Joules Accelerator

Joules Accelerator, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting early-stage climate tech startups. Since its founding in 2013, Joules has been at the forefront of promoting innovative solutions in climate and energy, particularly in the Southeast region of the United States. Joules Accelerator runs two 90-day cohorts per year, each consisting of 6-10 startups. These cohorts focus on technologies that drive decarbonization and electrification. The accelerator provides startups with access to a vast network of industry advisors and partners, including Duke Energy, Microsoft, and EY. Startups are offered opportunities for revenue-generating pilots, commercialization, and strategic connections within the industry. The program is highly selective, conducting due diligence on hundreds of startups to choose the best candidates. Startups benefit from mentoring, networking, and the potential to receive Joules Camp pilot grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to deploy their technologies in underserved communities across the Carolinas. Joules has successfully supported numerous startups. For instance, Harvest, a graduate from one of their cohorts, recently closed a $4.2 million seed round and won the CEE Integrated Home Competition. Another notable alumni, Rhizome, secured $2.5 million in venture capital and expanded its customer base to several major electric utilities. The accelerator emphasizes values such as diversity, equity, inclusion, transparency, and integrity, ensuring that their work positively impacts both startups and the broader community.