Calling all aspiring founders with an ambitious idea
EnergyLab’s Climate Tech Ignite program connects aspiring entrepreneurs and talented founders with the resources and mentorship they need to develop a startup idea, craft an impactful value proposition, and launch a startup. Paving your path for success, you’ll also join Australia’s largest network of climate tech entrepreneurs and investors. The Climate Tech Ignite program is proudly funded by the NSW Government.
Key dates
- Expression of Interest Open: 25 November 2024 - 25 May 2025
- Applications Open: 26 May - 31 August 2025
- Interviews: 1 - 5 September 2025
- Program runs: 14 September - 6 November 2025
Meet some of our alumni
Ignite will run for a third time in Q3 of 2025, our previous two cohorts graduated in November 2023 & November 2024. Our cohorts explored entrepreneurship in the climate-tech space, resulting in some promising start-ups. Here are some of the talented and passionate alumni we have supported in the program.
Annelieke de Wit (Innovation and Sustainability Business Development Manager, Deakin University)
David Pollard (Metering Product Specialist, Influx Energy Data)
Jared Philips (Senior Strategy & Operations Manager, Slyp)
Niall Williams (Brand & Marketing consultant, freelance)
Saddiq Kummethi (Solutions Architect, GBST)
Siddharth Subramanian (ESD Engineer, Arup)
Aidan Matthews (Logistics & Distribution Manager, Ateco Automotive Group)
Philip Oefner (Independent Engineering Consultant)
Tim Delane (Building Performance Engineer, Cundall)
Morwesi Ramonyai (Managing Director, Borena Energy)
Why take the leap with us?
When you join our community, we’ll provide you with the resources and mentorship you need to build your capacity as an entrepreneur. Here’s what’s on offer.
Learn the foundations of entrepreneurship
What does it take to start a startup? We’ll show you the different stages of the entrepreneurial journey, and guide you through the first one - coming up with a good idea.
Understand the opportunities in Climate Tech
You’ll learn about the climate tech sector, trends, successful startups and where opportunities lie in efforts to reach net zero.
Brainstorm impactful ideas
We’ll workshop startup ideas with you and share some useful methods for picking the best ideas to pursue.
Hone in on the problem you’re aiming to solve
You have an idea of a problem you want to solve - we’ll support you to collect valuable information, and test your assumptions.
Explore an idea that creates meaningful value
We’ll help you understand how your startup idea creates value, and for whom. We’ll share methods of learning about your potential customer’s needs, and how to go about validating your idea.
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 leadership, management, operations and more.
Community for life
EnergyLab is a vibrant community of climate tech startups, investors and ecosystem supporters.
A path forward
EnergyLab’s portfolio of programs span every stage of the entrepreneurial journey, supporting you with the expertise and networks you need to reach every growth milestone.
Program mentors and presenters
EnergyLab's Climate Tech Ignite program boasts an impressive roster of speakers. We bring in industry experts to share their knowledge and experiences, as well as founders to share their journeys and learnings. Our speakers delve into a wide range of topics including ideation, customer discovery, patenting, capital raising, business model canvas, pitching and many other relevant subjects. These are just some of our amazing speakers.
Ashby Field
Business Development Officer, Department for Industry, Innovation and Science, SA Government
LinkedIn
Program structure
This 8-week program will spark your first step to becoming an entrepreneur and launching a startup. One module is delivered each week, and you’ll spend a maximum of 3 hours in workshops and diving into at-home work per module.
Program kick-off
16 September 2025
You'll start the program by getting to know the other participants in the program, the mentors and the wider EnergyLab community.
Module 1: The entrepreneurial journey & ideation
16 September - 21 September 2025
We’ll start by exploring what an entrepreneurial journey typically looks like, and start brainstorming startup ideas.
Module 2: Climate tech landscape & key themes
22 September - 28 September 2025
We’ll dive into climate tech themes to guide ideation, and get you thinking about which sector/s you’re interested in.
Module 3: Customer Discovery
29 September - 5 October 2025
We’ll explore how to learn about your market, and you’ll be introduced to some customer research tools to filter your best ideas, test assumptions, and refine your ideas.
