Small Business, Big Impact

Supporting entrepreneurs in their fight against climate change

 

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Helping Entrepreneurs and Innovators Bring Their Clean Tech Ideas to Life Since 2005

Business Accelerator

Our focus on innovation equips startups with the tools, resources, and industry insights needed to stay ahead in the competitive cleantech landscape.

Educational Resources

Our specialized training and education programs to equip entrepreneurs with the latest trends, technologies, and regulatory insights.

Collaborative Ecosystem

Join our vibrant community shaping a sustainable future where innovation thrives and impactful solutions come to life.

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.

PROMOTE

Dive into CleanStart’s Progress Report, celebrating Northern California’s clean tech achievements and expertise. Join the clean tech revolution, empowering positive impact on the environment.

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 Blogs

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

Forager Fuels and EcoPress Win Circular Economy Prizes

The fourth annual Circular Economy Innovation Competition brought together researchers, startups, and entrepreneurs working to transform waste into economic opportunity. Held May 13 at the Roseville Venture Lab, the competition featured 12 finalists presenting...

West Biofuels Making the Leap to Commercial Plants

After more than 15 years of R&D, West Biofuels (WBF) in Woodland is building its first two commercial scale plants to convert ag and forestry residues into electricity.  It has plans to develop many more as these first two prove their commercial viability and as...

The Next Grid Frontier: Why IAW FlexHub Matters for California (and Beyond)

California just launched one of the most consequential experiments in grid modernization, and most of the business community hasn't noticed yet. In March, Momentum announced the public launch of the Industrial, Agriculture, and Water Load Flexibility Hub, known as IAW...

Sacramento’s Grid Just Got a Lot Smarter

Seventy investors, founders, researchers, and grid professionals filled the room at Baker Tilly in Rancho Cordova on June 18 for CleanStart's latest Cleantech Meetup, "Intelligence on the Grid: How Much Smarter Does it Need to be?" Fueled by a great spread from our...

The Golden Ticket Goes to Data Pigeon: CleanStart Celebrates the UC Davis Big Bang Competition

Charlie Bucket got a candy factory. The winners of this year's UC Davis Big Bang Business Competition got something arguably sweeter: validation, prize money, and a launching pad for startups that are changing the world. The annual Big Bang competition, hosted by Joe...

The Pace of Storage Installations is Mind-Blowing

I have been studying the data on the new installations of grid-scale batteries in an article from Canary Media. I feel like the White Queen in Through the Looking Glass.  She was pleased to say she managed to believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast...

It’s A New World for Getting Investment

In the past two years, there has been a shift in what will get an investor to write a check.  It is all coming down to hard evidence of revenue, of a modest customer acquisition cost, of an experienced team, and of being able to grow sales 100% per year for at least a...

Capital Valleys Forum: What Happens When You Put Both Valleys in One Room

The other week I had the privilege of moderating the "Bridging Silicon Valley Innovation to Central Valley Scale" panel at the inaugural Capital Valleys Forum, a flagship event of Sacramento Climate Week 2026 held at UC Davis's Aggie Square campus. I've been in rooms...

Have We Already Crossed Earth’s “Tipping Point”?

In 2009, a group of 28 scientists led by Johan Rockström (a renowned climate scientist- to put his work lightly), proposed a new framework for monitoring Earth’s systems and our outsized influence on them. The group identified nine "planetary life support systems"...

The Intelligent Grid: From Smart to Sentient

A Synthesis of the Thoughts of Daveed Sidhu   Our friend Daveed Sidhu is a prolific writer and provocative thought leader on the future of the electric grid and what it would mean for new business opportunities, new products, and new approaches to regulation.  He...

Start Your CleanTech Business

We provide comprehensive support for aspiring innovators in the cleantech industry.

 

  • Product Ideation Support: Guiding individuals in creating and selling cleantech and sustainability products.
  • Critical Question Assessment: Helping entrepreneurs answer nine key questions to validate their product concept.
  • Concept Worth Validation: Supporting the process of proving the viability and value of new product ideas.
 

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Testimonials

"As an entrepreneur in the sustainability sector, CleanStart Inc. has been an invaluable ally. Their expert guidance, networking events, and access to funding opportunities have been instrumental in turning our vision into a thriving reality."

Diana, CEO of ThermēShade

"I appreciate the work that Clean Start has done so far with and for EV Life, your CEO crash course in the very beginning of my journey was really an incredible experience and really set us up to go tackle the first set of challenges with confidence. So thank you."

CEO Kevin Favro, EV Life

"Being a part of CleanStart Inc. has opened doors we never thought possible for our sustainable business. The continuous learning opportunities and exposure to industry leaders have significantly contributed to our success. Forever grateful for their commitment to fostering innovation in cleantech."

President of LiCAP Technologies, Inc.

“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.

“We take pride in empowering startups. Our personalized mentorship and tailored programs drive clean energy ventures to new heights, showcasing our commitment to innovation and tangible industry impact.”

Thomas Hall

Executive Director, CleanStart Inc.

Regional Companies

Our comprehensive map is a dynamic guide highlighting the emerging and thriving cleantech companies in our region.

 

  • Facilitates Collaboration:
    • Fosters networking and partnerships among nearby cleantech companies, driving collaborative initiatives.
  • Economic Boost:
    • Attracts investment, creates jobs, and stimulates economic growth by showcasing a thriving regional cleantech sector.
  • Community Engagement:
    • Enhances community awareness, encouraging local support and participation in sustainable initiatives.

Some of Our Sponsors

SMUD
CMC
RiverCity Bank
Bloom

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