This past July, Orlando-based cleantech venture, ecoSPEARS, was selected as one of seven companies from over one-hundred-fifty applicants for the Black & Veatch Cleantech IgniteX Accelerator program. Black & Veatch (B&V) is a global engineering, construction and consulting powerhouse with over 11,000 employees and 2018 revenues over $3.5 billion. The IgniteX Accelerator was created by B&V to foster partnerships and mentor startups with innovative and sustainable technologies that have the potential to create a better world by addressing problems in new growth verticals. Other companies in the first IgniteX cohort include Electriphi, BUILT Robotics, Aware Vehicles, InfraLytiks, Extensible Energy, and Novonutrients.
“The program is building partnerships that seek to accelerate the adoption of sustainable infrastructure through advances in renewable and distributed energy, mobility, agricultural technology, machine learning, and AI, environmental services, and other solutions that add value to engineering services,” said Hyleme George, program director of the Cleantech Accelerator.
The accelerator culminates with “Demo Day”, a pitch and showcase that will occur on November 13th in Kansas City, MO.
“Black & Veatch’s Cleantech IgniteX program has been an invaluable experience. As cleantech entrepreneurs, it’s vital that we find partners that will help spearhead our technologies to the marketplace to accelerate client adoption,” said ecoSPEARS Co-Founder and President, Sergie Albino. “B&V’s program is already paying off – we have a pilot project in the works for a federal site that is contaminated with dioxin. As our design-build and implementation partner, B&V gives us the confidence that we can scale our technologies to match the needs of our clients.”
Along with acceptance into the IgniteX Accelerator, ecoSPEARS was selected this past summer for the 2019 cohort of Cleantech Open Accelerator – the world’s largest cleantech accelerator program. Since 2005 Cleantech Open (CTO) has worked with over 1200 early-stage clean technology startup entrepreneurs through its annual business accelerator. CTO alumni have gone on to raise $1.2 billion and create over 3,000 clean economy jobs. ecoSPEARS took 1st place in the Regional Finals in San Antonio earlier in October. The sixteen regional startup finalists will compete for the U.S. National Prize in Los Angeles, November 11 – 12, just days before the IgniteX program’s Demo Day.
“Billions of dollars continue to be spent each year on costly and destructive cleanup methods, particularly dredging, landfilling, and incineration,” said ecoSPEARS Co-Founder and Executive Vice President Ian Doromal, “That’s why ecoSPEARS exists – to use science and technology to challenge the status quo in the environmental industry. At the end of the day, it’s about eliminating these persistent toxins that are adversely affecting people’s health. Our participation and acceptance into cleantech accelerators such as Port of San Diego Blue Economy Incubator Program, B&V’s IgniteX Accelerator, and Cleantech Open have given us access to publicity, investors, and projects.”
In recent years, environmental issues related to climate change, contamination, and sustainability have generated headlines that have circulated the globe countless times. As a result, world leaders – including the companies they head and their associated programs, including small business incubators and accelerators – seek to accelerate sustainable infrastructure worldwide as the 2030 deadline of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) looms. These goals include eliminating poverty and hunger, delivering clean water and sanitation, clean energy, sustainable communities, innovation for industry and infrastructure, and partnerships to accomplish the 17 SDGs.
About ecoSPEARS: At ecoSPEARS, we envision a world where every human being has access to clean food, clean water, and clean air. ecoSPEARS is committed to creating a better future by providing cost-effective, green solutions to usher in the carbonless future of environmental cleanup. To learn more about ecoSPEARS, please visit www.ecospears.com.
