Japan has long been recognized as a global leader in precision engineering and advanced manufacturing. Yet in the race to decarbonize, its climate tech startup ecosystem is only beginning to accelerate. While government support is growing and university spinouts are gaining traction, Japanese climate innovators often face a key barrier: access to international markets, capital, and deep networks to support their growth.

At the same time, the U.S.—and California in particular—remains a global hub for climate innovation. With its dense investor networks, policy leadership, and cutting-edge R&D institutions, California offers fertile ground for scaling climate technologies that can help the world meet net-zero goals.

To unlock this potential, New Energy Nexus, Third Derivative, and Japan Energy Fund have partnered with JETRO to launch the Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP). This initiative is more than an exchange—it’s a bridge between two ecosystems with complementary strengths. By bringing Japan’s deep tech ingenuity into conversation with California’s fast-moving entrepreneurial culture, we aim to accelerate climate solutions that the whole world needs.

Below, meet 10 startups selected for the inaugural GSAP cohort. Each brings a unique approach to decarbonization—from fusion to algae, electronics to rare metal recycling. Together, they represent a new wave of Japanese climate innovation ready to go global.

Meet the Startups

The inaugural GSAP cohort of startups.

Planet Savers
Planet Savers is Japan’s first Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup, spun out of the University of Tokyo. They’re developing a scalable CO₂ adsorbent-based DACCU system, aiming to lower capture costs to around $100–400 per ton. The team recently secured a significant NEDO grant to pilot their high-efficiency DAC technology, supporting their goal to “halt climate change and leave a beautiful Earth for the next generation.”

miibio
miibio develops light-switchable protein technology that allows precise optical control of biological processes. Based in Tokyo and rooted in synthetic biology research from the University of Tokyo, the company is commercializing this technology for use in research reagents and biomanufacturing, offering greater control over protein behavior.

Aqua Theon
Aqua Theon creates seaweed-based biomaterials for use in food, packaging, and medical products. By working with marine biomass, the company is developing renewable, circular alternatives that reduce reliance on conventional plastics.

Helical Fusion
Helical Fusion is working on fusion energy systems with new reactor designs aimed at delivering safe, scalable, and low-carbon power. The company’s approach focuses on making fusion a practical part of the future energy mix.

Rhinoflux
Rhinoflux develops bioenergy systems that capture carbon while generating power. By extracting CO₂ from biomass, their technology enables simultaneous energy production and carbon removal—useful for industries seeking low-emission, resilient energy solutions.

Atierra
Atierra uses microalgae bioreactors to remove atmospheric CO₂. Their systems convert carbon into algal biomass, offering a biotech-driven, nature-based approach to climate mitigation at scale.

E‑Thermo / Gentek
E‑Thermo Gentek captures industrial waste heat and converts it into electricity using thermoelectric technology. Their systems help industries recover energy that would otherwise be lost, improving efficiency and reducing emissions.

Emulsion Flow Technologies
Emulsion Flow Technologies provides rare metal recycling for batteries and electronics. Their proprietary emulsion process enables the recovery of valuable materials in a more sustainable way, contributing to circularity in fast-growing supply chains like EVs.

Sun Metalon
Sun Metalon integrates CO₂ reduction into metal recycling processes, with the goal of lowering emissions in heavy industry. Their approach combines carbon capture and resource reuse to support more sustainable industrial practices.

Elephantech
Elephantech manufactures printed circuit boards (PCBs) using a metal inkjet printing process. Their additive method cuts down on material waste and lowers environmental impact, offering a more efficient path for electronics production.

About the Program: JETRO Global Startup Acceleration Program (GSAP)

Co-hosted by New Energy Nexus, Third Derivative, and Japan Energy Fund, JETRO’s GSAP program supports 10 Japanese climate tech startups through a multi-phase program:

June (Tokyo Kick-off): Orientation, mentorship, and peer learning to shape business models and go-to-market strategies.

July–September (Virtual Acceleration): Group sessions and one-on-one mentoring with investors and industry leaders to refine pitches and partnerships.

October (US Immersion Week): In-person programming in San Jose, including curated business meetings, investor matchmaking, and participation in the VERGE Climate Tech Conference.

Nov 2025–Early 2026 (Follow-up Support): Ongoing mentoring and strategic guidance to deepen market entry, secure partnerships, and scale growth.

