Sustain Southern California

What Sustain Southern California does

Sustain Southern California (Sustain SoCal) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit business league founded in 2008 (originally as CleanTech OC) and headquartered at UCI Beall Applied Innovation in Irvine, California. The organization accelerates sustainability and cleantech growth in the Southern California region by convening cleantech companies, local government, investors, academia, and nonprofits around a portfolio of programs: the SUSTAINERATOR business accelerator for early-stage members, the ENGAGE 10-class sustainability course for working professionals, the CSO Roundtable for chief sustainability officers, the Annual Energy Event conference, the Sustainability Awards, and tiered memberships (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Non-Profit, Startup, Government). Sustain SoCal also co-hosts the Annual Sustainability Private Capital Event with ROTH Capital Partners—since 2013, ROTH has facilitated approximately 230 transactions totaling over $36 billion in deal value through this forum—and co-launched the Elevation Ventures Seed-to-Series-A climate and sustainability fund with Octane in 2023.

The business model is multi-stream and primarily subscription/event-based rather than technology- or product-based. Sustain SoCal generates revenue through annual membership dues across six tiers, event sponsorships for the Annual Energy Event and Sustainability Awards (processed via PayPal or credit card), event and workshop registration fees, enterprise training contracts for the ENGAGE course, and general donations. A separate 501(c)(3) entity—the Sustain OC Foundation—operates workforce and education programs including the Sustainable Campus Challenge for Orange County high school students. The organization has 1-10 employees and runs a regional go-to-market focused on Orange County, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, and San Diego. There is no proprietary software platform, mobile application, API, or AI component disclosed; distribution is conducted through events, conferences, partner co-marketing (Verdical Group, USGBC-CA, OCTANe, LACI, ACC OC, NREL), and direct membership sales.

Sustain SoCal's customer base is distributed across cleantech startups and corporates, government sustainability officers, corporate sustainability professionals, students, and academic institutions. Its core differentiator is the depth and longevity of its cross-sectoral network, with board representation from senior executives at Siemens, ENGIE, SoCal Gas, Disney, Calpine, Black & Veatch, Silicon Valley Bank, Stantec, and PNC Private Bank reinforcing its convening role. The organization does not raise institutional funding rounds, has no disclosed parent company, and is governed by a volunteer board of directors led by President & CEO C. Scott Kitcher.

Name

Sustain Southern California

Legal name

Sustain Southern California

Website

https://sustainsocal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sustain Southern California is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit business league based in Irvine that convenes cleantech companies, investors, government, and academia across the region through memberships, the SUSTAINERATOR accelerator, the ENGAGE sustainability course, the Annual Energy Event, and the Elevation Ventures climate fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for organizations providing networking, educational programs, mentorship, and visibility benefits. Membership tiers include Gold, Silver, Bronze, Non-Profit, Startup, and Government categories. 501(c)(6) business league structure.
2. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship payments for events including the Annual Energy Event, Sustainability Awards, and partner events. Processed via PayPal or credit card.
3. Event Registration: Fees for conferences, workshops, roundtables, and educational programs including the ENGAGE sustainability course and partner events.
4. Donations: General donations to support sustainability initiatives in Southern California region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sustain Southern California operates a 501(c)(6) business league providing tiered membership, networking forums, conferences, workshops, education programs, mentorship, and a startup accelerator (Sustainerator) to connect cleantech companies, investors, government, academic, and nonprofit stakeholders in Southern California. It also co-manages the Elevation Ventures Seed-to-Series A climate fund in partnership with Octane and produces flagship events such as the Annual Energy Event and Sustainability Awards.

Product overview

Sustain Southern California is a 501(c)(6) business league and membership-based organization that accelerates the business of sustainability and cleantech growth through innovation, collaboration, and education. Rather than offering a unified software product, the organization provides a portfolio of programs and services including: SUSTAINERATOR (a business accelerator for early-stage cleantech members), ENGAGE (a 10-class sustainability course for professionals), Elevation Ventures (a VC fund partnership for Seed to Series A climate companies), networking groups and working groups across sustainability verticals, the Annual Energy Event conference, Sustainability Awards, and tiered membership with benefits including mentorship and advisory services. The organization serves as a hub connecting cleantech companies, investors, government, academia, and nonprofits in the Southern California region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SUSTAINERATOR: Business accelerator for early-stage cleantech and climate tech companies providing investor meetings, pitch guidance, business development support, and access to research institutions
• ENGAGE
• Elevation Ventures
• CSO Roundtable
• Sustain OC Foundation

