U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator

Join the 12-week startup accelerator sponsored by U.S. Venture and powered by gener8tor.

About the Program

U.S. Venture ’s purpose of finding a better way is at the heart of their company culture. With a vision to be the very best provider of transportation products, sustainability solutions, and insights driving the world forward, the U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator program will mirror this foundation by investing $100K into five sustainability- and mobility-related startups to provide a mentorship-based, concierge-service programming needed to experience growth and acquisition.

gener8tor and U.S. Venture will support the growth of these startups through our network of experienced mentors, technologists, industry experts and venture capitalists. We accept applications from sustainability- or mobility-related startups across the United States and Canada. Relocation to Appleton, Wisconsin, for the duration of the program is required.

See the latest gener8tor Investment Accelerator statistics here.

$100K into your sustainability- or mobility-related high-growth startup. Access to gener8tor’s global network of mentors and investors.

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Upcoming Program

Investment Terms

Managing Director

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Apply Now

We are not currently accepting applications for this program.

Stay tuned. While there aren't any upcoming programs for this location at the moment, there are plenty of other available opportunities at gener8tor!

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Investment

Selected teams will receive a $100,000 investment directly into the current round (if raising) or uncapped convertible bridge note to be converted into the next round (if not currently raising).

Strategic Network

We make highly relevant and impactful connections to corporate partners, investors and experienced mentors to help you scale your impact. Build relationships within the cohort of five companies, and the community of gener8tor alumni.

Focused Support

1 of 5…not 10…not 15…not 100. We only invest in five companies per program. We focus all of our time, energy and network on you.

Mentorship, Coaching & One-on-One Meetings

Twelve weeks of individualized coaching and mentorship from the gener8tor team during bi-weekly, one-on-one meetings. One-on-one meetings with 100+ connections including serial entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors.

Deals and Perks

$1M + in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk, Hubspot and Microsoft.

Premiere Night

Exclusive reception during which participating companies have the opportunity to pitch to an audience of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and community members.

What we are looking for?

Applications are welcome from startups headquartered anywhere in the world. We accept applications from sustainability or mobility focused startups.

Can We Help?

Based on our expertise in sales, marketing, go-to-market, strategy and fundraising, we select startups that are primed for growth. If you are at a point where our network, resources and expertise can scale your impact, we urge you to apply.

The Appleton Ecosystem

Appleton, Wisconsin, has the perfect blend of big city conveniences and small-town, midwestern warmth that allows businesses to thrive. It has been a premiere location for businesses for decades and has always seen a diverse representation of industries—from the paper mills, technology and manufacturing to retail, service, and electronics, the Appleton business sphere truly has it all. Appleton is also a part of 18 unique communities located along the Fox River and Lake Winnebago that comprise the unbeatable Fox Valley.

U.S. Venture’s history is rooted in the heart of Appleton and the Fox Valley, making this in-person accelerator a natural fit to support any growth-minded startup by having U.S. Venture’s dynamic and industry-leading professionals nearby. U.S. Venture leads by pushing boundaries and embracing innovation, and we are committed to bringing that groundwork to each startup within the U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator Cohort.

Scalable Business Model

We focus on startups that have the opportunity for significant and scalable economic impact. If you are generating revenue or have a clear path toward greater adoption, we urge you to apply.

Passionate and Dedicated Founders

Building a venture-backable business is hard. Really really hard. We're here to support you along the way as we look for the founders who are in love with the problem they are solving, especially those that are underrepresented.

U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator Alumni

New Day Hydrogen

New Day Hydrogen seeds local hydrogen markets in North America with its proprietary HubStarter , hydrogen production and fueling system. These systems produce hydrogen fuel on site with just water and electricity and offer centralized fleets a rapid, affordable alternative to batteries in their transition to zero emissions.
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IN BOLD PRINT.

