ACORE Accelerate equips emerging clean energy companies with critical market access, industry expertise, and insights to navigate the energy ecosystem, build strategic partnerships, and scale growth.
Since 2020, ACORE Accelerate has supported 50+ emerging clean energy companies across 30+ states, spanning technologies and sectors—from renewable energy and storage to innovative products, services, and solutions enabling the broader energy transition.
Each year, ACORE selects up to 15 companies for a two-year, relationship-driven program designed to provide the market access, industry expertise, and insights needed to navigate the clean energy marketplace and advance commercial growth. The program is primarily virtual, with select in-person engagements throughout the year.
When we found out about this program it was such a breath of fresh air to be able to join a community that was made up of similarly motivated entrepreneurs who had a mission but maybe not the resources to carry out that mission.
Access to ACORE’s national network of investors, financial institutions, corporate partners, utilities, clean energy companies, and industry experts
Tailored introductions and market engagement opportunities supporting business development, partnerships, and growth
Complimentary ACORE membership, including access to industry events, briefings, and member resources
Executive mentorship from experienced clean energy industry leaders
Pro bono legal support for key business and commercial needs
An annual business development stipend to support industry engagement and growth opportunities
Opportunities to represent their cohort and elevate their company’s perspective across ACORE’s membership
A peer community of clean energy entrepreneurs
Following the two-year program, companies join the ACORE Accelerate Alumni Network, providing continued opportunities to engage with ACORE, fellow entrepreneurs, and the broader clean energy industry.
Emerging early to growth-stage companies focused on clean energy and supportive technologies
Registered as a for-profit business and physically located in the United States or its territories
Company mission that contributes to advancing the U.S. clean energy transition through areas such as deployment, innovation, workforce participation, supply-chain development, or community benefit
Participants must commit to attending the mandatory in-person cohort orientation event (hotel/flights covered by ACORE) and to participating in at least 75% of core programming.
To be able to have this cohort, this collective family, to be able to generate new ideas, to look at business opportunities, and to leverage each other’s experiences and resources has really been the highlight of what we’ve been able to do here at ACORE as a family.
For more than 25 years, ACORE has worked across the clean energy industry to advance investment, deployment, and market growth.
ACORE’s membership includes leading clean energy investors, developers, energy buyers, power generators, manufacturers, and energy providers. In 2024, nearly 80% of U.S. utility-scale clean energy growth was financed, developed, owned, equipped, or contracted by ACORE members.
Accelerate companies receive complimentary ACORE membership during the two-year program, creating a pathway to build relationships and gain visibility within this broader industry network.
ACORE Accelerate is a two-year, relationship-driven program that helps emerging clean energy companies build the industry relationships, market knowledge, and visibility needed to advance commercial growth.
Launched in 2020, Accelerate has supported more than 50 companies across 30+ states, connecting emerging businesses to ACORE’s national network and creating opportunities to engage with the companies, investors, financial institutions, and industry experts shaping the clean energy marketplace.
Accelerate is not an incubator or investment fund. Rather than focusing primarily on startup fundamentals, Accelerate leverages ACORE’s established industry network to help companies strengthen market positioning, build strategic relationships, navigate industry and policy developments, and pursue opportunities for commercial growth.
Programming combines tailored connections and market engagement with industry insights, executive mentorship, peer learning, and opportunities for greater visibility across the clean energy sector.
Accelerate is best suited for U.S.-based, early- to growth-stage clean energy companies that are beyond the idea stage and actively pursuing commercial growth.
Strong applicants may be working to:
Secure customers or strategic partners
Raise capital or strengthen investor readiness
Deploy projects, products, or technologies
Enter new markets or expand existing ones
Build greater visibility and relationships across the clean energy industry
We are agnostic to technology and business models. Accelerate companies span renewable energy, energy storage, software and digital solutions, project development, manufacturing, professional and advisory services, and other solutions supporting the clean energy transition.
There is no required funding round or revenue threshold. We welcome companies at different stages of growth that have moved beyond the idea stage and are actively building toward commercialization.
Competitive applicants should be able to demonstrate meaningful progress toward commercialization through revenue, customers, pilots, projects, partnerships, fundraising, product development, or other indicators of market traction.
Not necessarily. Commercialization looks different across technologies and business models.
Companies that are not yet generating revenue should be able to demonstrate other meaningful indicators of traction and a clear pathway toward commercial growth.
No. Investor access is one component of Accelerate, but the program is not solely focused on fundraising.
Companies may participate to strengthen customer and corporate relationships, pursue business development opportunities, navigate market and policy developments, prepare for deployment, enter new markets, or advance other commercial priorities.
Accelerate companies receive:
Two years of complimentary ACORE membership
Tailored connections with investors, corporate partners, financial institutions, and other industry stakeholders
Access to ACORE and select industry events, briefings, and market insights
Executive mentorship from experienced clean energy leaders
Access to Pro bono legal support
An annual $2,000 business development stipend
A national peer community of clean energy entrepreneurs
Opportunities to represent their cohort and engage with ACORE’s broader membership
Accelerate is designed to be relationship-driven rather than transactional. ACORE works to understand each company’s business priorities and identify relevant opportunities to connect with potential customers, investors, corporate partners, financial institutions, industry experts, and others across the ACORE network.
Participation does not guarantee investment, contracts, or customers.
While we expect company leadership to remain actively engaged throughout the two-year program, participation is not limited to founders or CEOs.
Companies may designate additional team members to participate in programming, events, introductions, and other opportunities based on their roles and areas of expertise.
Accelerate is a two-year program with biweekly virtual programming and select in-person engagements throughout the year.
Companies are expected to participate in at least 75% of core programming in the first year and meet the required in-person participation expectations. Applicants should be prepared to actively engage and make use of the relationships and opportunities available through the program.
Accelerate is primarily a virtual program, so companies do not need to relocate.
Virtual programming is complemented by select in-person engagements tied to ACORE and Accelerate events. The Accelerate community includes companies and alumni across more than 30 states.
No. Accelerate is a no-fee, non-dilutive program. ACORE does not charge companies to participate, take equity, or require an investment in exchange for participation.
Selected companies also receive complimentary ACORE membership for the duration of the two-year program.
Companies join the ACORE Accelerate Alumni Network, providing continued opportunities to engage with ACORE, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, participate in select programming and events, and contribute to the broader Accelerate community.
Yes. We encourage previous applicants to apply again, particularly if your company has made progress since your last application.
Use your new application to share recent traction, milestones, partnerships, fundraising, deployments, or other developments—and how your current priorities align with what Accelerate offers.
Applications close November 30, 2026, with reviews expected to be completed by December 18, 2026.
Applicants will be notified by January 6, 2027 if they have advanced to the next stage of the selection process. Selected applicants may be invited to a brief interview before final cohort decisions are made.
Screenshot shown: Explore commercially active Accelerate member companies across the U.S.
Explore the Accelerate Founder Network This interactive map highlights the nationwide reach of ACORE’s Accelerate program, showcasing founders deploying revenue-generating clean energy solutions and the locations of their companies across the United States. Each marker represents an Accelerate member company, color-coded by cohort year, with company details visible on hover and a cohort-year legend.
