The MIT Startup Ecosystem - SBXi Weekly Newsletter š
Newsletter #2 - January 23rd, 2024
As a reminderā¦
SBXi is jointly backed by Accel, Polaris Partners, GETTYLAB, General Catalyst, Pillar, Danaher, Underscore VC, and Glasswing Ventures ā we write $10K-$100K checks on SAFEs and $100K-$1M checks when thereās a qualifying term-sheet we can match.
Apply for funding here.
š Weekly Startup: 1Climate.
1Climate leverages AI to automate clean energy permitting, incentive filing, and project development processes.
Team: Kevin Diau and Kyle Patel, the co-founders of 1Climate, were drawn together by a shared passion for designing solutions that address global challenges at the nexus of technology, climate, and policy. Their collaboration is underpinned by complementary backgrounds and expertise, including Kevin's deep knowledge of clean energy and policy and Kyle's AI and software development skills. With extensive industry experience and strong academic backgrounds, the 1Climate teamās paths converged in their commitment to accelerate clean energy deployment. Kevin and Kyle met during graduate school at the Harvard Kennedy School, where they were in the same Masterās in Public Administration program and worked together on a number of projects and papers. Through that experience, they saw the potential in combining their technical knowledge in AI, climate, and business development to navigate the complexities of clean energy regulation. Together, they've identified gaps in the clean energy permitting and incentive management process and built an AI-based platform to address these inefficiencies. Their combined strengths allow Kevin to bring his practical insights from the clean energy sector and Kyle to leverage his experience building advanced AI solutions to together design a comprehensive, end-to-end clean energy regulatory platform.
Recent Win: We've kicked off the year with a bang! We are proud to announce that we've won the Department of Energyās American-Made Solar Prize Round 7 Ready! Contest. This opportunity aligns perfectly with our vision, and the associated grant will help us build even faster.Ā We wrapped up 2023 on a high note, showcasing our vision for 1Climate to the leadership teams of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Zuora at the Village Capital Sustainability Subscribed Demo Day.Additionally, weāve expanded our association with Stanford and StartX with acceptance to the Spring 2024 Cohort. 1Climate has also expanded its relationship with Harvard by admission to the Harvard Climate Entrepreneursā Circle. On the commercial front, we've reached a significant milestone with our paid pilot projects in California as the first projects have been officially permitted! On the product development front, we have successfully built a functional prototype and are now moving into the scaling phase of our first AI capabilities. This marks a significant milestone on our product roadmap, as we are now thrilled to welcome our first users onboard! Weāre excited to work closely and iterate with these first users to build the best possible product.
How MIT Can Help: The MIT community is renowned for its exceptional expertise in clean energy and artificial intelligence. This aligns perfectly with the core domains of 1Climate. Establishing connections with both students and faculty actively engaged in these fields enhances our understanding and application of innovative solutions in clean energy and language AI. Moreover, as we gear up to expand our team, the opportunity to tap into the rich talent pool at MIT could be instrumental. This collaboration would not only speed up our progress but also ensure that we are at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies and having a meaningful impact on clean energy deployment.
Kyle & Kevinās MIT Startup(s) to Watch: Early Stage: Eki Agrivoltaics, Jane Energy; Later stage: Commonwealth Fusion Systems.
Questions?: Reach out on the 1Climate Website.
š Upcoming SBXi Eventsā¦
SBXi Office Hours (Weekly).
Date: Tuesday, January 23.
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM ET
Location: 750 Main Street, Cambridge MA.
Details: Learn about funding processes, get pitch feedback, and connect with founders & investors. [Register Here]
Small Group Dinner w/ SBXi.
Date: Wednesday, January 24.
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM ET.
Location: Cambridge, MA.
Details: Curated small tables based on common interests. [Register Here]
All Levels Pickleball w/ SBXi.
Date: TBD
Location: MIT Gym.
Details: By popular demand! We are waiting to kick it off until we get critical mass. [Register Here]
Q1 Pitch Day.
Date: TBD
Location: Boston, MA.
Details: Pitch live in front of an audience and at least two of our sponsoring funds. [Register Here]
š Some of the events weāll be at this weekā¦
Are you attending one of these events and want to learn more about SBXi? Book a coffee chat here.
See a full list of tech events across Boston courtesy of Jonathan Chang at Markit Social.
Guidelines for Responsible Generative AI in Research: Scaling Data, Knowledge, and Impact at Building 45.
Date: January 23, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
Location: Building 45
Nuts and Bolts of New Ventures
Date: January 23, 2024.
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM.
Location: Cambridge, MA.
Breakfast for Hardware Startups w/ Fidelity and Prologis Ventures.
Date: Wednesday, January 24.
Time: 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM.
Location: Boston, MA.
Details: [Register Here]
Founder Happy Hour at the Engine.
Date: Wednesday, January 24.
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Location: Cambridge, MA.
Details: [Private]
Venture CafƩ Cambridge.
Date: Thursday, January 26.
Time: 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM.
Location: Cambridge Innovation Center.
Details: [Register Here]
Looking aheadā¦
EnergyBar: Kicking Off 2024 w/ Greentown Labs.
Date: Thursday, February 1.
Time: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM.
Location: Somerville, MA.
Details: [Register Here]