Module 4: Startup opportunities & picking ideas
6 October - 12 October 2025
We’ll highlight trends and opportunities in climate tech, and select a business idea to unpack further.
Break: Customer Interviews
13 October - 19 October 2025
You’ll spend the week refining your value proposition and validating your idea by undertaking some customer research.
Module 5: Crafting a value proposition
20 October - 26 October 2025
You’ll begin to craft your impactful value proposition based on customer feedback.
Module 6: Building Business Foundations
27 October - 2 November
Time to launch! We’ll wrap up by looking at the key next steps to turning your idea into a business.
Module 7: Pitching & Graduation
3 November - 9 November
The program culminates with an opportunity to pitch to EnergyLab mentors and angels and an overview of next steps including types and sources of capital to get you started.
Program cost
The program costs $990 (including GST).
We're a non-profit organisation and your contribution goes towards program delivery costs. The price includes:
- 7 weeks of workshops, panel discussions and Q&As
- Frameworks and course content you can keep and use again
- 1-1 startup mentoring from one of our exceptional mentors (2 one-hour sessions)
- Individual check-ins with our Ignite Program Lead
Testimonials
“ I'm glad I joined the Climate Tech Ignite program, it really helped me to understand the whole startup lifecycle, helped me brainstorming new ideas, validate my idea by talking to different mentors and getting their expert opinions. ”
Solutions Architect, GBST
“ I highly recommend EnergyLab's Ignite course for anyone who is new to the startup world. I enrolled in the course having no prior experience or knowledge of how to start up and what idea I should be pursuing. The course explained all of the key milestones and stages of starting your own business, and included some great guest speakers and mentors in the climate space. ”
ESD Engineer, Arup
“ The Ignite program was a great way of testing and researching my ideas, I came out of the program with some clear directions of what I needed to progress my ideas into a start up. There is a wealth of knowledge available on many different types of industries and it has given me a lot more confidence and how to navigate many difficult situations. ”
Metering Product Specialist, Influx Energy Data
“ It has been a brilliant experience. Working with like-minded people encourages you to do better and be bold. The course has challenged many of my assumptions and helped me to focus on important items in my start up ”
CEO, CarbonLite
“ The programme is very well organised and structured. There's value for every enterprise irrespective of the stage in the journey. Great support during the sessions and outside the sessions. ”
Managing Director, Borena
“ If you are thinking about becoming a cleantech founder and unsure about next steps, join EnergyLab. Teachings and resources were very helpful and access to mentors and networking opportunities invaluable. ”
Logistics and Distribution Manager, Ateco Automotive Group
Interested?
Expressions of interest are now open for the 2025 edition of the Ignite program.
Selection criteria
We want to provide the right value for you. We’re looking for ambitious aspiring founders with these qualities:
Skill
Do you have problem-solving capabilities or a specific skill/experience that you can leverage to create a unique offering?
Spirit
Are you ambitious, comfortable with ambiguity and not afraid to take calculated risks?
Hustle
Do you have the tenacity and determination to achieve ambitious goals? Could you convince someone to trial your product for the first time?
FAQs
Climate tech: Technologies that are explicitly focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions or addressing the impacts of climate change. Climate tech applications can be broadly categorised into 3 groups, those that:
1) directly mitigate or remove emissions,
2) help us adapt to the impacts of climate change, and
3) enhance our understanding of the climate.
Not at all. Having a diversity of experience in the cohort makes for rich conversation and learning experiences. All you need is an interest in climate and energy entrepreneurship.
No. The aim of this program is to give you the know-how, tools and confidence to take your first steps into the entrepreneurial path. If you already have a startup idea, that's a bonus!
The program is delivered entirely virtually, over Zoom. You can dial in from anywhere.
There are 20 spots in each cohort. Participants are selected based on the program criteria.
About 35 hours in total over 8 weeks.
The program kicks off on 16 September with a welcome call at 17:00 - 18:30 AEST.
From 16 September - 19 November 2024, you’ll have weekly workshops every Tuesday and Thursday from 17:00 - 18:30 AEST.
Additionally, you’ll have 2 one-hour mentorship sessions, and to make the most of the program, you’ll be required to do some work in your own time.
Please email [email protected] if you have any other questions.