Startups developing technologies that capture, convert, remove, sequester or otherwise turn carbon-rich streams into valuable products can apply for the sixth cohort of the Carbon to Value (C2V) Initiative.
The six-month accelerator is designed for startups that have moved beyond laboratory development and are working towards product-market fit, commercialisation and partnerships. Selected companies will receive tailored support and direct engagement with corporate leaders, investors, technical experts and other players in the carbontech ecosystem.
The initiative is a partnership between the Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Greentown Labs and Fraunhofer USA. Applications are open to startups from anywhere in the world.
About the Programme
The Carbon to Value Initiative focuses on helping carbontech startups move promising technologies towards commercial deployment.
For Year 6, the programme is seeking startups developing differentiated and scalable technologies that use captured carbon or carbon-rich streams as a major input, including solutions involving carbon conversion, carbon capture, carbon removal and sequestration.
The programme combines accelerator programming with direct engagement with members of the Carbontech Leadership Council, an invitation-only group of corporate and industry leaders.
What Selected Startups Receive
Selected startups will have access to:
- Six-month accelerator programme with customised workshops and support focused on commercialisation and scaling.
- Corporate engagement with members of the Carbontech Leadership Council to explore market fit, pilots, offtake agreements, licensing, procurement, investment and other partnerships.
- Mentorship and technical expertise from the Urban Future Lab, Greentown Labs, Fraunhofer USA and the wider C2V network.
- Access to industry and investor networks, including corporate partners, government funders, investors, nonprofit organisations and previous C2V startups.
- Membership access to Greentown Labs and/or Urban Future Lab incubator resources for the duration of the programme.
- Up to US$10,000 discretionary stipend per selected startup to help cover participation-related expenses.
The programme is particularly focused on helping startups validate markets, advance pilots and develop commercial partnerships.
Who Can Apply
Applicants should:
- Have a differentiated and scalable carbontech technology, product or service.
- Be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4–7.
- Have technology that has been validated in a laboratory environment.
- Be actively investigating product-market fit.
- Be seeking partnerships to commercialise and scale.
- Be prepared to participate in required in-person programme activities.
Areas of Innovation
C2V is particularly interested in technologies involving:
Carbon conversion
- Converting CO₂ and other carbon-rich streams into fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel, e-fuels, methanol and renewable natural gas.
- Converting carbon-rich streams into chemicals, polymers and other products.
- Turning captured carbon into materials such as carbonates, fertilisers and advanced carbon materials.
- Converting waste biomass, municipal waste, industrial waste and other carbon-rich waste into valuable products through processes such as gasification, fermentation and pyrolysis.
- AI and machine-learning applications that directly improve carbon conversion technologies.
Carbon capture
- Point-source carbon capture.
- Direct air capture.
- Direct ocean capture.
- Gas separation, purification and biogas upgrading.
- AI and machine-learning applications that directly improve carbon capture, separation, purification or upgrading technologies.
Carbon removal and sequestration
- Marine carbon dioxide removal and blue carbon.
- Biomass carbon removal and storage.
- Biochar and biomass-based carbon storage.
- Enhanced mineralisation and rock weathering.
- AI and machine-learning applications directly supporting carbon removal, sequestration or durable storage technologies.
The categories are not exhaustive, and C2V says startups with novel carbontech innovations are encouraged to apply even where their technology does not fall neatly within the examples listed.
Programme Format
The six-month programme combines customised workshops, corporate engagement, mentorship and networking.
Selected startups will participate in both virtual and in-person activities. In-person events are scheduled to take place in Boston, New York City and Houston, alongside virtual programming.
Attendance at required in-person events is mandatory, regardless of where a startup is based.