Apple Inc. on Thursday announced the next group of companies accepted into the tech giant's Impact Accelerator, a three-month program that provides underrepresented businesses with training and mentorship.
The program is focused on businesses that are building services around environmental sustainability, and it opens up potential opportunities for these companies to become future contractors in Apple's network.
The Cupertino-based computer (NASDAQ: APPL) titan selected 16 companies from across the country, including four based in the Bay Area. They are working in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, energy, decarbonization and recycling.
"We are thrilled for this dynamic group of innovators to take their important work to the next level with help from our Impact Accelerator, and we are proud to deepen our commitment to working with partners around the country to ensure that environmental progress and equity go hand in hand," Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, said in a statement.
In 2020, Apple announced a plan to reach carbon neutrality across its entire business — including its manufacturing supply chain and product life cycles — by 2030, a goal the company says it achieved for its corporate operations two years ago.
Apple launched its Impact Accelerator program in 2021. That year, it accepted 15 Black, Indigenous and people of color (often referred to as BIPOC) owned businesses, including three in the Bay Area.
The following four companies were selected from the Bay Area this year.
CTEMS Co.
- Leadership: Clementine Tran and Tom Huynh, founders; Welsey Brandon
- Headquarters: Fremont
- Industry: Industrial manufacturing
- Founded: 2018
- What it does: Designs and manufactures custom electromechanical solutions for companies in the semiconductor, medical device and electric vehicle industries.
- Website: https://ctemscompany.com/
Digital Green Global
- Leadership: Albert Lozano, president and CEO
- Headquarters: Morgan Hill
- Industry: Recycling and data security
- Founded: 2005
- What it does: Provides electronic waste recycling, data eradication and waste disposal services.
- Website: https://www.dgglobal.net/
Simmitri Inc.
- Leadership: Jonathan Garcia, CEO
- Headquarters: San Jose
- Industry: Renewable energy
- Founded: 1995
- What it does: Designs and installs solar and renewable energy systems for consumers and businesses.
- Website: https://simmitri.com/
Solena Ag
- Leadership: Irving Rivera, co-founder and president/CEO
- Local office: Foster City
- Industry: Agriculture technology
- Founded: 2015
- What it does: Helps farmers assess soil health and increase biodiversity by improving carbon content so they can maintain productivity and increase profits. It's headquartered in Guanajuato, Mexico, and has other offices in Mexicali, as well as Santiago de Surco in Peru and Foster City.
- Website: https://solena.ag/home/us
Scroll through the slideshow below for all 16 companies that were selected this year.