Products and services

• Membership Program Tiered annual membership (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Non-Profit, Startup, Government tiers) providing organizations in the sustainability and cleantech sector with networking opportunities, educational programs, member-only events, mentorship access, advocacy representation, and enhanced visibility.
• Sustainerator Accelerator Business accelerator for early-stage cleantech and climate tech member companies providing investor meetings, business development outreach, pitch guidance, technology alignment support, access to research institutions, and speaking opportunities at Sustain SoCal events.
• ENGAGE Course in Sustainability 10-class educational course covering the fundamentals of sustainability and its economic impact for working professionals. Includes speaker series with sustainability officers, participation in CSO Roundtable, presentation opportunities, and Sustain SoCal Certificate of Completion upon completion. Also offered as private corporate training.
• Elevation Ventures (Climate and Sustainability VC Fund Partnership) Seed to Series A climate and sustainability fund partnership between Sustain SoCal and Octane, led by former Google[x] executive Neal Rickner. Provides capital to Southern California founders and leverages Octane's LaunchPad accelerator alongside Sustain SoCal's network.
• Networking and Collaboration Services Forum for exchanging ideas, information, and opportunities among cleantech companies, local government, investors, academia, and nonprofits. Includes working groups focused on Energy, Water, Advanced Transportation, Agriculture Technology, Government Policy and Affairs, and Cleantech Investors.
• Annual Energy Event Sustain SoCal's flagship annual event drawing hundreds of sustainability professionals to discuss advancing energy solutions, technologies, and policy needs. Features keynote speakers, panel discussions, innovator showcases, and the Sustainability Awards announcements.
• Sustainability Awards Annual awards program recognizing Sustainable Corporation of the Year, Sustainable Government of the Year, Cleantech Company of the Year, and Cleantech Startup categories. Announced at the Annual Energy Event.
• Mentorship and Advisory Services Program providing cleantech startups access to investors and financial, legal, marketing, technology, and public policy experts, plus corporate and government sustainability officer invitations to best-practices roundtables and the ENGAGE course.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $36 billion in sustainability transactions facilitated since 2013

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• OctanecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of Elevation Ventures Fund focused on Seed to Series A climate and sustainability companies. Partnership leverages Octane's LaunchPad accelerator with Sustain SoCal's network of energy and sustainability professionals.
• UCI Beall Applied InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing access to research institutions and innovation infrastructure. Hosts new member onboarding and orientation sessions. Location of Sustain SoCal headquarters and multiple events.
• Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting cleantech and climate tech growth in the Southern California ecosystem.
• OCTANemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub partner supporting technology and sustainability companies in Orange County through acceleration programs and ecosystem building.
• U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partner for green building and sustainability events. Hosts USGBC-CA Game Night, Converge San Diego panels, and other collaborative events. Includes Orange County Regional Leadership Advisory Board activities.
• Verdical GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Net Zero Conference hosted at Los Angeles Convention Center. Sustain SoCal is a proud partner of both 2025 and 2026 Net Zero Conference events.
• Association of California Cities Orange County (ACC OC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization representing cities and local government in Orange County for sustainability collaboration.
• Association of Energy Engineers SoCal Chapter (AEE SoCal)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association partner for energy engineering and sustainability professionals in Southern California.
• Center for Sustainable EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization focused on sustainable energy education and implementation.
• Executive Next Practices Institute (ENPI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive education and thought leadership partner for sustainability and innovation practices.
• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomic development partner for Los Angeles County supporting regional sustainability initiatives.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal research partner providing access to renewable energy research and expertise.
• University of California IrvinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research collaboration, student engagement, and innovation infrastructure through UCI Beall Applied Innovation.
• RevHub OCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation hub partner for Orange County supporting climate action business incubator and startup ecosystem.
• Advanced Transportation Center of OC and Inland EmpiremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing access and networking opportunities in the advanced transportation sector. Sustain SoCal is an official Strategic Partner.
• Sustain OC FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit operated by Sustain Southern California. Brings education, career development, workforce retention, and community engagement opportunities to Orange County high school students through the Sustainable Campus Challenge program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Impact Hub: Global network of innovation hubs and incubators supporting impact-driven entrepreneurs across sustainability and social enterprise verticals, with membership and programming offerings. Comparable as a community/membership-based sustainability innovation ecosystem operator.
• OCTANe: Orange County technology and life sciences innovation hub running the LaunchPad accelerator. Co-founded Elevation Ventures with Sustain SoCal and serves the same SoCal founder/investor ecosystem, making it the closest operational peer.
• American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE): National membership-based nonprofit that convenes the renewable energy industry through events, policy advocacy, and member services. Closely matches Sustain SoCal's 501(c)(6) business league structure, advocacy at federal level, and membership/event revenue model.
• New Energy Nexus: Global cleantech accelerator network supporting diverse founders in clean energy and climate solutions across multiple geographies, with comparable cohort, mentorship, and investor-access programming.
• Activate (formerly Cyclotron Road): Fellowship program for entrepreneurs commercializing climate-hard technologies, providing stipend, mentorship, and investor introductions. Comparable to Sustain SoCal's Sustainerator and Elevation Ventures as a founder-support vehicle in the climate ecosystem.
• Greentown Labs: U.S. cleantech incubator and hardware prototyping facility supporting early-stage climate startups with workspace, mentorship, and corporate connections. Highly comparable business model to Sustain SoCal's Sustainerator and networking programming.
• Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI): LA-based cleantech incubator and accelerator supporting early-stage startups with programming, capital access, and corporate partnerships. Directly comparable to Sustain SoCal as a Southern California cleantech ecosystem builder and is listed as a Sustain SoCal partner organization.
• Elemental Excelerator: Climate-focused impact accelerator funding and supporting early-stage startups with non-dilutive capital and corporate pilots. Directly comparable to Sustain SoCal/Octane's Elevation Ventures in deploying capital and pilots to climate founders.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): Independent climate and energy policy-focused nonprofit convening businesses, policymakers, and NGOs through research, convenings, and advocacy. Comparable as a nonprofit sustainability/cleantech membership and advocacy organization, though operating at a national rather than regional scale.

Broad incumbents

• Cleantech Group: Established global research and advisory firm serving the cleantech industry through events, research subscriptions, and the i3 Connect platform. Comparable focus on connecting cleantech innovators with corporates and investors, but operates as a broader commercial incumbent across geographies and verticals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sustainsocal
• Facebookfacebook.com/sustainsocal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainsocal
• Instagraminstagram.com/sustainsocal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles29 records

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 Sustain Southern California