Small Business, Big Impact

Supporing Entrepreneurs in their fight against climate change.

CEO Crash Course

Enroll in the 2023 Clean Tech CEO Crash Course to fast-track your journey from idea to impactful CEO. Guided by industry experts, this program offers a mix of in-person and virtual sessions, emphasizing strategic business development and sustainable growth. Benefit from personalized mentoring and join an elite group of emerging clean tech businesses.

We Are a Nonprofit Helping Entrepreneurs & Innovators Bring Their Cleantech Ideas to Life

We established CleanStart with the mission to empower visionaries and guide them towards success in the marketplace, eliminating the need for numerous costly mistakes.

Gary Simon

Chairman/Founder, CleanStart Inc.

Network Connections

CONNECT

At CleanStart, we cultivate connections for small businesses and entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration on sustainable initiatives through events, forums, and meet-ups. Join a network that shares your passion for positive environmental change.

ASSIST

Navigate the path to sustainable success with our strategic planning support. Whether you’re starting or scaling, we guide you in making impactful decisions aligned with your goals and an eco-friendly future.

Guidance
Educational Resources

EDUCATE

Transform with knowledge. Access workshops, webinars, and guides for the latest in sustainable business insights. Equip yourself to seamlessly integrate sustainability into your operations.

Latest Posts

Dive into the dynamic landscape of clean tech, exploring ideas and success stories.

Global Entrepreneurship Week Success

The Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Sacramento State recently led the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) activities for the fifth year, marking its significant role in regional economic growth. During the Sacramento Entrepreneurial State of the...

Spotlight Pitch Event Highlights

We had a great Spotlight Pitch event at the Carlsen Center on November 16 (and a big thanks to the crew At the Center for hosting us).  We heard from 5 investment-ready companies, all with customers, revenue, and product-market fit.  All were seeking significant...

AgTech Day: A Crossroads of Innovation and Agriculture

As the Executive Director of CleanStart, I had the pleasure of attending the 7th annual AgTech Day, an event that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of innovation that drives the agricultural sector forward. Organized by the esteemed Center for Irrigation Technology...

Revving Up Tradition: EV Lowriding

When you think of electric vehicles, what do you think of? Teslas? Rivians? Quiet sedans owned by the few that can currently afford them? That doesn’t connect with the diverse car culture of Sacramento today. The intersection of low-rider culture and the burgeoning...

John Selep: Innovation Leader of the Year

John Selep's recognition as Innovation Leader of the Year at the Nov. 2 Awards, showcasing his impactful contributions to agtech and notable achievements in establishing AgStart and fostering agtech incubators nationwide. Congratulations to our colleague, John Selep!...

Innovation Triumph: XeroHome & Origin Win!

Uncover the success stories of XeroHome and Origin Materials in the 2023 Innovation Awards. From AI-driven home recommendations to revolutionary wood-waste chemicals, witness the future of sustainability and technology unfold. Congratulations to Award Winners XeroHome...

CalTestBed: Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation

CleanStart's recent discussion about the CalTestBed Opportunity offers an exciting opportunity for clean energy entrepreneurs and innovators. In this blog post, we'll delve into the key points covered during the discussion and why it matters. CalTestBed: Accelerating...

Spotlight Investor Pitch Night

Hear From Our Best! Join us for an unforgettable evening at our upcoming "Spotlight Investor Pitch Night," coinciding with Global Entrepreneurship Week. It's happening on Thursday, November 16th, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Carlsen Center. Unveiling Four Companies...

GFX: Showcasing the “Backyard Advantage”

At their inaugural showcase on October 5 in Roseville, the Growth Factory put on a jam-packed day of speeches, workshops, pitches and booth exhibits.  The theme was seizing the opportunity to support local innovators as a way to build a robust technology-based economy...

Sailing to Sustainability: Floatovoltaics Revolution

We love creative ways to install solar.  Ever hear of Floatavotaics?  It is one solution to lowering the cost of mounting solar panels, now by far the largest cost in making an installation.  Floating PV systems use solar arrays that float on bodies of water, such as...

Some of Our Sponsors

SMUD
CMC
RiverCity Bank
Bloom

Join Our Community

Get the latest cleantech updates with our newsletter!