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FAQs

What is The Clean Fight? What are the benefits of participating in The Clean Fight? What financial support does the clean fight provide? Does the clean fight take an equity stake? Do I need to be based in New York? Do I need to move to New York? What is the structure of the program? When are the summits and what do they involve? Is there any exclusivity associated with the program? What stage company are you looking for? What types of companies are you looking for? Is the clean fight focused on New York City and/or New York State? Is the clean fight committed to diversity? How will my application be evaluated? How will my confidential information be protected? What is the timeline for the application and program? What if my company isn't a good fit? Is there more information on the clean fight program and application?
What is The Clean Fight?

The Clean Fight NY is a not-for-profit accelerator helping growth-stage climate tech companies from around the world, scale in New York to meet future energy and efficiency needs, while boosting economic opportunity and job creation for all. Powered by New Energy Nexus. Supported by NYSERDA, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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What are the benefits of participating in The Clean Fight?

Our goal is to help growth-stage companies from around the world scale in New York, at speed. We do this by helping you to build deep relationships with customer and capital partners who can facilitate your rapid growth. We’ve designed the program to be as efficient and effective as possible, offering the following tailored benefits: no relocation during the program; no equity stake taken; hands-on matchmaking with industry-leading customer and capital partners in a time-efficient format; up-to $100k per company to deployments or first-of-a-kind projects in New York State; up to $25k to support capacity building (but no funds are guaranteed); and, assistance navigating the New York market from top regulators, utilities and industry experts. 8-12 companies will be selected for the cohort. Find out more about how to apply here.

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What financial support does the clean fight provide?

Companies accepted into the program are eligible to apply for up to $100k to support deployments or first-of-a-kind projects, and up to $25k to support capacity building in New York State. No funds are guaranteed. Specific details of how to apply and evaluation criteria will be provided during the program.

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Does the clean fight take an equity stake?

We are a not-for-profit and do not take an equity stake in the companies accepted to the program.

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Do I need to be based in New York?

No, the accelerator program is open to growth-stage startups from anywhere around the world who are interested in scaling in New York. However, you must have an interest in seriously exploring the establishment of a principal place for business, manufacturing, or research and development in New York State. If you are successful in developing business or manufacturing agreements through the program, you must be willing to establish a presence in New York State.

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Do I need to move to New York?

No, the accelerator program does not require relocation. If you’re selected to participate, either the CEO, COO, and/or President of your company are required to attend the summits in New York if they take place in person, or virtually should it be deemed necessary. Exact dates are to be confirmed, but the summits will take place in June 2024 and October 2024.​

Additionally, you must have an interest in seriously exploring establishing a principal place for business, manufacturing, or research and development in New York State.

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What is the structure of the program?

Our program is anchored in helping you to establish your business in New York State, or if you're already here, helping you to scale further. At the heart of the program is business development with our customer partners. At the first summit you will meet with our customer partners to mutually determine where there might be a good fit. Subsequent meetings will include the key influencers at the customer organization. Having the customer's team of decision makers in the room at the same time radically speeds the process of approval. You'll also meet our financing and investor partners. In between summits you will follow up with customer and capital partners, and our team will provide advice and help to move things along as you encounter road blocks. At the final summit you will look to finalize intentions with customer partners and share you solution with the broader market of customers and investors.

Programming will also take place at the summits to help you better understand the New York landscape. We'll look at the policy, regulatory, market, financing and incentives you should be aware of to be successful in New York. We also introduce you to the key influencers and gatekeepers in the industry to help you understand and unlock the market. In addition, we will connect you with manufacturing, supply chain and regional resources that can enable you to establish or grow capacity in New York State.

The programming will be tailored to the needs of the final cohort.

Time commitment averages 2-4 hours a week (between all your participating team members). This covers summits, programming, check-ins, follow-ups with customer and capital partners, working with support providers and cohort roundtables. 

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When are the summits and what do they involve?

Kickoff Summit: May 2024

  • Meet customer partners and the other cohort companies

  • Learn about the NY landscape

Virtual Connections 

  • Series of meetings to progress customer conversations, meet capital partners, and connect with NY regulators, influencers, and gatekeepers

Showcase Summit: October 2024

  • Share your solution and meet with the broader market of customers and investors

  • Finalize/share progress achieved with program partners

  • Meet with industry influencers

The exact dates are to be confirmed.

