NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Lever and the Massachusetts Founders Network (MFN) are seeking clean energy startups to apply for the 2023 Berkshire Sustainability Challenge, supported by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). 

 

The winning company will be awarded a $40,000 innovation grant. All participants will be eligible for an additional scholarship award sponsored by MassCEC. 

 

Participating startups will attend four workshops over a 15-week period, culminating with a final event on Friday, Feb. 9. 

 

Clean energy founders can expect "access to and conversations with mentors in the field, a community of investors and entrepreneurs in the clean tech space, and can expect to finish with a pressure-tested business plan," Lever Challenge Coordinator Elizabeth Nelson said. "If you're in the earlier stages, we'll also have a refresher course on making sure you're truly developing the product with the customer in mind."

 

Participating finalists will also be able to network with each other, continuing to strengthen ties with Massachusetts' clean energy startup ecosystem. 

 

"Our challenge finalists develop a great sense of camaraderie," Nelson said. "You're sharing your experiences, where you got grants and other money, and creating community."

 

GenH of Somerville, Massachusetts won the 2022 Berkshire Sustainability Challenge, where Lever reached the milestone of awarding $1 million in innovation grants to scalable startups in the region.

 

This is the first Lever Challenge co-hosted with MFN, which launched in the summer of 2023. MFN is providing startup founders equitable access to resources that will help their companies grow, including meetings with experts, resource guides, and more. Learn more at massfoundersnetwork.org. 

 

Applications are due by Friday, October 13 at gust.com/programs/berkshire-sustainability-challenge.