By building long-term connections between Japanese founders and global innovation ecosystems, the program aims to catalyze real, scalable climate impact.

Stay tuned as we follow these founders on their journey—from Tokyo labs to California boardrooms—and help usher in the next generation of global climate solutions.

The clean energy transition is our chance to build a fairer future, yet women are still missing from the table. Around the world, only 15% of clean energy leadership roles are held by women.

Even in Thailand, a leader in the Asia Pacific region when it comes to women’s leadership in the energy sector, women occupy just 23% of leadership positions.

But when women are at the helm, the impact speaks for itself.

Salinee Hurley. Photo from SunSawang

Salinee Hurley is proof that inclusive leadership powers inclusive solutions. A mechanical engineer specializing in solar, she founded SunSawang: a social enterprise bringing solar home systems and lanterns to off-grid villages along the Thailand–Myanmar border. She is also the Project Director at the Border Green Energy Team (BGET), an organization advancing clean energy access in the region.

Salinee’s journey into solar began when she pursued further studies in solar engineering in the United States. Returning to Thailand, she initially implemented solar projects through an NGO model, using grant funding to provide free installations in remote areas. Over time, she realized the approach lacked long-term sustainability.

To address this, Salinee transitioned to a social enterprise model, offering long-term payment plans that support both ongoing maintenance and local ownership.

“Free installations may help in the short term, but the real goal is to empower people to access energy independently in the long run,” she said.

Solar installation at Maw Poe Kay High School. Photo from SunSawang

SunSawang now trains and hires local technicians and sales agents to serve their own communities. This localized model not only keeps systems functioning, but also supports economic activity—access to reliable electricity allows for evening work like weaving, increasing household income.

Salinee’s work also highlights the systemic barriers that persist in Thailand’s solar landscape: high upfront costs, inconsistent regional regulations, and limited financing options for low-income households. Recent steps, including draft laws to simplify rooftop solar permitting and new green loan products, are promising, but access remains uneven.

Last year, she joined New Energy Nexus Thailand’s SolarSTEP initiative, where she shared her expertise and connected with other women leading the shift to a cleaner energy future.

Solar installation at Maw Poe Kay High School. Photo from SunSawang

Supporting women leading the way

SolarSTEP is designed to build skills and leadership among solar technicians and entrepreneurs, with a focus on women, to help accelerate Thailand’s clean energy transition.

This work is spurred on by Thailand’s ambitious target to reach 12,139 MW of solar capacity by 2037, as outlined in its Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP). Hitting this target will take more than policy; it requires investing in people, empowering women, and expanding access to rooftop solar across the country.

This is where SolarSTEP comes in. The program has already delivered seven trainings across Thailand’s Central, Northern, and Southern regions, reaching over 200 participants. These efforts have been strengthened through collaboration with key partners, including PEA Encom Smart Solution, PEA Encom International, and LONGi.

Photo of the SolarSTEP 2024 Training program participants, including Salinee Hurley.

Looking ahead, we’re focused on scaling impact, broadening solar access, and building a sector that mirrors the diversity of the communities it serves.

If we want a just and resilient clean energy future, we need to break down the barriers that keep women on the sidelines and back those already leading the way. Empowering more women to participate and lead in clean energy isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do.

Want to be part of building an inclusive clean energy sector in Thailand? Learn more about our work here.

Australia is charging ahead in the race to build a battery-powered world—and the timing couldn’t be better.

The nation’s growing role in the global battery supply chain took center stage at our recent webinar, Australia’s Time to Charge: Powering the Battery Future. The hour-long session, part of our Just Batteries initiative, explored how battery innovation, mass EV retrofitting, and smart policy could transform Australia into a clean energy powerhouse.

These industry experts led the discussion, held virtually on June 19, 2025:

• Kirk McDonald, Project Manager- Supercharge Australia, New Energy Nexus
• Andrew Chang, Chief Growth Officer, New Energy Nexus
• Kyle Van Berendonck, Founder, Veepower
• Derick Gyabeng, Program Lead – Supercharge Australia, EnergyLab

Why this conversation matters

The battery supply chain is the backbone of the energy transition, and Australia’s unique mix of critical minerals, renewable energy resources, supportive policies, and skilled workforce positions it to lead the way.

This is what we’re backing through Supercharge Australia, a collaboration between New Energy Nexus and EnergyLab. The program aims to support 150+ local startups, empowering them with mentorship, funding pathways, and global connections to expand Australia’s lithium battery value chain.

6 key insights from the webinar

1. Australia’s global opportunity is now

Australia is well-positioned to become a significant player in the battery-powered electrical transformation. Here’s why:

There are signals from state and federal governments that they want to move away from a fossil fuel-based export economy, such as:

• Signing an agreement with 40 other countries at COP28 to phase out offshore support for coal, oil, and gas projects;
• Passing the Future Made in Australia policy, which committed AU$22.7 billion over 10 years to build domestic capacity in green hydrogen, solar panel manufacturing, critical minerals processing, green metals, low‑carbon liquid fuels, and clean-energy manufacturing;
• Australia could be a leader in homegrown battery manufacturing, and critical minerals refining and processing; and,
• It’s building on a “globally competitive” battery export industry. Queensland alone is investing hundreds of millions into a sector that it believes will be worth US$1.3 billion by 2030, and can create up to 9,100 green jobs.

2. Mass EV retrofits could boost battery demand 20-fold

Retrofitting existing vehicles—especially commercial fleets—is a faster, cheaper, and lower-carbon way to scale EV adoption. Our second Supercharge Australia Innovation Challenge spotlighted 12 startups electrifying everything from mining trucks to boats.

The current projection of a 65GWh demand for stationary storage by 2030 could be massively higher with mass EV retrofits. Multiplying Australia’s vehicles by their estimated battery capacity, turning half of Australia’s vehicle fleet into EVs could multiply local battery demand 20-fold to over 1.3TWh, enough to justify domestic cell production and build a full onshore value chain (more here).

3. Startups like Veepower are leading the way

Kyle Van Berendonck, founder of Veepower and Retrofit Nation challenge winner, introduced Veepilot: a drop-in EV brain that lets large garages and re-manufacturers, through to individual garages, convert vehicles to electric with professional and supportable software — a key concern of retrofit solutions.

After a tour of California’s thriving clean energy ecosystem with New Energy Nexus, Veepower is now raising AU$500K from climate-focused investors to scale in Australia.

4. Smart policy can unlock big impact

The discussion emphasized the need for policies to support battery retrofits, including:

• Support the emerging startup practitioners with ambitious non-dilutive government grant funding
• Launch an AU$100–200M finance facility for training to upskill workers and kit production for vehicle upgrade
• Establish mass EV retrofit precincts, particularly in regional Australia
• Prioritize public fleet conversions to seed early demand

These interventions could support thousands of upskilled ICE workers (such as mechanics and automotive electricians) and create a more circular, cost-effective battery and transportation economy.

5. Startup support is critical

Through tailored workshops, mentorship, and investor-readiness training, the Supercharge Australia Incubator aims to help founders bridge key gaps in prototyping, lab access, and commercialization. As Kirk McDonald and EnergyLab project lead Derick Gyabeng said in the webinar, early-stage startups need consistent, generous support to grow from an idea to an investment-ready solution.

Moreover, Supercharge Australia is leading a push to bring learnings from California’s best practice startup testing program, CalTestBed, to Australia. As part of the CalSEED-CalTestBed pair offering US$1M in non-matching and non-dilutive support to founders, startups can receive vouchers up to US$300K in value to use at the University of California and National Labs testing facilities across the state.

CalTestBed has supported over 150 startups with $45M in vouchers, with over 40% being received by women and under-represented founders.

6. Australia’s Leadership Can Power the Region

The country’s battery innovation doesn’t stop at its borders. With Southeast Asia on the path to rapid electrification, Australia’s EV retrofitting industry can serve a region set to reach 770 million people by 2050.

Supporting Australia’s battery supply chain at this stage could play a huge role in the region’s clean energy transition.

Why ‘Just Batteries’

Batteries are the linchpin of the clean energy transition. But how we build this industry matters as much as how fast we scale it.

At New Energy Nexus, we believe battery innovation must be just, inclusive, and community-led. Today, the battery supply chain is dominated by a few countries and companies, with little accountability to communities, workers, or the environment. Battery recycling and reuse are underinvested solutions. And left unchecked, the race for minerals and manufacturing could replicate the injustices of the fossil fuel era.

