gener8tor Launches Great Lakes Resilience Accelerator to Support Startups Developing Solutions for Coastal Resilience

Program aims to support early stage startups in carbon sequestration, hazard mitigation and economic service solutions

CHICAGO, IL - gener8tor, a global venture firm and startup accelerator network, has been awarded a $250,000 federal grant to launch a new Great Lakes Resilience Accelerator (GLRA) targeted at catalyzing innovation and driving economic growth in the Great Lakes region. 

The gener8tor GLRA will support startups that focus on carbon sequestration, hazard mitigation and resistance, and ecosystem services, specifically within the Great Lakes ecosystem where gener8tor is based.

gener8tor is one of 16 awardees of this $3.9 million in grant funding from the Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) , which is aimed at bolstering climate resilience efforts in coastal communities nationwide. Over 40% of the U.S. population lives in these coastal counties, producing more than $9.65 trillion in goods and services and employing 54.6 million people. Yet, they’re often overlooked in terms of support needed to build resilience against climate change. Through the Ocean-based Climate Resilience Accelerators program as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, and in alignment with the National Climate Resilience Framework, this investment signifies a pivotal step towards helping coastal communities prepare for, adapt to, and build resilience to climate challenges. 

gener8tor will spearhead this transformative accelerator program in collaboration with Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the entrepreneurship program at Argonne National Laboratory; Current, a leading non-profit dedicated to advancing the blue economy and water-related solutions; and Mazarine, a venture capital fund focused on water solutions.

Phase 1 of the GLRA initiative will concentrate on community outreach to identify region-specific challenges and establish the necessary infrastructure and programming to support participating entrepreneurs. Phase 2 will see the implementation of the accelerator, leveraging a network of academics, government officials, industry experts, scientists, and innovators cultivated during Phase 1.

This investment in the Great Lakes signifies a collective effort toward building a more resilient future, where coastal communities are equipped with the tools and resources needed to address the challenges of climate change head-on. 

“Through the Great Lakes Resilience Accelerator, we are committed to fostering innovation that addresses the urgent climate challenges facing our communities. By providing resources, mentorship, and a platform for collaboration, we aim to empower startups to develop solutions that not only benefit the Great Lakes region but also contribute to broader efforts in coastal resilience," said Ryan Jeffery, Senior Managing Director of Sustainability at gener8tor.

The program will be based in Chicago and will have a hybrid format with both virtual and in-person components, ensuring accessibility from the entire region. The chosen startups will receive non-dilutive funding and access to one-on-one coaching with the gener8tor team, seasoned mentors, industry experts, corporate partners and potential investors.

Startups across the United States who are working on carbon sequestration, hazard mitigation and resistance, and ecosystems services are encouraged to apply, but those that are working on solutions that benefit the Great Lakes Region will be given greater priority. The application period for the gener8tor Great Lakes Accelerator is open until July 2024. Founders interested in participating can submit an application and find more information here.

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About gener8tor 
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprofits to operate accelerator programs and conferences in more than 41 communities across 22 states and two countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022. The International Trade Council recognized gener8tor as the Global Venture Capital Firm of the Year in 2022.

About Argonne National Laboratory Chain Reactions Innovations
Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI), the entrepreneurship program at Argonne National Laboratory, is a two-year fellowship for early-stage startup founders developing clean energy and climate technologies. Through an annual nationwide application call, four to six individuals are selected to join CRI. Using a cohort model, participants get support and encouragement from their peers. Innovators are mentored by an Argonne scientist and supported by the regional ecosystem to help shorten the hardtech development timeline.

About Current
Current is an independent nonprofit water innovation hub, founded in Chicago in 2016. Our mission is to grow an inclusive Blue Economy, accelerate innovation and solve pressing water challenges. We bring together corporations, advocates, researchers and governments to develop water management policies and test new technologies—projects that would be too risky or even impossible without sustained collaboration. Current has helped attract more than $35 million in federal investments for water innovation in the region, launched the first real-time water quality monitoring tool for Chicago waterways, drafted a blueprint to build a thriving Blue Economy in Illinois and supported the commercialization of more than a dozen water startups. 

About Mazarine Ventures
Mazarine Ventures are technology investors, backing early-stage companies with IP rooted in chemistry, data science, materials science, microbiology, and process engineering that address challenges relating to the management or use of water (and wastewater) spanning multiple industries.