"We're Seeking Startups Tackling Our Biggest Environmental and Infrastructure Challenges," says Elemental Excelerator

- Infrastructure accelerator opens its 8th cohort season

- Seeks startups building a cleaner, more resilient and more equitable future

- 15-20 growth-stage startups will receive funding of up to $1M per company

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Feb 06, 2019, 09:00 ET

HONOLULU, and EAST PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Elemental Excelerator (Elemental), a funder of environment and infrastructure startups, today announced the start of its 2019 application season. Elemental is seeking startups whose technologies improve the critical systems that impact people's lives, including energy, mobility, agriculture, water and the circular economy.

For its 8th cohort, Elemental seeks growth-stage startups from anywhere in the world that have secured seed-to-Series C funding, employ a minimum of two-full time employees and have a working prototype or business model that:

Increases adoption of renewable energy and reduces energy sector greenhouse gas emissions.
Improves food resiliency and slows emissions associated with the agricultural sector.
Addresses water stress and scarcity and increases access to clean water.
Reduces emissions from air, ground, and sea transportation, and increases availability of mobility options.
Fosters a circular economy and reduces global constraints on natural resources.

"To protect our planet, we must accelerate the deployment of technologies that deliver sustainable solutions quickly and at scale," said Elemental CEO Dawn Lippert. "We're looking for promising startups with talented founders and leadership teams to tackle the most pressing environmental challenges."

Elemental's model is unique among tech accelerators. In addition to coaching and strategic partnerships, Elemental also co-funds and co-designs project deployments with portfolio companies using a "place-based" model of innovation that unites startups, industry partners and local communities to identify challenges and deploy innovative solutions.

"Innovation happens at the community level, and change only happens at the pace of trust, which is why we focus on developing projects collaboratively with diverse stakeholders," said Lippert. "By building trust at the local level, we help startups scale faster and large organizations innovate faster – while ensuring that people from all backgrounds are included in and benefit from the innovation economy."

Elemental is accepting applications for three tracks:

Demonstration -- Up to $1 million for scalable project deployments in Hawaii and Asia-Pacific
Equity & Access -- Up to $1 million for companies expanding access to clean innovations for disadvantaged communities in California
Go-to-Market -- Up to $100,000 for companies in search of product/market fit

Elemental's portfolio consists of startups focused on commercialization, including Opus 12, which is piloting carbon-capture technology with the world's biggest emitters, and Zero Mass Water, whose technology makes drinking water from sunlight and air.

"Zero Mass Water has installed our SOURCE Hydropanels across 18 countries," said Cody Friesen, founder and CEO of Zero Mass Water. "As we scaled internationally, we turned to Elemental to co-design and co-fund a project we're now deploying in Western Australia in a joint venture with an Aboriginal community. Elemental's team, funding, network and world-class community of entrepreneurs have been instrumental in helping us scale faster."

Since 2013, Elemental has allocated more than $30 million to 82 companies (six of which have been acquired) that have raised more than $550 million in follow-on funding, and funded 59 demonstration projects in Hawaii, California and Asia-Pacific.

About Elemental Excelerator
Elemental Excelerator helps startups change the world, one community at a time. Each year, it finds 15-20 companies that best fit its mission and funds each company up to $1 million to improve systems that impact people's lives: energy, mobility, water, agriculture and beyond. For more information, please visit elementalexcelerator.com.

Media Contact:
mc2 for Elemental Excelerator
[email protected]

SOURCE Elemental Excelerator