Built Environment ClimAccelerator

Bring Your Innovation for the Built Environment to Market Faster

Do you have innovative solutions to help the built environment and construction sector transition to net-zero carbon?

We are looking for talented SMEs and start-ups to join our accelerator programme.
We are one of the most established and best-connected climate accelerators in the EU, with a proud track record of success.

We can help you solve real customer problems. Come join our programme!

Our Built Environment Accelerator helps SMEs and start-ups with innovative solutions to decarbonise the built environment to scale and grow.

Buildings are responsible for 39% of global carbon emissions. Of these total emissions, approx. 28% comes from operational emissions, or from the energy needed to heat, cool and power them, and the remaining 11% from materials and construction.

New technology and innovation will be critical to cut carbon emissions from the built environment, and at ClimAccelerator, we want to work with entrepreneurs with solutions to this problem.

The Built Environment ClimAccelerator offers a hands-on, tailor-made accelerator programme focusing on product-market fit, validation, enterprise sales and strategic commercial milestones.

To participate in the programme, your solution should be, ideally, circular in nature and be able to be deployed or integrated at scale in a built environment setting.

Participation on this programme is free of charge.

The programme will be run virtually and hosted in English.

Why Join

We are one of the most established and best-connected climate accelerators in the EU, with a proud track record of success. We are part of a broad network that includes the EIT Climate-KIC community, universities, investors and industry partners, as well as a network of mentors, fellow entrepreneurs and founder alumni. Come join our programme.

Who should join this accelerator

We are looking for technology and innovations that will contribute to decarbonising the built environment or help the sector adapt to the risks posed by climate change.

Solutions should include ways to reduce emissions across the whole life cycle of construction, including embodied carbon emissions.

We want to support innovations to help the sector reduce emissions and be more resilient.

We are keen to work with entrepreneurs and SMEs that have solutions for across the built environment and construction value chain of a building including: planning & design, procurement, construction, operation and end-of-life.

Solutions that are of interest include innovations that promote: local carbon design, circular materials, modern methods of construction, energy systems, maintenance systems, biodiversity, transport/ equipment and monitoring/ reporting systems, carbon savings.

This is not an endless list – so if you have a solution that you believe will help the built environment sector reach net-zero, please submit your application.

Programme highlights

Training powered by EIT Climate-KIC and Trinity College Dublin
Highly experienced coaches
Access to the best connected network in the world
Comprenhensive overview of investment opportunities via EIT CKIC Investor Marketplace
Connecting SMEs /start-ups with relevant experts
Tailor made to individual company
One to coaching
Pitching and collaboration opportunities with investors and partners
Peer-to-peer learning and access to our alumni community

Stage 1

Business Model
Development

15 to 20 teams will be supported
Duration: 6 weeks

Stage 2

Validation, Traction, Investment Ready

Up to 10 teams will be selected to advance to this stage
Duration: 12 weeks

Timeline 2023

Open call

Open call10 July
Close date

Announcement of selected teams10 September
Video pitches from shortlisted teams

Announcement of selected teams14 / 15 September
Announcement of selected teams

Stage 118 September
Stage 1

Stage 226 September - 03 November (6 Weeks)
Stage 2

Demo Day 08 November - 29 February (12 Weeks)
Demo Day

Stage 3 07 March 2024

Eligible Criteria

Business stage: SMEs and registered start-up teams with advanced business models, MVP / prototype (Min. TRL 6-7) and ideally revenue generating (or close to becoming so).

Registration status: companies that are already registered will be prioritised. You must at least be in the process of registration at the time of application.

This is a global progamme. Companies from all over the world may participate in the programme (which will be delivered during Central European Standard Time CEST).

Programme fit: your business needs: targeted capacity building, networking, sales and financial assistance to succeed.

Team: teams that have a minimum of 2 founders, which together hold at least 75% of the equity and are committed to working full-time on their venture.

Market scalability: your business solution has the potential for scalability and monetisation.

Circularity and climate change: your solution is closing a loop in one of our main programme focus areas and goes beyond circularity, by considering other footprint indicators, such as: water usage, land use, biodiversity loss and chemical pollution, among other externalities. It should have the potential to significantly reduce emissions, soil erosion, water use, etc.

Start-ups Testimonials

“The Built Environment ClimAccelerator helped us not only to connect to other leaders in this area, but also to connect to relevant stakeholders such as cities to create valuable partnerships”

Dominik Campanella

Co-Founder, Concular

"The ClimAccelerator was a fantastic experience for Concrete4Change. We learnt a lot about business models, ideation, fundraising, networking and managing startups. Building upon this experience we could grow from 2 people with a £10k turnover start-up in 2021 to 20 people and £4m turnover in 2023"

Dr. Sid Pourfalah

Founder & CEO Concrete4Change

"The ClimAccelerator was pivotal in helping our company reach our target market and how to present our modular heat pump plant room product to both customers and investors. The team have been supportive and responsive throughout and beyond the program and it was a great opportunity to share knowledge and learn from our peers across similar climate conscious industries”