Carbon to Value
Year 4

Innovation Scope

For its fourth accelerator cohort, the C2V Initiative and its Carbontech Leadership Council (CLC) are welcoming applications from startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-7 that are developing carbontech solutions. More specifically, the program collaborators are interested in carbontech innovations related to the following categories: 

Carbon Conversion to Added-Value Products, e.g.:

• CO₂ to fuels (e.g. SAF/e-fuels)

• CO₂ to chemicals (e.g. methanol and higher carbon products such as C₄+)

• Biomass-based and/or other waste-carbon to value (e.g. chemical recycling, gasification, biochar)

• Carbon mineralization (e.g. to building products, carbonates, fertilizers)

Carbon Capture, e.g.:

• Point source capture (e.g. from energy and process emissions, hydrogen production, etc.)

• Direct air capture (DAC)

• Gas-separation technologies (e.g. purification, biogas upgrading)

Carbon Sequestration and Removal, e.g.:

• Biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) (e.g. waste biomass, biochar, biomass sinking and burial)

• Enhanced mineralization and ocean alkalinization

• Nature-based solutions (e.g. soil, forest, ocean)

Not in scope:

• Previously established direct CO₂ uses, such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), are not in scope

• Enabling technologies that solely focus on carbon markets, carbon credits, Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV), financing and insurance, etc., although critical to the industry, are not in scope for this year

Stage:

• Technological maturity: TRL 4-7, i.e. validated in a laboratory environment

• Commercial maturity: actively investigating product-market fit and seeking partnerships

• There is no minimum or maximum public/private funding limit

Geography:

• Applicants may apply from anywhere in the world.

• Events will take place in-person in Houston, New York, Boston, and virtually (see detailed schedule below).

  • Attendance is mandatory for in-person events, regardless of startup location. Failure to participate could result in removal from the program.

• A $10,000 stipend will be given to each selected startup to help cover expenses associated with travel and any other program activities.

These categories are not exhaustive, and overlap is possible. Startups with a novel carbontech innovation are encouraged to apply even if their technology is not listed above. Refer to the Request for Applications for more details.

Applicants to the fourth cohort of the C2V Initiative will be evaluated on several factors, including novelty and feasibility, potential climate benefits, potential impact on the overall carbontech market, and the startup’s preparedness to fully leverage the benefits of the program.

Interested in applying?

Applications for Year 4 are now closed. For more information, check out our Applicant FAQs and the Request for Applications.

Year 4 Timeline

About the Program

The Carbon to Value (C2V) Initiative—a unique partnership among Urban Future Lab at New York University-Tandon, Greentown Labs, and Fraunhofer USA, is unlocking a new carbontech economy, bringing innovative solutions to scale as rapidly as possible through the creation of a robust, powerful, and collaborative new ecosystem.

Building on its first three successful years supported by NYSERDA, which saw nearly 400 applications and supported 26 selected startups (Cohorts 1-3) that have raised over $410M in follow-on funding, leading to partnership engagements and 200+ business relationships, technology advancement, and industry growth, Year 4 of the C2V Initiative returns with an in-depth corporate advisor program, new pivotal CLC members spanning a wide breadth of the carbontech ecosystem, and an integrated DEI and community-centered curriculum component. 

Startups selected to participate in the program will have the opportunity to engage with the Carbontech Leadership Council, an invitation-only group of executive leaders across diverse industry sectors driving the future of carbontech. Startups will gain market insights and explore collaboration opportunities with CLC members to unlock this trillion-dollar market. Specifically, startups will have the opportunity to hear firsthand from CLC members about their carbontech strategies, to present to them directly, and to access experts and industry knowledge from within the participating corporations. Cohort startups will also gain access to the C2V Initiative’s extended network of startup alumni, investors, government funders and ecosystem supporters, allowing them to overcome their specific barriers and significantly raise their visibility profile in the carbon management industry. 

We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive community culture. We welcome all applications from founders and teams of all backgrounds, regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or whether or not they have a disability.