This is what our Just Batteries initiative addresses. We have supported 116 startups across the battery value chain—from extraction to recycling—while shaping an innovation ecosystem rooted in equity, access, and sustainability.

Our work spans the full ecosystem, from startup accelerators and testbeds to international market access, because building a clean energy future means backing entrepreneurs at every stage.

Join us, invest in these startups, and let’s supercharge the transition in Australia and beyond. Check out how you can support this initiative and more here.

Photo by Cory Mus

The clean energy transition is stalling where it matters most. Emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) receive just 20% of global clean energy investment—and only 12% of mitigation finance flows reach EMDEs, excluding China [IEA, 2021; CPI, 2024].

Climate innovation isn’t scarce, but access to capital, coordination, and visibility still are. That’s the reality facing thousands of climate entrepreneurs across the Global South, and it’s the challenge that brought 50 investors, entrepreneurs, ecosystem enablers and policy leaders together at the 2025 Global Climate Finance Forum (GCFF) in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Hosted in a region that exemplifies both climate vulnerability and entrepreneurial resilience, GCFF was unlike most climate convenings. It wasn’t a stage for panelists; it was a platform for co-creation. Founders from across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean shared how they’re repowering communities, whether through distributed solar, agroforestry, or second-life batteries. Investors listened. And crucially, they rolled up their sleeves to ask: what’s stopping us from backing more of this?

The financing system is still wired for the wrong contexts

Today’s climate finance architecture is not designed to serve the small and growing businesses building climate solutions in high-need, high-potential markets. Less than 15 cents of every climate finance dollar crosses a national border, as host Marilyn Waite mentioned, and just 12% of mitigation finance reaches emerging markets outside of China.

Worse still, clean energy entrepreneurs in the Global South face interest rates as high as 27%, currency swings of 300% or more, and investor mandates that demand “anchor” deals before deployment can even begin. These systemic distortions aren’t just barriers, they’re missed opportunities. And there are entrepreneurs brimming with ideas and already delivering results, from GridAfrica’s distributed energy systems in Zambia, to Swap Energy’s EV battery swapping stations in Bali, to SolarKita’s residential solar expansion across Indonesia.

Limited track records, gaps in financial literacy, and lack of exposure to global capital markets mean they often fall outside traditional investment criteria. And support systems—such as accelerators, impact measurement frameworks, and governance mentoring—are less accessible than for their Global North counterparts. Meanwhile, climate finance ecosystems and policy frameworks often skew toward larger, established firms, leaving SMEs underrepresented on global stages like COP and at investor convenings.

What GCFF made clear: the climate finance system needs rewiring—fast

Participants at GCFF agreed that unlocking finance for climate SMEs demands:

• Locally rooted solutions: The Global South is not a monolith. Funding tools must reflect regional realities and be led by on-the-ground intelligence.
• Targeted catalytic capital: Risk is also not a monolith. Can we break down the components of risk that hold back lenders and investors and apply mitigants to each one to catalyze the overall impact? For example, addressing macroeconomic risks separately from asset risk and project risk, bringing in an anchor in the form of forward revenue contracts, etc.
• Aligning local financial institutions’ capital with SME needs: supporting local financial institutions has the catalytic benefit of transforming local financial systems as well as avoiding the risks that come with foreign capital (eg currency risk). BRAC Bank’s forthcoming private bond issuance will enable them to lend at tenures that match SMEs’ cash flow needs.
• Standardized, flexible frameworks: creating standardized processes and terms and conditions that are also regionally adaptable, so that investors don’t have to reinvent the wheel for each deal.
• Leveraging existing scale and expertise: existing intermediaries like funds, incubators/accelerators, and locally-led thought leaders, have the experience and infrastructure to not only create pools of vetted SMEs to fulfill deal size minimums, but also provide much-needed education and knowledge-sharing for both SMEs and investors.
• Looking for and amplifying the upside: Despite the key role SMEs play in deploying climate solutions and boosting local economic development, there is very little attention given to Global South SMEs on global stages like COP, and even less on the untapped investment opportunities they represent. Something that all of us can do is to continue to amplify the stories of on-the-ground entrepreneurs we encounter and showcase their success stories.

