition programs) targeting women in a specific technical vertical.

Broad incumbents

• Cleantech Group: Global research and advisory firm supporting corporates, investors, and startups in cleantech. It is a WCS Champion Corporate Member and addresses an overlapping corporate/cleantech audience from a B2B research/consulting standpoint.
• Greentown Labs: Largest cleantech startup incubator in North America, supporting hundreds of climate-tech startups with workspace, programming, and corporate partner access. Overlaps WCS in serving the cleantech entrepreneurship ecosystem and corporate sponsors (e.g., it overlaps on champion-tier cleantech corporates).

Emerging players

• Elemental Excelerator: Nonprofit cleantech innovation hub backing startups in climate, water, and community resilience. Similar nonprofit structure, mission alignment on scaling cleantech, and partial overlap on founder/community programming and corporate sponsor cohorts.

Others

• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): National nonprofit promoting sustainability in the built environment (LEED). Direct relationship overlap with WCS — USGBC California is a WCS Champion Corporate Member — and comparable nonprofit membership/corporate sponsorship model in the sustainability space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/womencleantech
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjFuvtFmY3jb_xRovO0pBOQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/womencleantech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-in-cleantech-&-sustainability
• Instagraminstagram.com/womencleantech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability