gener8tor and U.S. Venture Announce Inaugural Cohort of U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator
Partners invest $100,000 in each of five startups
APPLETON, WI - Global venture capital firm gener8tor, in partnership with energy, transportation, and sustainability solutions company, U.S. Venture, has announced the inaugural cohort of startups selected for investment through the U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator.
The U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator invests $100,000 into each of five startups per cohort that are solving problems in the sustainability and/or mobility space.
The U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator team reviewed over 400 applications for its inaugural program and has made investments into roughly the top 1% of applicants. The five startups came from across North America to participate in this accelerator based in Appleton, Wisconsin. The participating companies are: IN BOLD PRINT. (Chicago, IL); Nectar (Toronto, Canada); New Day Hydrogen (Denver, CO); Sativa Building Systems (Wittenburg, WI); and Torev Motors (Arlington, VA). Learn more about the selected startups below.
“We're thrilled to partner with U.S. Venture to invest in the future of sustainability and mobility technologies while also supporting Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Andrew Schmitz, Managing Director of the U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator. “We’ve seen the incredible economic impact of corporate-backed investment accelerators in other parts of the country, and we’re excited to bring that same impact to Appleton.”
These companies not only receive investment and mentorship from Wisconsin-based gener8tor, but also gain a significant advantage by developing a close relationship with one of the largest privately-held corporations in Wisconsin, Appleton-based U.S. Venture.
“U.S. Venture is proud to collaborate with these startups and help them grow through this accelerator. We feel this unique opportunity has the potential to make a significant impact on the future of sustainability and mobility and also Wisconsin’s startup ecosystem," said Chuck Dauk, U.S. Venture’s Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer.
At the end of the accelerator, startup founders will pitch their companies to investors, community partners and the public at a Showcase eventat 5 p.m. on June 13 in Appleton.
U.S. Venture Sustainability Accelerator Spring 2023 Cohort
Ari Lesniak, CEO | ari@getnectar.io | https://www.getnectar.io
Eyal Susser, CTO | eyal@getnectar.com | https://www.getnectar.io
Nectar builds mobile EV chargers and software systems to increase the speed of fleet electrification and efficiency. Nectar’s batteries allow fleet owners to double or triple their fleet size, without time-consuming and costly grid upgrades. Nectar has over $1.3M worth of deals in the pipeline.
Seth Terry, PhD, MBA, CEO | seth@newdayhydrogen.com | www.newdayhydrogen.com
Buford Barr, COO | buford@newdayhydrogen.com | www.newdayhydrogen.com
New Day Hydrogen develops micro-hub fueling systems that allow fleets to replace diesel with cost-effective, zero-emissions hydrogen – produced on site from water and electricity. New Day Hydrogen’s unique micro-hub solution delivers near-term return on capital and builds early market share with modest-scale, repeatable projects. New Day Hydrogen has received a $250,000 grant award for its first micro-hub from Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (CO OEDIT).
Ashley Pradhan, CEO | ashley@inboldprint.co | https://inboldprint.co/
Cierra Valor, CEO | cierra@inboldprint.co | https://inboldprint.co/
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. IN BOLD PRINT. has generated $150k in revenue and has over $625k in deals in the pipeline.
Zach Popp, CEO | Zach@stivapanel.com |https://www.sativabuildingsystems.com/
Sativa Building Systems manufactures the first-to-market precast hempcrete block panels for constructing walls. Benefits of Sativa’s sustainable, patented Z Panel include passive air filtration and resistance to mold, pests, rot and fire. Sativa Building Systems is a Wisconsin QNBV entity and has generated over $100K in revenue.
Rory Brogan, CEO | rory@torevmotors.com | https://www.torevmotors.com/
Torev Motors develops next-generation electric motors for the transportation space. Its patented motor design uses 58% fewer rare earth metals while enabling vehicles to travel farther and recharge less. Torev is a Delaware C Corporation, headquartered in Arlington, VA, that has two promising potential pilot customers with a combined deal value of over $10M annually.
About gener8tor
gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprofits to operate programs and conferences in more than 41 communities across 22 states and two countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022. The International Trade Council recognized gener8tor as the Global Venture Capital Firm of the Year in 2022.
About U.S. Venture
For over 70 years, U.S. Venture, Inc. has been recognized as an innovative leader in the distribution of renewable and traditional energy products, lubricants, tires, parts, and using data-driven insights to manage energy and information in the global movement of goods. U.S. Venture delivers creative, sustainable solutions that give their customers a competitive edge, and enable the company to support the communities in which they live, work, and play. Through the values lived by their family of brands, U.S. Oil, U.S. AutoForce, Max Finkelstein, LLC, U.S. Gain, Breakthrough®, U.S. Lubricants, U.S. Petroleum Equipment, and IGEN®, U.S. Venture seeks new ways to drive business success while being steadfast in its commitment to making the world a better place.