These priorities echo the International Energy Agency’s findings: that unlocking clean energy in developing countries is twice as cost-effective as in advanced economies and requires seven times more investment than they currently receive.

This is where New Energy Nexus is focused

At New Energy Nexus, we have provided that scale and expertise to ease the connection between investors and SMEs. Over our 20-year history, we’ve supported nearly 10,000 entrepreneurs across 12 countries through our locally-led incubators, accelerators and convenings—mobilizing over US$4.7 billion in follow-on investment with just US$84 million in catalytic capital.

Through our Financial Innovation programs, we structure and incubate catalytic structures like the Indonesia Fund I and our EV Guarantee Facility in India, to bring tailored approaches to mobilize private capital into Global South climate ecosystems. Our Financial Innovation focuses on three things:

1. Deploy catalytic capital that de-risks early-stage investments and proves the market.
2. Design bespoke financial instruments like guarantees and blended finance structures that unlock larger flows.
3. Build ecosystems—connecting local banks, accelerators, and government partners to ensure financing tools stick.

What’s next: From conversation to capital

The message from Montego Bay was clear: climate entrepreneurs across the Global South are ready. What they need now is finance that meets them where they are—structured for risk, region, and reality.

As the world moves toward COP30, the priority must be shifting more capital—faster—into the hands of local innovators. That means:

• Expanding catalytic and blended finance to de-risk early-stage solutions
• Supporting local financial intermediaries who understand the context
• Making climate SMEs visible and investable, from term sheets to storytelling

New Energy Nexus is one of many ecosystem actors already building these pathways. But to meet the moment, we need aligned action from funders, governments, and investors willing to back innovation—not just in technology, but in finance itself.

Let’s ensure the next wave of climate finance reaches the people and places where it matters most. Reach out to partner with us!

Jennifer Wang, Director of Financial Innovation at New Energy Nexus

By Julius Mujuni, Country Director – New Energy Nexus Uganda

I recently had the privilege of engaging with Otto Scharmer, a global thought leader in systems change. His call to adopt a systems thinking approach was a timely reminder of the complex and interconnected nature of energy access in Africa—and a rallying call to those of us working to address it.

For decades, a persistent and troubling figure has hovered over the sector: over 600 million people across Africa still live without access to electricity. We’ve seen incredible innovation—yet the challenge remains immense and deeply systemic.

Decades of innovation are laying the foundation

At New Energy Nexus Uganda, we have worked hard to meet this challenge. Over the past decade, models like Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) have enabled households to access solar technologies for the first time, especially in off-grid rural communities.

In rural Masindi District of Western Uganda, where access to electricity is very limited, a woman holds a solar panel that lights her home.

We’ve seen the catalytic role of micro finance institutions, helping families overcome high upfront costs. And through our own Results-Based Financing (RBF) program, we’ve delivered targeted support to Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)—trusted local actors uniquely positioned to drive last-mile distribution.

This approach is working:

• In 2023 alone, 19,200 people were connected with clean energy products and 1,117 green jobs were created.
• We’ve supported 654 entrepreneurs, 33% of whom are women.
• We partnered with over 200 CBOs and VSLAs, expanding access to solar lighting, clean cookstoves, water filters, and briquettes​.

Why a systems lens matters

Otto’s insight reminded me that energy access isn’t an isolated issue—it’s intimately tied to income, resilience, and opportunity. Even when the grid reaches rural areas, low-income families often can’t afford electricity or use it productively.

So what if we centered productive use of energy—clean energy that directly powers livelihoods? What if access to Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PUE) technologies is the answer to low income earners getting sustainable access to other off-grid energy products? What if access to PUE technologies enables increased access to health services and other health related products?

The PURE program: Energy for income and impact

That’s what we’re testing through our PURE (Productive Use of Renewable Energy) initiative. This program is designed to empower rural entrepreneurs and farmers with income-generating, solar-powered assets like irrigation systems to increase agricultural output, milling machines to process produce locally, and other small-scale tools that can boost productivity.

We believe this approach can create a self-reinforcing cycle: energy drives income, income drives further adoption of other off-grid technologies up the energy ladder, and communities become more economically and environmentally resilient.

Asiazu Farmers’ Group in the West Nile region of Uganda receiving their solar-powered irrigation kit.

