Incubators accelerate the commercialization of clean energy start-ups and grow the clean energy innovation ecosystem. Membership to an incubator provides entrepreneurs with an array of targeted resources and services. This can include physical office/coworking space, shared equipment/lab space, mentoring/coaching, office hours/educational workshops with experts, community and collaboration among peers, and access to a network of investors, corporate, and strategic partners. In some cases, incubators also provide customized services, such as prototyping manufacturing assistance. Start-ups need a range of these services to grow and commercialize. Incubator staff deliver these benefits and serve as a connector and convener to additional clean energy ecosystem experts.
If you are a clean energy start-up seeking incubator resources and services, review the incubators featured on this page to find the best fit for your clean energy business. For additional resources, review MassCEC's webpage on Accelerators and Business Resources for start-up companies.
If you are an incubator supporting clean energy start-ups, visit the IncubateMass Funding Webpage to learn about funding for incubator operations, eligibility, and how to apply.
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Fall River
CIE is located in Fall River, Massachusetts. It is a state-of-the-art technology facility that contains research laboratories with focused technology and key equipment, a fully functioning machine shop and rapid prototyping center, a conference center and a technology venture center. The CIE provides space, from benchtop to full bays, for technology-based start-ups and advanced technology and manufacturing solutions, through industry and university partnerships, technical and business expertise, and support services, to meet current and future business needs.
CleanTech InnoVenture Center (Part of North Shore InnoVentures)
Beverly
NSIV’s Cleantech InnoVenture Center cultivates innovative cleantech start-up companies and supports sustained economic growth in the region. It provides its companies access to 10,000 sq. ft. of shared office space and laboratories, shared equipment, mentoring and educational services, sponsor services, experienced entrepreneurs and investment advisers and support in raising capital. NSIV has raised $414M in Grants + Equity and has incubated 59 companies since inception. Together NSIV helps its members conserve capital, make good decisions, build strong teams, and achieve development and funding milestones.
Greentown Labs
Somerville
Greentown Labs offers its cleantech start-ups access to 33,000 sq. ft. of a shared prototyping lab, office space and event space. Greentown Labs also leverages its facility, partners, and sponsors to provide its entrepreneurs with access to the equipment within its machine shop, services, education and the network needed to launch companies quickly. By immersing its members into a growing community of energy and cleantech entrepreneurs, Greentown enables its start-ups to solve big energy problems. Greentown Labs has incubated over 230 companies, and raised over $415M in funding. More than 86% of their incubated companies are still operating today.
MassRobotics
MassRobotics is an innovation hub for robotics and connected devices that is encouraging the growth and development of emerging technologies, supported by MassCEC. The incubator provides programming and events, mentor support, a facility with state of the equipment, spaces for collaboration, among many other resources. The space is 40,000 square feet and includes an electronic lab, mechanical workshop, industrial automation lab, and a human-robot interaction lab. Check out MassRotbics white paper report here!
Lever
North Adams
Lever is an incubator in North Adams, MA, with a strong accelerator program, supported by MassCEC, that focuses on supporting entrepreneurs in order to create and build scalable companies. Lever has a partnership established with the Berkshire Sustainability Challenge, allowing it to further its impact in growing the clean energy ecosystem. Since its start in 2014, over 100 entrepreneurs have been supported and the program has raised more than $7M in equity investment.