Calling all climate tech founders ready to propel their startup to the next level.
EnergyLab’s Climate Tech Charge Program supports ambitious founders with a market-validated idea to build market traction and prepare for fundraising. This ‘always-on’ 12-month program provides founders with the resources and mentorship to develop, test and iterate their growth strategy with consistent support, feedback and expert advice along the way. The Climate Tech Charge program is proudly funded by the NSW Government.
Key dates
- Program kicks off: 1 August 2023
- This always-on 12-month program will onboard startups every month, starting: 1 August 2023
Meet some of our alumni
Since August 2023, the Climate Tech Charge Program has been backing visionary founders who are revolutionizing clean energy, electrification, transportation, waste management, circular economy, and decarbonization. Here are a few of our pioneering graduates.
Roger Cohen (Founder, C2Zero)
Stephen Burns (Co-Founder, Cyclion Energy)
Jessica Gower (Co-Founder, Equoia)
Steven Percy (CEO, Vireo Energy)
Luke Rust (CEO, Outbound)
Davood Dehestani (Founder, Smartizer)
Sam Bendat (Founder, SolvingZero)
Build traction and grow
We recognise that acquiring your first customers and raising seed funding while running your startup can be incredibly challenging. The Charge program is designed to provide you with sustained and tailored support and guidance on what matters to you most in this part of the journey; a space to test, iterate, build and grow. Here’s what’s on offer.
Guided learning to fuel growth
You’ll have access to a series of modules and can engage when it suits you. The Charge Program Lead will support you with setting goals for your growth journey, guided by input from your dedicated mentors.
Meet other founders making an impact
Some of the best learning opportunities come from sharing knowledge between peers. Meet like-minded founders who are on this journey with you.
Thrive with dedicated mentorship
You’ll receive personalised support from EnergyLab’s network of over 400 mentors spanning professionals and founders striving towards reaching net-zero and with expertise in technologies, leadership, investment, operations and more.
Engage with investors
You’ll have the opportunity to pitch to EnergyLab’s angel investor group, and gather feedback from EnergyLab’s corporate partners and network of investors.
Develop your winning strategy
A strong business strategy is foundational to your success. As a founder and leader, you’ll be supported to develop your business strategy to create value for your business, customers, suppliers and team members.
A path forward, and community for life
EnergyLab’s suite of programs span every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, supporting you with the expertise and networks you need to reach every growth milestone. Successful participants will be invited to apply for the Climate Solutions Accelerator, and you’ll be part of the EnergyLab community for life.
Program mentors and presenters
EnergyLab's Climate Tech Charge program boasts an impressive roster of speakers. We bring in industry experts to share their knowledge and experiences with the cohort every week. Our speakers delve into a wide range of topics including valuations, branding, marketing, governance, R&D tax incentives, grants, hiring, go-to-market strategy, SAFE notes, strategic partnerships, investor communication, and many other relevant subjects. These are just some of our amazing speakers.
Program structure
The Charge Program is run year-round and founders can join at the beginning of each month to gain access to mentorship, expert-led workshops and priority to rent a co-working space in Sydney for a period of 12 months. You’ll also join EnergyLab’s growing community of climate tech startups, supporters and investors for life.
Join the program
Monthly intake
We’ll welcome you to the program with a 1:1 call with the Charge Program Manager to set some goals for the program.
Program agenda
Round 2: 6 February - 18 June 2024 | Round 3: 30 July - 10 December 2024
This ‘always-on’ program is run entirely virtually as a series of 20 workshops which are offered weekly on a rolling basis. A similar cycle of 20 workshops will be offered again in July 2024.
This offers you flexibility and choice of topics to dive into as and when it suits you. You’ll spend a maximum of 3 hours in workshops and diving into at-home work per module.
