The initial clean energy cohort of DivInc, a Texas accelerator for people of color and women entrepreneurs, helped numerous early-stage startups reach key milestones.
The 12-week Chevron-Microsoft Clean Energy Tech accelerator program at the Ion taught seven clean energy business founders via seminars, mentorship, and VC deep dives. DivInc awarded each company a $10,000 non-dilutive grant during the program.
DivInc marketing director Cherise Luter said the Austin-based development program expanded beyond its Women in Tech and Sports Tech accelerators into renewable energy since it is a newer field with great promise.
“Clean energy is an emerging space where founders like ours, women and POC founders, can really get in on the ground floor in a great way so that they are building and benefiting from this new space,” Luter tells EnergyCapital.
Luter added corporate partners Chevron and Microsoft also prioritized diversity in the renewable energy industry and felt Houston was the ideal site to headquarter the accelerator because to its extensive resources, notably VCs.
“Houston, as the energy capital, has the resources, connections, and network, and we have found that those are the things that are most important for our founders to really take their companies to the next level,” Luter says.
These firms varied from solar power to electric car charging stations, but they all supported the clean energy shift.
“It’s so interesting with this cohort, how they are really merging the human part of clean energy—how it’s contributing to a better life for people—with a better situation for our environment and our climate,” Luter adds.
The inaugural cohort included one to two entrepreneurs from the following companies:
BlackCurrant Inc., based in Chicago, is transforming the hydrogen industry by simplifying OTC transactions and offering a comprehensive platform for businesses to seamlessly obtain equipment, fuel, and services essential for hydrogen adoption.
Owanga Solar, founded by two Emory University law students in Georgia, delivers sustainable and affordable solar energy solutions to households and businesses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Maryland-based Pirl Technology Inc. is building next-generation electric vehicle charging stations.
Houston-based Quantum New Energy has a software platform called EnerWisely that helps those who own assets that reduce carbon emissions, like solar panels, generate high-quality, verifiable carbon credits that don’t greenwash.
SOL Roofs, founded by Austinite Daniel Duerto, is creating the next generation of solar roofs by innovating existing technologies.
WIP International Services LLC, a Houston-based company, is addressing drinking water scarcity with its atmospheric water generators, which produce fresh drinking water from the humidity in the air.
On the accelerator’s demo day, Tracy Jackson, CEO of WIP International Services LLC, announced her Houston-based company’s pilot program to send 40 smaller atmospheric water generators to several schools in El Salvador.
“We’re going to continue on our path and we’re looking forward to signing more international contracts and any local opportunities that we can develop,” Jackson adds.
Luter announced WIP’s “major international contract in Mexico” after the show.
Luter also reported that accelerator member Quantum New Energy, a climatech Houston firm, had pre-launched EnerWisely, their carbon credit tracking software, for commercial facilities.
Luter said DivInc will host another clean energy accelerator cohort and is accepting founder submissions on a rolling basis.
