After sifting through nearly 100 applicants, Black & Veatch has made its selection of startups to join the IgniteX Climate Tech Accelerator program.
The eight startups chosen, from across the U.S. and Canada, will partner with Black & Veatch to further design, develop and realize proposed climate technology solutions, ranging from carbon capture and resilient distributed infrastructure to textile recycling and fertilizer production.
During the 12-week virtual program, beginning in May with an in-person Demo Day, Overland Park-based Black & Veatch will pair with the eight companies, providing access to mentorship and the firm’s subject-matter experts, test products, pitch development investor introductions, and receive as much as $50,000 in funding.
This is the third cohort of the IgniteX program and Ryan Pletka, vice president of innovation at Black & Veatch, said in a release that this year presents some of the most intriguing ideas yet.
“The IgniteX Accelerator strives to foster creative ideas and solutions to the global challenges that are transforming our company, our clients and the world we live in,” Pletka said. “I can’t wait to see how Black & Veatch helps these startups make monumental strides in climate technology.”
Here’s a look at the 2021-2022 IgniteX cohort:
- Carbon Upcycling Technologies: converting waste CO2 into high-performance additives, producing low-carbon concrete.
- Circ: patented technology recycling global fashion waste into textiles.
- ElectricFish: developing energy storage-integrated EV charging.
- Next Hydrogen: designing electrolyzer cells, paving a path to low-cost green hydrogen.
- Nitricity Inc.: producing nitrogen fertilizer from air, water and renewable electricity.
- Twelve: eliminating emissions through the transformation of CO2 into chemicals, materials and fuels.
- ReJoule: advancing battery diagnostics technology, maximizing the value of EV batteries.
- Revterra: developing a kinetic battery and fostering a new spin on energy transition.
The IgniteX program is part of the external branch of Black & Veatch’s Growth Accelerator, offering programs driving the growth of internal and external efforts. In the past, Black & Veatch has offered the CleanTech Accelerator and the Covid-19 Response Accelerator. Prior to this cohort, the challenge has received more than 400 applications and provided $1 million in grants and services, investing in 25 startups.