Focus areas
Series of 20 expert-led workshops delivered on a rolling basis. The focus area themes are:
Brand & marketing
Business compliance
Customer research & validation
Financial modelling
Go-to-market strategy
Intellectual property
The investment landscape
Leadership & management
Measuring & growing impact
Partnerships
Pitching & pitch decks
Product-market fit
Program cost
The program costs $1,200 (including GST) for 12 months, with the opportunity to extend program access and EnergyLab membership for $99/month after the initial 12 months.
We're a non-profit organisation and your contribution goes towards program delivery costs. The price includes:
- 1:1 mentorship (1 one-hour session every month). You’ll be matched with mentors from EnergyLab’s exceptional pool of mentors
- Frameworks and course content you can keep and use again
- Regular individual check-ins with our Charge Program Lead
- Joining EnergyLab’s extensive and invaluable network of climate tech founders, advisors and investors
- Monthly meetups with other Charge program founders
Hear from some of EnergyLab's alumni
“ EnergyLab was crucial in the formation and early success of Exergenics, helping significantly in attracting early investment and building networks of mentors within the energy sector. The pre-seed program is perfectly suited for founders who are ready to commit full time to turning their innovation into a company. The EnergyLab team go over and above the call of duty for founders in their program, taking the time with each company to understand and drive outcomes which will help them to succeed. ”
Co-Founder & CEO, Exergenics
“ The program was incredibly supportive, offering a variety of valuable and relevant topics that have been instrumental in our present and future planning helping us make progress towards Equoia's ultimate vision. ”
Co-founder, Equoia
“ We were among the inaugural cohort in Charge and loved it. Great team, great lectures, wonderful networking opportunities. And the complimentary co-working space is an extra benefit with a great social area where you can entertain customers and partners. ”
CEO, Brownee
“ A great 12-month program of classes to help guide founders along the initial phases of the startup journey. ”
Founder, SolvingZero
Interested? Join our Charge Info session
We're hosting a Charge info session on 31 July 2024 to give a program overview - come ready with questions!
Applications open
From 12 June 2023
Before we start accepting applications, you can complete our expression of interest form.
The initial intake opens in June 2023, but you can express interest at any time. Onboarding takes place at the beginning of each month.
Interviews
From 1 July 2024
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short virtual interview before you’re invited to participate.
Offers
From 20 July 2024
Successful applicants will be invited to join the program shortly after the interview process.
Welcome & onboarding
From 1 August 2024
The Charge Program Lead will personally welcome you to the program and map out some goals for the program with you.
Selection criteria
We’re all about providing the right support, at the right time. Besides having a climate tech startup, the Charge program is for you if you have these qualities:
Proven idea
You have proof of concept at a minimum, or a prototype or minimum viable product with some evidence of customer engagement. You have a clear problem, solution and vision statement to prove it.
Looking to grow
You’re either looking to acquire your first paying customers, build customer interest, and validate your customer engagement approach. You have growth goals that you’re looking to sense-check, linked to investment goals.
Wanting to become investment-ready
You’ve either secured pre-seed funding, or you’re preparing for it. You’re looking to better position yourself to attract funding from investors. From a legal perspective, you’ve got your ‘house in order’ (or just about), and you have or are looking for the right core team members.
FAQs
The program is delivered entirely virtually, over Zoom. You can dial in from anywhere. Co-working options are available for Sydney-based founders.
Yes, you need to have a registered startup with a climate tech or clean energy-related solution.
Charge is an ‘always-on’ program. Each participant will have 12-months of membership from when they start the program. On average, a participant could expect to dedicate about 8 hours per month to the program.
Weekly program workshops will be run on Tuesdays from 12:00 - 13:30 AEST. You’ll also have monthly check ins with the Charge Program Lead and a one hour 1:1 mentorship session every 4 - 6 weeks.
No, the Charge program will support you to build traction, and set fundraising goals. The Charge Program Lead and mentors will support you to identify what you can gain from this program.
Yes, the Charge program is open to all Australian-based businesses, and some international businesses.
Yes! Email our program lead Tom for the link.
Please email [email protected] if you have any other questions.