We will decide if summits will be in-person or need to be virtual closer to the date, but plenty of notice will be provided.

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Is there any exclusivity associated with the program?

No. You're free to work with other accelerators, customers or investors. We want you to be able to keep your options open so you can be as successful as possible. Our only ask is that if you are accepted into the program, you are able to dedicate the required time to get the most out of it.

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What stage company are you looking for?

The Clean Fight helps growth-stage companies scale in New York. We define growth-stage as companies that display broad market adoption (~$1M+ in annual revenue from a diversified customer set in the last year or other clear signs of market adoption). Additionally, companies must be able to demonstrate sufficient runway to participate in the program from May-October 2024.

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What types of companies are you looking for?

The Clean Fight is looking for innovators with solutions that are ready to scale: products or services with proven efficacy, impact, and adoption that can quickly support a far bigger customer base. GHG impact, job creation, and speed of implementation are a few of our favorite things. Solutions that can ensure a just transition to a clean economy, ensuring the needs are met of underserved communities, are of particular importance.

We're interested in solutions that can help to decarbonize the warehousing, distribution, and retail of food, including:

– Clean Refrigeration Equipment & Monitoring

– HVAC and Heat Recovery

– Building Energy Efficiency

– Onsite Renewables and Energy Storage

– Cold Chain and Refrigerated Transportation

– Electric Vehicle Charging

– Clean Cooking Equipment

– Food Waste

​If you have a solution outside of these areas, we encourage you to apply if you meet our other criteria.

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Is the clean fight focused on New York City and/or New York State?

The Clean Fight looks to support companies who are interested in growing their business in New York City and/or New York State. Our customer partners have projects across both the city and the state.

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Is the clean fight committed to diversity?

We cannot win The Clean Fight without a diversity of talent, experience, and perspective bringing new solutions, approaches, and energy. We highly encourage diverse teams and those serving diverse communities to apply, including people of color, women, underserved communities, people with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA+, and underrepresented voices.

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How will my application be evaluated?

All applications are reviewed by our Evaluation Committee, which is composed of The Clean Fight team, technical experts, customer partners, and capital partners. We assess your application based on the following criteria:​

  • GHG Impact: Potential to meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions at scale

  • Job Creation: Potential to significantly create job opportunities​ in New York State

  • Talent: Experienced team with deep knowledge and a proven track record​

  • Program Fit: Company goals and needs align with the goals and services provided by the accelerator​

  • Offering: Best-in-class product or service that addresses an important market need​

  • Demand: Operating in a market with deep demand and sufficient private capital interest​

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How will my confidential information be protected?

The Clean Fight NY will treat all application data as confidential information. In your application, please do not disclose any proprietary information but be as clear as possible about your competitive advantage and differentiation.

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What is the timeline for the application and program?

Nov 13 2023: Applications Open

Jan 16 2024: Registration Due

Jan 29 2024: Full Application Due

Feb-Mar 2024: Evaluation Period

Mar-Apr 2024: Due Diligence and Finalist Interviews

Apr 2024: Final Selection

May 2024: Program Kick-Off

May-Oct 2024: Cohort 4 Program

Oct 2024: Showcase Summit

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What if my company isn't a good fit?

If you have a solution for the heating of buildings, take a look at our $10M prize program the Empire Technology Prize. The Clean Fight is also part of New Energy Nexus, which provides programming for climate tech startups around the world. If this program isn’t the best fit for you, we encourage you to join the New Energy Network, our open Slack community. You can find out about other programs and opportunities, and meet with thousands of clean energy entrepreneurs and supporters of clean energy innovation from around the world eager to learn and share. We also encourage you to look at Uptake Alliance, another NYSERDA funded climate accelerator in New York State, who is currently accepting applications

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Is there more information on the clean fight program and application?

For more details on how to apply, program details, selection criteria and evaluation timeline, please read our application packet. If you have any additional questions, email us at q&a@thecleanfight.com.

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