Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and FedTech Announce New Class of Climatetech Entrepreneur Program

The second cohort of the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio will receive expert coaching to bring solar, battery, and other technologies to market

BOSTON - Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and FedTech are proud to announce the launch of the second cohort of the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio, a pioneering initiative designed to cultivate the next generation of climatetech entrepreneurs and accelerate the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies.

"Massachusetts is proud to lead the nation in climate innovation, and programs like the Climatetech Studio are central to that leadership," said Governor Maura Healey. "With this next cohort, we're turning cutting-edge research into real-world solutions. Congratulations to the entrepreneurs selected for this exciting opportunity-we can't wait to see the impact you'll make."

"The Climatetech Studio proves that climate action is a catalyst for economic opportunity-from our communities to global markets," said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. "By connecting entrepreneurs to research coming out of our world-class institutions, we're creating pathways to job growth, business formation, and long-term prosperity across the state."

26 entrepreneurs, divided into nine dynamic teams, are taking part in an intensive 16-week program running from April through August 2025. Each team is matched with breakthrough innovations sourced from leading federal and university research laboratories, including UMass Lowell, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Sandia National Laboratories, UMass Amherst, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Harvard, and Northeastern University.

"By investing in groundbreaking technologies and supporting a new wave of entrepreneurs, we are strengthening Massachusetts' position as the global leader in climatetech innovation," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "This program is about more than ideas-it's about turning bold research into real companies, real jobs, and real climate solutions. Congratulations to the new cohort-we are excited to see the impact you will make."

"Climatetech innovation requires bold thinking, strategic support, and real investment. The Massachusetts Climatetech Studio empowers entrepreneurs to take groundbreaking technologies out of the lab and into the market, where they can deliver lasting impact," said Dr. Emily Reichert, CEO of MassCEC. "We are proud to continue building a vibrant climatetech ecosystem that positions Massachusetts as a global leader in climate innovation."

Throughout the 16-week program, participants will work closely with technology inventors, expert coaches, and industry advisors to assess commercialization pathways, validate business models, and form the foundations of new climatetech ventures. The program will culminate in a pitch competition and showcase during Startup Boston Week on Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at Suffolk University Law School, where teams will present their progress and compete for additional funding to accelerate their ventures. Additional event details will be announced in the coming weeks.

"We're incredibly excited about the impact that the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio has had thus far," said FedTech Chief Delivery Officer, Robyn Brazzil. "Our first cohort launched six companies, who have gone on to secure over $470,000 in seed funding and who are continuing to validate their MVPs. With continued support from the Commonwealth, we hope to build on this momentum and drive even greater innovation across Massachusetts in the coming years. We're looking forward to strengthening our partnership with MassCEC and continuing to drive ecosystem development in the region."

Selected from a highly competitive pool of 214 applicants, this year's cohort features a diverse group of innovators, with twenty participants from Massachusetts and additional entrepreneurs from New York, California, Utah, and Texas.

The nine selected teams for the 2025 Massachusetts Climatetech Studio Cohort include:

• Entrepreneur team: Arya Sasne, Jeremy Evans, Jocelyn Foulke
  • Technology Inventor: Dr. Weile Yan
  • Laboratory: UMass Lowell
  • Technology: High-efficiency lithium recovery from battery waste
• Entrepreneur team: Anonymous Team
  • Technology Inventor: Dr. Andrea Ambrosini
  • Laboratory: Sandia National Laboratories
  • Technology: Solar-powered ammonia production for clean energy
• Entrepreneur team: Benjamin Hoff, Naman Shah, Anonymous Team Member
  • Technology Inventor: Dr. Mehdi Mortazavi
  • Laboratory: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Technology: Advanced hydrogen electrolysis with bubble-free electrodes
• Entrepreneur team: Daniel Gonzalez, Judith Underwood, Nils Klinkenberg, Justin Real
  • Technology Inventor: Dr. Luis Martinez Tossas
  • Laboratory: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
  • Technology: Vortex-optimized blade and wing design
• Entrepreneur team: Daniel Capelin, David Thompson, Junho Kim
  • Technology Inventor: Tao Dai, Ju Li
  • Laboratory: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Technology: Solvent-free manufacturing for solid-state batteries
• Entrepreneur team: Nuha Abousam, Stephen Buchanan, Travis Hampton
  • Technology Inventor: Dr. Adam Powell
  • Laboratory: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  • Technology: Sustainable rare earth magnet recovery
• Entrepreneur team: Jennifer Delegard, Karina Sahlin, Kate Sutcliffe
  • Technology Inventors: Dr. Julian McClements, Dr. Jiakai Lu, Dr. Carlos Corvalan
  • Laboratory: UMass Amherst
  • Technology: Plant-based seafood
• Entrepreneur team: Christa Campbell, Elizabeth Bridges, Kirthika J. Padmanabhan
  • Technology Inventors: Dr. Leila Deravi, Dr. Ji-Young Lee, Wei-Ting Chang
  • Laboratory: Northeastern University
  • Technology: Edible photonic crystals
• Entrepreneur team: Benjamin Lamb, PhD, Rai Kirtley, Rishabh Sardana
  • Technology Inventors: Dr. Oliver Jagoutz, Dr. Tanja Bosak
  • Laboratory: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Technology: Biological carbon sequestration using waste materials

For more information about the Massachusetts Climatetech Studio, visit https://www.masscec.com/program/climatetech-studio.

About the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, and secure long-term economic opportunities for the people of Massachusetts. Since 2010, MassCEC has awarded nearly $800 million in programs and investments and attracted more than $2.8 billion in private and public funds.

About FedTech

Founded in 2015, FedTech is a leading professional services firm and innovation consultancy dedicated to accelerating breakthrough technologies at the intersection of government, academia, and the private sector. Through targeted accelerator programs, expert training, and high-impact events, FedTech empowers entrepreneurs and innovators to commercialize emerging technologies and create scalable solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.

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