What What Rebates does

What Rebates is a privately held US consulting firm that recovers utility rebates, R&D tax credits, and clean energy incentives for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) operators — primarily indoor cannabis cultivators, vertical farms, and greenhouse growers. The company operates a proprietary cross-referencing platform that matches facility equipment profiles against 500+ active utility programs, state incentives, and federal credits across 48 states, supported by established relationships with utility program managers. Service scope covers LED grow lighting, HVAC, dehumidification, environmental controllers, solar PV, CoGen systems, battery storage, and the federal solar ITC, with an interactive web-based facility audit tool and a client dashboard for application tracking. The company coordinates end-to-end rebate lifecycle management from program identification through application filing, utility coordination, and final disbursement collection, and coordinates equipment financing bundles for cannabis (up to 10-year terms) and agricultural operators (15-20 year terms).

The company operates a sales-led, consultative go-to-market anchored by a free 30-minute facility audit, with no resellers, distributors, marketplace, or OEM channels. Revenue is generated primarily through a performance-based fee calculated as a percentage of incentives successfully recovered — the company earns only when a rebate check or tax credit is disbursed — with a secondary referral stream from equipment financing partners. Multi-site CEA operators (5-20 facilities) are the explicit high-value segment. Demand generation is driven by the company website, educational blog content, a newsletter, and direct presence at major CEA industry events including MJBizCon, Indoor Ag-Con, CannaCon Midwest, Lucky Leaf Expo, and GROWUP Toronto.

What Rebates has recovered $42M+ in incentives across 200+ facilities and reports a 95% client retention rate. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and a leadership team of approximately 5 named executives (COO Alexis Dubourdieu, Program Manager Abigail Wood, Sales Manager Marcos Betancourt, Project Manager Pamela Gaytan, Business Development Manager Coen Cornelissen). The company maintains a strategic alliance with Royse Partners for R&D tax credit delivery and a preferred-manufacturer network of 40+ LED lighting, HVAC, and CEA equipment brands.

Name

What Rebates

Legal name

What Rebates

Website

https://whatrebates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

What Rebates is a US consulting firm that recovers utility rebates, R&D tax credits, and clean energy incentives for Controlled Environment Agriculture operators — indoor cannabis cultivators, vertical farms, and greenhouse growers — across 48 states on a performance-based fee model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Utility Rebate Consulting

NAICS

Business Support Services (5614)

akta.pro primary industry

Couponing, Rebates & Cash-Back Promotions (BPAFAMAI)

Keywords

• Utility rebate consulting
• Energy incentives recovery
• R&D tax credits
• Controlled environment agriculture
• Equipment financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Corona

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. Performance-Based Rebate Recovery Fees: The company's sole revenue stream is a performance-based fee calculated as a percentage of incentives recovered for clients. There is no hourly billing, no retainer, and no upfront cost. The fee is only charged after a rebate check or tax credit is successfully disbursed to the client. This aligns company incentives entirely with client recovery outcomes.
2. Rebate-Backed Equipment Financing Referral: What Rebates coordinates equipment financing (up to 10 years for cannabis, 15–20 years for agriculture) through financing partners, bundling solar, battery, HVAC, dehumidification, LED lighting, or greenhouse roofing. Rebate reservation letters are used to reduce financed amounts. Revenue is generated through referral arrangements with financing partners, with fees embedded in financing terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

What Rebates is a performance-based consulting firm that recovers utility rebates, state incentives, federal credits, and R&D tax credits for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) operators. The company handles the entire rebate lifecycle—from facility audit and program identification through application filing, utility coordination, follow-up, and final disbursement collection—across 48 states for equipment including LED grow lights, HVAC systems, dehumidifiers, environmental controllers, and solar installations. Clients pay nothing upfront; the company earns only a percentage of the incentives successfully recovered.

Product overview

What Rebates is a performance-based utility rebate consulting firm for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) operators. The company offers a suite of services including Utility Rebates (filing for LED lighting, HVAC, dehumidifiers, and controls), R&D Tax Credits recovery, Energy Assessments, Solar & Clean Energy Solutions, CEA-Specific Programs, and Equipment Financing. The core offering is a managed end-to-end service that handles the entire rebate lifecycle from discovery through disbursement. Clients access the platform via a Client Dashboard for tracking application status. The company operates across 48 states, tracking 500+ active utility programs, with a reported $42M+ recovered for 200+ facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Utility Rebates Service

Quantifiable outcome

• $42M+ rebates recovered for clients
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

46 partnerships are on record, tiered core and preferred.

