Clean Cities ClimAccelerator 📍 Vienna, austria and madrid, spain

The primary goal of the Clean Cities ClimAccelerator is to accelerate the development and commercialization of cleantech solutions that contribute to urban climate neutrality. Specific activities include:

• Early-stage support: In the explore stage, startups receive up to €5,000 in non-equity grants to assess whether their solutions fit the defined urban challenges. This stage includes training, networking events, and access to investors.
• Proof-of-concept development: In the validate and collaborate stage, startups receive up to €20,000 through the innovative CLIMA-SAFE Investment Agreement, which helps them develop proof-of-concept plans while being matched with challenge owners.
• Market entry and scaling: In the scale stage, startups are given personalized support to access new markets, secure investments, and scale their solutions.

Impact on Climate Neutrality

The program directly supports climate neutrality by focusing on cleantech solutions that address climate impacts in urban areas. It achieves this by:

• Targeting system-level innovations with the potential to significantly reduce urban carbon emissions.
• Operating a demand-led model, where solutions are developed in direct response to city-defined challenges, ensuring relevance and impact.
• Providing tailored financial and operational support through different stages of growth, helping startups commercialize their solutions and achieve market traction.

While the program is relatively new, it has demonstrated potential to generate significant impact by accelerating the development of climate solutions and influencing social behaviors critical to achieving net-zero emissions.

Examples of funded ventures

• EVE is an e-mobility intelligence company helping organizations transition to a net-zero economy by reducing fleet emissions. Using cutting-edge technology, including cost and emissions analytics, EVE’s cloud-based software optimizes charging patterns, achieving up to 20% cost savings and 70% fewer CO2 emissions. EVE captures live data from fleets and energy grids to track charging locations, costs, and emissions.
• Living Light combines design, science, and technology to integrate plants into energy systems. The Living Light – Park uses the photosynthesis of plants to power green spaces, producing CO2-negative lighting without disturbing nature. By connecting people with nature, Living Light promotes resilient, sustainable energy solutions.
• VELECO optimizes livestock businesses by turning organic waste from the agri-food sector into biogas. Their low-cost biogas plants, combined with hydrogen technology, boost efficiency by up to 40%, producing clean, renewable energy that is both affordable and environmentally friendly.

Innovative Approaches

The Clean Cities ClimAccelerator introduces several innovative approaches:

• Demand-led model: The program is built around real urban challenges, ensuring that startups are developing solutions that address specific, pressing problems. By matching startups with challenge owners, the accelerator ensures that the solutions are practical and applicable.
• Unique grant structure: The CLIMA-SAFE Investment Agreement provides founder-friendly, non-dilutive funding in the early stages and offers future equity agreements only after significant progress is made.
• Targeted stage-based support: Startups receive targeted support at different stages, ensuring that they are prepared not only for development but also for scaling and entering new markets.

Stakeholders

• Impact Hub Vienna: Provides acceleration support in terms of services, managing the program, and acting as a network connector between startups, cities, challenge owners, and investors.
• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid: Provides acceleration support, network connections, and coordination between actors such as startups, cities, and investors.
• EIT Climate-KIC: Provides grant investment and network connections to investment circles (Climate-KIC investment network) and knowledge networks like ClimateHIVE.
• City of Vienna: Hosts networking and training events, providing municipal insight on specific challenges to ensure solutions address real city needs.
• City of Madrid: Hosts networking and training events, offering municipal insights to ensure solutions are grounded in the city's real challenges.
• Climate startups: Refine and develop their solutions according to the needs of the challenge owners; work on commercializing and scaling their technologies.
• Challenge owners: Provide knowledge on the specific challenges, connect startups with relevant networks, and support pilots or proof-of-concept within city councils.
• Mentors: Offer technical support, market insights, and networking opportunities; provide guidance on piloting and proof-of-concept stages.
• Pool of jury members: Composed of accelerator partners, entrepreneurs, investors, and experts who evaluate the program applications.
• International speakers: Provide insight and training in key business and sustainability topics for participating startups.

Operational details and scalability

The Clean Cities ClimAccelerator operates across Vienna and Madrid with the involvement of key stakeholders, including cities, universities, investors, and startups. The program is easily scalable and can be replicated in other cities or regions that are interested in accelerating cleantech solutions.

• Stakeholder networks: The program benefits from strong stakeholder engagement, including partnerships with Impact Hub Vienna, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and EIT Climate-KIC, all of which provide essential financial and networking support.
• Scalability: The program’s flexible structure makes it adaptable to other urban contexts. It mainly depends on the strength of partnerships and the availability of robust networks connecting cities, startups, and investors.