IN BOLD PRINT.’s technology platform helps small to mid-sized companies in the consumer goods space measure their carbon emissions and share their sustainability journey. Think of IN BOLD PRINT. as the‘TurboTax’ of carbon accounting.
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Torev Motors

Torev Motors develops next-generation electric motors for the transportation space. Our patented motor design uses 50% less rare earth metals while enabling vehicles to travel further and recharge less.
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Sativa Building Systems

Sativa Building Systems creates hemp based construction materials. The flagship product is the Z Panel. The Z Panel is a patented carbon negative block panel used to construct the walls of buildings. It is breathable, non-toxic, mold resistant, rot resistant, fire resistant, and pest resistant.
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OpenGrid

OpenGrid enables grocery-anchored locations to generate revenue from EV charging while helping drivers avoid trips to dedicated stations. Our lithium battery-integrated OdeumOne chargers are designed for plug-and-play deployment and to be compatible with existing infrastructure, delivering the fast charging that EV drivers demand. With zero out-of-pocket costs and up to 50% revenue sharing, we enhance in-store purchases, property value, and customer loyalty — all while offering drivers a convenient full charge at stores they already frequent.
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RIISE

RIISE’s AI-powered Retrofit Co-pilot © scans entire cities globally for retrofit opportunities at the click of a button… Unlock new revenue streams and deliver cost-saving recommendations for clients within seconds. Combining cutting-edge Satellite and geospatial technologies with over 4 million datasets, RIISE enables Construction companies, Insurers, and Lenders to automatically uncover revenue-generating retrofit opportunities and identify energy cost savings, helping businesses to achieve both sustainability and financial goals.
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Deflect

At Deflect, we reduce fuel consumption on freight trains with our patented deflectors that are easy to install and effortless to maintain.
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Softly

The Softly platform equips businesses with the tools they need to avoid greenwashing risks, stay compliant with sustainability regulations, and outperform the competition.
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Hazel

Hazel Trade is a renewable energy tax credit platform that simplifies the management, facilitation, and trading of tax credits. Our patent-pending platform streamlines the entire process, making tax credit trading more accessible for both new and established participants in the growing green energy market.
Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have more questions about our program? Browse our most frequently asked questions and answers here.

Applications are welcome from sustainability- or mobility-related startups headquartered anywhere in the United States and Canada. However, startups must relocate to Appleton, Wisconsin, for the duration of the program, in order to take full advantage of the cohort-based programming and the strength of the local ecosystem.
You are expected to relocate to Appleton, Wisconsin, for the duration of the program, in order to take full advantage of the cohort-based programming and the strength of the local ecosystem.
Startups must participate in-person.
Selected teams will receive a $100,000 investment directly into the current round (if raising) or uncapped convertible bridge note to be converted into the next round (if not currently raising)

More gener8tor FAQs

Meet Our Team

Want to chat with someone on our team? Sign up for office hours for a 20-minute meeting to discuss the program.

Andrew Schmitz

Managing Director,
U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator

Chat with Andrew

Emma Snyder

Program Manager,
U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator

Chat with Emma

Founder Testimonials

“New Day Hydrogen continues to thrive following graduation from the U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator. Even now, gener8tor prioritizes our company with ongoing support, valuable connections, advice, and mentorship. We still maintain strong contact with our intimate cohort of five startups and look to build further upon the strategic partnership with U.S. Venture to amplify our efforts towards success.”

Seth Terry
CEO, New Day Hydrogen
The U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator played a key role in propelling IN BOLD PRINT forward to where it is today. One of the biggest gains from the program was developing a clear message about what we do and why it is impactful. The combination of having hands-on program managers, back-to-back pitches each week, and utilizing U.S. Venture as a corporate partner gave our team opportunities that would otherwise not exist.

Ashley Pradhan & Cierra Valor
Co-Founders, IN BOLD PRINT.
The U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator has been a game-changer for Torev Motors from the beginning, and the support has continued far-beyond graduation. This accelerator's unwavering commitment to sustainability, coupled with invaluable mentorship, and connections to investors has excelled Torev Motors beyond expectation. With the sustainability mobility thesis, and the opportunity to collaborate with U.S. Venture, an innovative member in the renewable energy and transportation space, this accelerator proved to be a perfect fit. The support that Torev receives from gener8tor and U.S. Venture post-program, has proven to be incredibly helpful, they are always just a phone call away.

Rory Brogan
Founder and CEO, Torev Motors