Greentown Labs Launches Second Year of First Valley Fellowship to Support Early-Stage Climate and Energy Founders

Massachusetts founders developing climate and energy technologies will receive $50,000 in non-dilutive funding and six months of hands-on support to advance from idea to prototype

SOMERVILLE, Mass., Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Applications are now open for the second year of Greentown Labs Boston's First Valley Fellowship, a six-month program supporting early-stage climate and energy founders in Massachusetts as they advance their technologies from proof of concept to first prototype.

Building on a successful inaugural year of the program, year two of the Fellowship will deepen its support for early-stage founders with $50,000 stipends for selected Fellows, funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). The program is also supported by the Barr Foundation.

The transition from proof of concept to a validated prototype is one of the most challenging phases for early-stage technical founders. Often referred to as the "First Valley of Death," this stage requires founders to reduce technology risk, validate market demand, and prepare for fundraising while still securing the funding, prototyping space, and go-to-market support needed to move forward.

Since 2011, Greentown has specialized in helping startups navigate the "Second Valley of Death": the capital-intensive transition from working prototype to first commercial pilot and early revenue. This support helps startups scale hardware, secure capital, build partnerships, and grow their teams.

Massachusetts is home to one of the strongest early-stage innovation ecosystems in the world. University commercialization programs, research fellowships, and early-stage accelerators help researchers develop breakthrough technologies, build entrepreneurial skills, and launch companies. The First Valley Fellowship is designed to complement that work, serving as a bridge between these labs and Greentown: a place where founders can physically build their prototypes alongside experienced peers and connect with Greentown's network of industry partners and investors.

The inaugural cohort, which kicked off in May 2026, brought together six founders from five startups: CemCycle, Evidion Energy, Solas Capture, Aelun, and Thalon Materials. Over six months, Fellows received more than 60 hours of mentoring to refine their business models and engage potential customers. Four of the five Fellows surveyed reported greater readiness to fundraise, and three of the five startups have since joined Greentown as full members, including Evidion Energy, which completed its university spin-out.

"Since starting the Fellowship, we've refined our direction and are now preparing to fundraise," said Trent Weiss, CTO of Evidion Energy. "We've completed extensive customer discovery, built our techno-economic and financial models, and refined our pitch, and access to Greentown's resources and network was invaluable along the way. We would not be in the position we're in today without this program."

"Early-stage founders need access to a place to build and a community of entrepreneurs who have navigated these challenges before," said Georgina Campbell Flatter, CEO of Greentown. "The First Valley Fellowship provides both, building on the strong foundation that universities and early-stage programs across Massachusetts have established. We are grateful to MassCEC and the Barr Foundation for helping us extend this support to more founders in year two."

In year two, selected startups will receive $50,000 in non-dilutive funding, including a $25,000 living stipend and $25,000 in R&D support, along with six months of no-cost membership and workspace at Greentown Boston for up to two co-founders. Fellows will gain access to more than $1 million in in-kind resources, including free and discounted software, legal services, business support, and access to specialized facilities. Each Fellow will be matched with dedicated mentors in areas such as go-to-market strategy, customer discovery, technical development, finance, legal/IP, and product design. Greentown also provides investor readiness and fundraising support, with connections to equity and non-dilutive capital. There is no cost to apply or participate, and Greentown does not take equity.

"Massachusetts has some of the brightest minds and is exceptionally good at generating breakthrough climatetech ideas, which is why programs like the First Valley Fellowship are critical in turning that research into lasting companies," said Dr. Jennifer Le Blond, managing director of emerging climatetech at Mass Clean Energy Center. "Through this partnership with Greentown, our state is providing the essential early support they need to move their technologies towards the market."

The Fellowship is open to pre-seed or pre-funding startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2–4 that have raised $1 million or less and plan to fundraise in the next 6–12 months. Fellows must reside in Massachusetts and operate their research or business activities in the state for the duration of the program. Eligible technologies address a challenge across the world's foundational systems—Energy & Power; Manufacturing & Processing; Infrastructure & Construction; Transportation & Logistics; or Food, Water, & Land. Priority is given to founders who plan to engage in person at Greentown Boston nearly every week. Graduate students, postdocs, research scientists, solo founders, and early-stage teams are encouraged to apply.

"We are excited to support the First Valley Fellowship to help the region's entrepreneurs advance climate solutions," said Kathryn Wright, senior program officer for clean energy at the Barr Foundation.

Applications are due by February 19, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET. The Fellowship runs from May through October 2027 at Greentown Boston in Somerville, Mass. Learn more and apply at greentown.org/first-valley-fellowship.

About Greentown

Greentown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit helping climate entrepreneurs build faster. As the world's largest climatetech and energy startup incubator network, Greentown Labs provides startups mission-critical access to labs, equipment, customers, capital, talent, community, and resources to accelerate their growth and impact. Greentown Go, its open-innovation programs, inject momentum and scale into startup-corporate collaborations to propel new technologies to market faster. Greentown is home to more than 300 startups and has supported more than 700 since its founding in 2011; these startups, with a survival rate of 88 percent, have collectively created more than 16,600 jobs and raised more than $15B in funding. For more information, visit greentown.org or follow Greentown on LinkedIn.

About the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC)

The Mass Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, increase affordability, and secure long-term economic opportunities for the people of Massachusetts. Since 2010, MassCEC has awarded $990 million in programs and investments and attracted $3 billion in private and public funds.

About the Barr Foundation

The Barr Foundation's mission is to invest in human, natural, and creative potential, serving as thoughtful stewards and catalysts. Based in Boston, Barr was founded in 1997 and works in partnership throughout New England with community leaders, nonprofits, and other foundations to elevate the arts, advance solutions for climate change, and equip all high school students to discover and actualize their unbounded potential. Barr is one of the largest charitable foundations in New England, with a 2026 grantmaking budget of $130 million. Learn more at barrfoundation.org.

Greentown Media Contact

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SOURCE Greentown Labs