There are now more than 200 programs supporting entrepreneurs at universities across the United States. In this session, you will hear from four universities each with their own unique model for helping climate tech startups at every stage — from idea to discovery to commercialization. Learn how these initiatives create new opportunities to partner with large corporations and communities.

VERGE Accelerate is a series of fast-pitch competitions featuring leading climate tech startups. Today’s session highlights five entrepreneurs building solutions for energy. Hear expert reactions to each pitch, and then cast your vote to help determine the winner, who will get to pitch in the main stage finals on Thursday, October 28.

How is the way we think about energy evolving, and what are the systems involved in decarbonizing the electric power industry? The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has been leading efforts in innovation to de risk and scale new technologies that will decarbonize all sectors — from vehicle electrification to building technologies to larger system-level efficiency systems. There are a multitude of solutions, and EPRI has had a front row seat when it comes to testing and deploying these technologies at scale. Erik Steeb, senior technical leader in technology innovation at EPRI, will share the many lessons learned along the way from supporting entrepreneurs focused on clean energy innovation and deployment.

How can frontline communities and next-gen tech innovators work together to advance climate tech? In developing and launching the Forward for Good Accelerator in Climate Justice, the Verizon team uncovered the lesson that there are two silos of climate tech work occurring — community-led and tech-led. What solutions could we create if these two communities worked together rather than in separate lanes?

This session brings together representatives of climate tech startups, corporations and frontline communities to ideate around what could be achieved by working together better. What are the strengths each group rings to the table? What are the gaps in perspective? Are there trust issues? What specific steps could bridge the gap?

This isn’t about matching problems with solutions, it’s about coming to a common understanding of the problems and co-creating the solutions.

It’s no secret that women, Black and Brown founders are funded at lower rates than their white male counterparts. Only 14% of VC funds go to teams with at least one female founder and less than 2% of venture capital goes to Black and Latinx entrepreneurs. This panel will explore what investors and startup founders can do to redesign the fundraising process and close the gap. Hear from experienced founders who have successfully raised capital and investors doing the work to support traditionally excluded entrepreneurs.

What does it take to scale a climate tech startup from idea to market viability in an industry that is historically difficult to decarbonize? Hear from a CEO who is tackling the transition to zero-emissions transportation through long-haul freight. ClearFlame is modifying diesel engines to use clean-burning, renewable alternative fuels to simultaneously improve performance and drastically reduce emissions for a wide range of engine applications. Learn how this company scaled from research to product development to landing initial strategic partners — all in the pursuit of the fastest path to a sustainable and clean heavy-duty transportation industry.

VERGE Accelerate is a series of fast-pitch competitions featuring leading climate tech startups. Today’s session highlights five entrepreneurs building solutions for regenerative food systems. Hear expert reactions to each pitch, and then cast your vote to help determine the winner, who will get to pitch in the main stage finals on Thursday, October 28.

VERGE Accelerate is a series of fast-pitch competitions featuring leading climate tech startups. Today’s session highlights five entrepreneurs building solutions for carbon removal. Hear expert reactions to each pitch, and then cast your vote to help determine the winner, who will get to pitch in the main stage finals on Thursday, October 28.

Want to know the hottest trends in climate tech investing? Sophie Purdom of the Climate Tech VC newsletter, has you covered! This is your chance to learn about Sophie’s journey starting in consulting, to founding an agtech startup, writing a book along the way, to now co-leading Climate Tech VC. The newsletter has covered broad market trends related to solar, EV and carbon capture and published deep dives on corporate VCs and sustainable infrastructure. Come hear how Sophie got started in climate tech, the data behind the content, and what’s next.

The best of this year’s startup pitches — and one winner, selected by the audience.

Twenty-five startups were chosen to pitch at VERGE 21. Today, the winners from each VERGE conference – representing carbon, energy, food, mobility and water infrastructure – will pitch on the main stage, where audience voting will pick one with the most game-changing potential.

The current wave of tech innovation isn’t confined to traditional hubs in Silicon Valley and New York. New opportunities for partnership and investment are growing every day in regions across the United States. In this session, you will hear from climate tech accelerators launching programs in places such as Texas, Tennessee, Florida and Maryland. This creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs and technologies that have not traditionally been able to access funding, and brings together public and private partners to support and further accelerate the transition to a clean economy.  

Innovators lay out the logistics and economics behind reusable packaging programs emerging across the food industry. 

The Covid-19 pandemic had a detrimental impact on hard-won improvements in the reduction of food packaging and disposable tableware. Nonetheless, circular economy warriors have continued to refine reusable packaging programs over the past year, overcoming complex economical and logistical challenges. Experts will share the important lessons to help other companies curb their waste footprint and become part of a circular future. Discover models that work, the essential steps for starting your own reusable program and what mistakes to avoid.