gener8tor Announces Startups Selected for Fall 2022 Sustainability Accelerator

Six companies at the forefront of the world’s climate and environmental crises to receive $100K investment and participate in the 12-week accelerator program

CHICAGO, Ill. - gener8tor, a global startup accelerator, announced the cohort of six startups selected for its fall 2022 Sustainability Accelerator. Each company will receive a $100,000 investment alongside the coaching, mentorship and connections needed to build and scale their businesses. The fall program will continue the success and momentum of the inaugural May 2022 cohort.  

The gener8tor Sustainability Accelerator is a 12-week program that invests in companies working to reverse, mitigate and adapt to climate change through the creation of cutting-edge technologies and products. The fall 2022 companies are New York City-based Candidus; London-based Gentian; Bay Area-based Rushnu; Philadelphia-based Rego; Brooklyn-based Cedar Carbon; and Louisiana-based Phoenix Waste Systems. Detailed company descriptions are below.

Launched in February 2022, gener8tor Sustainability Accelerator invests in six companies per cohort to ensure meaningful engagement with the gener8tor team, network and other resources. In addition to the $100K investment, startups receive intensive individualized coaching and access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors. The Sustainability program partners with industry-leading organizations that align with the accelerator’s mission. TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, one of the world’s largest corporate social impact funds, is the premier sponsor for the fall program with additional partners including Bolster, Michael Best and Brex. 

“We've been impressed with the quality of founders that have graduated from the gener8tor Sustainability program in the past. These climate focused ventures are in line with the Pollinator Fund's pillar of building a more sustainable future for generations to come," said Blair Miller, Managing Partner, TELUS Pollinator Fund. "We are extremely proud to support this next cohort of inspiring climate-tech entrepreneurs and see the impacts they can create for a better world."

The six companies taking part in the Chicago-based program were recruited from around the world, faced a rigorous application and interview process, and were chosen from among hundreds of applicants because of their strong performance on five key elements: 

• Climate Impact

• Team;

• Traction; 

• Product/Service; and

• Market Opportunity. 

“The selected startups represent the very best in climate-tech innovation and are bringing new technology to a wide array of industries, including carbon capture and removal, biodiversity monitoring, energy management, circular economy and waste management,” said Ryan Jeffery, senior managing director of the Sustainability Accelerator at gener8tor. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these incredibly passionate founders into our portfolio and support them on their journey to help mitigate and adapt to our climate crisis,” said Zareen Khan, managing director of the Sustainability Accelerator at gener8tor.

The gener8tor Sustainability fall 2022 program kicked off on September 15 and is conducting both virtual and in-person engagements. The accelerator will conclude on December 16 with a showcase event to follow in spring 2023 held in conjunction with the upcoming spring cohort. The showcase will provide a unique opportunity for all 12 startups to pitch their companies to corporate industry leaders, investors and the public. 

Investors, mentors and industry leaders interested in connecting with the startup companies or learning more about gener8tor programs are encouraged to contact Ryan Jeffery, Sustainability Accelerator senior managing director, or Zareen Khan, Sustainability Accelerator managing director. 

Please meet the six startups below. 

gener8tor Sustainability Fall 2022 | Cohort Summary

Candidus reduces energy usage for greenhouses by implementing data-driven lighting strategies. Candidus’ IoT solution reduces electrical costs by 20%- 40% while maintaining the same level of production. Candidus has generated $400k+ in revenue so far in 2022 with 33 customers, including notable names like Soli Organic, USDA Toledo and Harborside Farms. Candidus plans to expand their offering to energy management and demand response solutions.

Cedar Carbon develops carbon removal technology for urban environments. Cedar’s initial use case attaches to road tunnel ventilation systems and targets emissions from vehicles. By piggybacking on existing and underutilized infrastructure, Cedar helps cities reduce costs, decarbonize their infrastructure and build cleaner more resilient communities. Cedar Carbon has pre-sold their first ton of CO2, is currently developing their prototype and recently graduated from the Airminers Launchpad. 

Gentian combines AI and remote sensing to provide quick, accurate, and affordable assessments of biodiversity across urban and rural areas. Gentian’s proprietary technology allows landowners, developers, policymakers, and building owners to identify, assess, and monitor habitats and properties at scale. Gentian has executed on 10 live projects worth $85,000 in revenue in 2022.

Phoenix Waste Solutions waste disposal machine turns trash into ash and energy. Phoenix reduces 4-8 tons of unsorted municipal solid waste into 2% ash every 24 hours. It operates without using fuel, produces 98% less greenhouse gasses than conventional waste disposal, and is a cheaper option than land filling. Phoenix Waste Solutions completed a paid pilot with Shell Oil in 2021. Another pilot project with a food waste recycling farm is currently underway. The company received an NSF SBIR Phase 1 grant for $256,000 in 2021.

Rego powers the circular economy for multi-family properties by offering reuse and recycling solutions for furniture and other physical goods. Rego provides a hassle-free marketplace for tenants to connect their excess physical goods with people who want them. The team is on a mission to build cleaner communities across the world through the creation of a global, circular process for furniture and other physical goods. Rego has seen 95% transaction growth month over month. They have diverted over 75K pounds of useable furniture away from landfills, reducing the carbon footprint of that furniture by an average of 82% per unit. 

Rushnu decarbonizes heavy industry through a proprietary carbon capture and utilization process that requires 75% less energy consumption than alternatives and makes a profit by producing reusable feedstock from CO2. Rushnu’s technology converts carbon dioxide in the flue gas to harmless chemicals that are heavily used in commodities manufacturing, water treatment, agriculture and construction. They recently signed their first letter of intent to deploy a pilot of their provisionally patented technology.

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About gener8tor 

gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, founders, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities and nonprofits to operate programs 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.

About gener8tor Sustainability Accelerator 

The gener8tor Sustainability Accelerator invests $100k in six cutting-edge sustainability and climate tech startups and provides them with the coaching and connections they need to build and grow their business. This program is open to any startup that is focused on solving, mitigating or adapting to our current climate and environmental crises and engages with founders that reflect the diverse communities impacted by climate change. 

About TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good

The $100 million TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is one of Canada’s largest corporate impact funds, and will focus its investment on for-profit companies and founders committed to driving social innovation. The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is an extension of TELUS’ long-standing commitment to leveraging the power of technology to drive positive social and environmental outcomes for all Canadians by funding the development of solutions for transforming healthcare, caring for our planet, supporting responsible agriculture and enabling inclusive communities. To learn more about the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, please visit: telus.com/pollinatorfund.