• Royse PartnerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWhat Rebates has formed a strategic alliance with Royse Partners, a specialized R&D tax credit advisory firm. Royse Partners provides the qualified tax professionals, engineers, and industry experts needed to conduct R&D tax credit studies for CEA operators. What Rebates refers clients to Royse Partners for the R&D credit component of incentive recovery, while What Rebates handles the utility rebate side. The partnership is presented as the recommended path for clients seeking both utility rebates and R&D credits, with Royse handling the courtesy review, full R&D study, and IRS-compliant documentation delivery. What Rebates co-brands R&D credit pages with Royse Partners.
• Aelius LEDpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred manufacturer partner for horticultural LED grow light rebates. DLC-certified fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates. What Rebates works with Aelius LED to unlock rebates for CEA operators purchasing the brand's LED fixtures.
• DimluxpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred manufacturer partner for horticultural LED grow light rebates. Dimlux LED fixtures are DLC-listed and qualify for prescriptive utility rebates across multiple utility territories.
• FohsepreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred manufacturer partner for horticultural LED grow light rebates. Fohse LED fixtures qualify for utility rebates through What Rebates' preferred program relationships.
• Dutch Lighting Innovations (DLI)preferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred manufacturer partner. DLI horticultural LED fixtures qualify for DLC prescriptive rebate programs through the What Rebates partner network.
• SollumpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred manufacturer partner for dynamically dimmable LED grow lights. Sollum's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive rebates.
• PhotontekpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Photontek fixtures are DLC-listed and covered by prescriptive rebate programs through the What Rebates network.
• ValoyapreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Valoya's spectrum-specific DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• SanlightpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Sanlight's high-efficiency fixtures qualify for prescriptive rebate programs.
• Enlite EnergypreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Enlite Energy fixtures are covered by DLC prescriptive rebate programs through the What Rebates preferred network.
• AndenpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred partner for commercial dehumidification equipment. Anden's products qualify for CEA-specific utility efficiency rebate programs.
• Argus ControlspreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred HVAC and climate control partner. Argus Controls smart environmental controllers qualify for demand response and controls-based incentive programs.
• PrivapreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred HVAC and climate control partner. Priva's environmental management systems qualify for prescriptive controls-based utility rebates.
• Quest ControlspreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred HVAC and climate control partner. Quest Controls' smart controllers qualify for demand response and load management incentive programs.
• TrolMasterpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred HVAC and climate control partner. TrolMaster's environmental controllers qualify for controls-based prescriptive utility rebates.
• York (HVAC)preferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred HVAC partner. York's commercial HVAC systems qualify under commercial HVAC incentive programs available through What Rebates' utility network.
• HydrofarmpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural equipment distributor partner. Hydrofarm's range of CEA equipment (LEDs, hydroponic systems) qualifies for utility rebates through the What Rebates preferred program network.
• BLIpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. BLI's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates through the What Rebates preferred manufacturer network.
• AgrowtekpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred HVAC and climate control partner. Agrowtek's environmental controllers qualify for demand response and controls-based incentives.
• CeresluxpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Cereslux's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• Scyne LEDpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Scyne LED's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates through the What Rebates preferred network.
• Anthera GrouppreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Anthera Group's fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• RapidGrow LEDpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. RapidGrow LED's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• Red HorticulturepreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Red Horticulture's fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates through the What Rebates network.
• ULightpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. ULight's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• SpecGradepreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural equipment partner. SpecGrade's CEA equipment qualifies for utility rebates through the What Rebates network.
• Xtreme FarmingpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Xtreme Farming's LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• ILUMINAR LightingpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. ILUMINAR's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• Cultivation WarehousepreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural equipment partner. Cultivation Warehouse's CEA equipment qualifies for utility rebates through the What Rebates network.
• ElectrivopreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Electrivo's fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• ElevatedpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Elevated's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• EvolvepreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Evolve's LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• FlexstarpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Flexstar's fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• Global GardenpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural equipment partner. Global Garden's CEA equipment qualifies for utility rebates through the What Rebates network.
• GrowershousepreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural equipment partner. Growershouse's CEA equipment qualifies for utility rebates through the What Rebates network.
• HortibestpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Hortibest's LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• HydrobuilderpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural equipment partner. Hydrobuilder's CEA equipment qualifies for utility rebates through the What Rebates network.
• Hydro Supply Co.preferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural equipment partner. Hydro Supply Co.'s CEA products qualify for utility rebates through the What Rebates network.
• MatrixpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Matrix LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• Mighty BoxpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Mighty Box's LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• OhrtecpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Ohrtec's LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• PhotobiopreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Photobio's DLC-listed fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• ProximitypreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Proximity's LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• Thrive AgritechpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Thrive Agritech's fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• TotalgrowpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Totalgrow's LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.
• VoltpreferredGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred horticultural LED grow light partner. Volt's LED fixtures qualify for prescriptive utility rebates.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• BOYNECOST (now part of Ryan): R&D tax credit advisory firm (now operating under Ryan). Comparable to What Rebates' R&D tax credit line, providing specialized Section 41 studies for innovative industries including cannabis and agriculture.
• Kevala: Energy data and analytics platform focused on utility program design and customer-side incentive navigation. Comparable emerging player in the utility-rebate enablement stack.
• CohnReznick: Top-30 accounting and advisory firm with dedicated R&D tax credit and cannabis practices. Directly comparable to What Rebates on R&D tax credit recovery for CEA/cannabis operators, particularly via Royse Partners' referral adjacency.
• Marcum LLP: Major accounting firm with one of the largest dedicated cannabis practices in the U.S. Provides tax credits, incentive recovery, and consulting to cultivators — directly comparable to What Rebates on the cannabis-specific incentive-recovery axis.
• Viridian Capital Advisors: Cannabis-focused financial advisory and consulting firm offering incentive/credit advisory services. Comparable to What Rebates as a cannabis-specialist consulting firm serving multi-state operators.

Broad incumbents

• Energy Solutions: Nonprofit energy program administrator managing utility incentive programs across multiple U.S. states. Comparable to What Rebates in administering utility rebate workflows but serves a much broader customer base.
• Resource Innovations: Energy efficiency and decarbonization consulting firm delivering utility program administration, evaluation, and implementation services. Directly comparable in the utility-rebate consulting/administration space across multiple verticals.
• ICF International: Professional services firm with substantial energy and utility practice, including program design, implementation, and incentive management. Comparable on the utility-rebate/incentive-administration service line for energy clients.
• CLEAResult: One of the largest North American energy efficiency program administrators, designing and implementing utility rebate/incentive programs. Broader incumbent operating across many verticals but directly competes with What Rebates on the utility rebate administration layer.
• Franklin Energy: National provider of energy efficiency and grid optimization services for utilities. Operates rebate/incentive programs similar in mechanics to What Rebates, though at much larger scale and across general commercial/industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/what-rebates
• Instagraminstagram.com/what_rebates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 What Rebates