The Technical University of Madrid (through the Innovation and Technology for Development Center-itdUPM and the Technological Innovation Support Centre CAIT-UPM), together with Impact Hub Vienna and a consortium of European partners, launches Clean Cities ClimAccelerator, an accelerator that aims to support 30 start-ups focused on the fight against climate change in cities. The programme, whose call for applications is open until 16 May, was created with the support of Climate-KIC and has more than 400,000 euros in funding.
ClimAccelerator and systemic change in cities
The challenge for cities to become resilient and healthy places in a few years and, at the same time, achieve net zero emissions is enormous. Achieving this ambitious goal requires the commitment and collaboration of different spheres such as public administration, academia, business, civil society… and also the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
ClimAccelerator is therefore aimed at start-ups across the European Union that are developing solutions focused on the transformation towards climate neutrality in cities (in areas such as mobility, waste, energy, health or construction and rehabilitation of buildings) and that have the capacity to contribute with their solutions and services to a necessary systemic change in cities.
It is an opportunity for start-ups to develop a proof of concept in the framework of already functioning collaborative urban ecosystems. Clean Cities ClimAccelerator in fact builds on the collaborative ecosystems already created within the Deep Demonstration programmes on Clean and Healthy Cities developed by the City Councils of Madrid and Vienna, supported by EIT Climate-KIC, and focuses on solving real challenges faced by both cities. All this with the collaboration of strategic partners such as Ferrovial, Wien Energie, Wiener Linien, Wiener Lokalbahnen, Wiener Wohnen and ZubiLabs & La Pinada, among others.
How ClimAccelerator works: validation, collaboration and impact
The program is designed in 3 stages:
- Validation: 1st stage will focus on helping start-ups refine and develop their specific unique selling point and business model: the program offers a virtual boot camp, one-on-one mentoring, up to € 5.000 funding for each start-up, workshops and exposure to our global network and events.
- Collaboration: The 2nd stage brings additional funding up to € 20.000; start-ups will engage with demand-owners, support from experts, mentors during workshops and various activities move with a well-formulated business model to real customers. They dial in on solving a real problem by one of our challenge owners and continuously develop their proof of concept.
- Impact: Start-ups are ready to pitch their business cases to investors or launch it to customers. We offer workshops on valuation, investor strategy, financial structuring, deal-making, strategic partnering and access to EIT Climate-KIC Investment Program and Investor Marketplace.
The deadline to participate in the Clean Cities ClimAccelerator is 16 May.
The accelerator encourages all EU start-ups to be part of this shared journey towards clean and healthy cities with a carbon neutral future.
