News

Greentown Labs and Oregon BEST Launch Cleantech Network Expansion Program

Massachusetts and Oregon cleantech communities partner to encourage new market entry for early-stage startups

Somerville, Mass. and Portland, Ore. – February 26, 2016 – A new partnership between two of the nation’s leading cleantech support organizations in Massachusetts and Oregon will help startup entrepreneurs access strategic partners, investors and Oregon BEST Logonew markets on both coasts of the United States.

Gaining access to these critical resources is not an easy task and can be particularly difficult for startups working to disrupt the energy sector. Determining where to go, who to turn to and how to validate a market opportunity is daunting for startups, which is why Greentown Labs and Oregon BEST are launching a Network Expansion Program to address these challenges.

The partnership between Greentown Labs, the nation’s largest cleantech incubator based in Somerville, Mass., and Oregon BEST, an independent, non-profit that funds and supports innovative cleantech startups in Oregon, brings together two organizations working to support cleantech and energy entrepreneurs on opposite sides of the country. The reciprocal Network Expansion Program will provide startups access and market expansion to the Massachusetts and Oregon markets through partnerships and funding opportunities.

“Greentown Labs strives to provide its member startup companies with the resources they need to thrive. Access and entry into new markets—domestically and internationally—is an essential piece of startup growth,” said Emily Reichert, CEO, Greentown Labs. “Oregon BEST will be an excellent resource for our startups to engage with as they look to pursue opportunities in the Oregon, a leading state in cleantech innovation. We’re eager to provide the same resources and opportunities to their entrepreneurs as they pursue the Commonwealth’s buzzing energy economy.”

The Network Expansion Program: Support, Insights and Collaboration

The Program aims to reduce the friction and barriers startups encounter as they break into the Massachusetts and Oregon cleantech markets. Startups from both organizations will have:

  • Free access to temporary desk space
  • Connections with the host market’s local ecosystem
  • Participation at the host location’s events
  • Sharing of best practices for commercialization of clean technologies

“As Oregon BEST funds and assists cleantech startups that address critical global issues, we feel it is urgent to bring their technologies to as broad a market as possible. It is through partnerships like this one with Greentown Labs that we will help Oregon startups connect to important markets nationally and internationally,” said Johanna Brickman, Director of Innovative Collaboration at Oregon BEST. “We’re thrilled to respond in kind by offering members of Greentown Labs an easy way to access connections and community here in Oregon’s thriving cleantech innovation ecosystem.”

In April 2015, Greentown Labs announced a similar partnership with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) to support bi-coastal collaboration and market entry for each incubator’s member companies in their respective markets. Greentown Labs, LACI and Oregon BEST are members of the Incubatenergy Network which provides nationwide coordination of clean energy incubators and stakeholders connecting to share best practices, support of clean energy entrepreneurs and ultimately help facilitate a smoother transition to a more sustainable clean energy economy.

Greentown Labs, Oregon BEST, LACI and other cleantech incubators will be at The ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit from Feb. 29 – March 2 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. Learn more about each organization by visiting their websites or find them at the event: Greentown Labs, booth 509 (with The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center); and Oregon BEST, booth 405.

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About Greentown Labs

Greentown Labs is a community of bold, passionate entrepreneurs creating game-changing energy technologies that transform the way we live, work, and play. Located in Somerville, MA, Greentown Labs is the largest cleantech incubator in the United States, operating a 40,000 sq. ft. facility that enables entrepreneurs to solve today’s biggest energy and environmental problems. Greentown Labs hosts a constant stream of events and programs for the cleantech community and tours more than 5,000 visitors from around the world each year. Its mission is to enable a vibrant community of entrepreneurs to realize their visions by providing access to the space, resources, and funding needed to thrive. For more information, visit www.greentownlabs.com, or find us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

About Oregon BEST

Oregon BEST funds and assists cleantech startups, bringing together Oregon’s significant R&D strengths to support entrepreneurs in the creation of new products and services. As the nexus for clean technology innovation, Oregon BEST builds capability, convenes collaborations and accelerates solutions to environmental challenges that deliver prosperity in all corners of Oregon. More than 250 Oregon BEST Member Faculty and a network of Oregon BEST Labs at four partner universities (Oregon State University, Oregon Tech, Portland State University, and University of Oregon) offer research expertise and lab equipment to industry. Oregon BEST competitively awards Early-Stage Investments to collaborations between startup companies and Oregon BEST Member Faculty at partner universities.

Greentown Labs Media Contact:

Julia Travaglini, 617-807-0316, Julia@greentownlabs.com

Oregon BEST Media Contact:

Gregg Kleiner, 541-740-9654, Kleinerg@comcast.net