Community success stories: What’s already working

Take Utopia, a faith-based organization in western Uganda. With support from New Energy Nexus, they’ve:

• Brought clean energy products to over 9,800 people
• Launched an eco-tourism hub that distributes clean energy to surrounding communities​

Or look at KISE (Kitara Community Seed for Transformation) in Hoima, which has delivered clean tech to over 1,000 households and helped families redirect energy savings toward education and health​.

These are not just stories of technology distribution. They are case studies in systems change—where energy is an enabler, not the end goal.

This solar lamp is her only source of light at night, in her home in rural Uganda.

A call to donors and funders: Help us go further

We know that unlocking Uganda’s clean energy future requires more than hardware. It requires patient, flexible capital, support for local leadership, and the willingness to fund models that may look different—but deliver a deeper, longer-term impact that leads to the growth of rural economies to tackle poverty, job creation, and inequality.

As we continue to gather evidence from our PURE pilots and deepen our partnerships with community led groups like CBOs and farmer groups, we invite funders and partners to join us in this journey. A journey that will enable us to create a business case for farmer groups and other entrepreneurs in off-grid communities to thrive and prosper as a result of running sustainable enterprises that use energy productively.

Let’s build an energy system that not only connects wires—but connects people to opportunity. Let’s go beyond access—toward income, equity, and resilience.

Learn more about New Energy Nexus Uganda.

The clean energy transition isn’t just happening in labs or boardrooms—it’s also being built on university campuses across the Philippines. At the heart of this movement are Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), which help entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into real-world solutions.

That’s why New Energy Nexus Philippines, together with UMWAD Consortium, DOST Region 6, Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U), and Innovate Iloilo, recently hosted an Energy Incubation Program Training for university TBIs in Region 6. This hands-on training brought together 11 universities and institutions* from across the Visayas to build the skills, partnerships, and strategies needed to launch the next generation of climate-tech and clean energy startups.

Here’s what we learned—and why it matters.

1. 🚀 Energy innovation needs a boost from campus to market
From solar-powered aquaculture to digital energy audits, university teams in the Visayas are brimming with ideas. But many clean energy startups still struggle with business models and go-to-market strategies. TBIs are stepping up to fill this gap—but they need more support to guide founders from research to revenue.

2. 🔍 Manual energy audits are holding back progress
Several universities highlighted how energy auditing is still done manually—a time-consuming and inefficient process. Digitizing these audits presents a major opportunity for startups and researchers to develop tech-based solutions that can scale across the region.

3. 📚 Clean energy is sparking curiosity in classrooms
Interest in energy innovation is growing among students and faculty alike. At schools like the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, clean energy topics—from IoT to smart grids—are becoming central to research and student projects. That’s a strong sign of a rising talent pipeline.

4. 🏛️ Stronger university integration = stronger incubation
To thrive, TBIs need to be embedded into the fabric of the university—not siloed from students, researchers, or decision-makers. Active outreach and curriculum alignment can help make energy entrepreneurship a core part of the academic journey.

5. 🤝 Co-incubation is the way forward
NEX Philippines is inviting TBIs to co-incubate energy startups with us—combining resources, networks, and expertise. It’s a powerful model for supporting startups that are tackling the region’s biggest energy challenges. (This reflects NEX’s global strategy of ecosystem collaboration.)

6. 💸 Funding and experts are make-or-break for TBIs
TBIs need more than just enthusiasm. Sustained operations require access to technical experts, funding sources, and proven business models. Without this, even the most promising ideas risk stalling out before they leave the lab.

7. 🎓 Energy entrepreneurship needs to be taught
TBIs are exploring how to integrate clean energy into research, extension programs, and classroom instruction. Building climate-tech capacity isn’t just about startup competitions—it’s about transforming the entire education system to prepare innovators for the real world.

Mervin Perez of Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas HIVE TBI, presenting their startup incubation plan.

What’s Next for Region 6?

This training is just the beginning. NEX Philippines is already planning:

• Follow-up workshops on energy trends, startup mentorship, and sustainable business modeling
• Demo days and showcases to spotlight regional clean energy innovations
• Curriculum development aligned with energy entrepreneurship
• Ecosystem-building efforts that connect universities with funders, government, and private sector partners

Behind every climate-tech startup is an ecosystem that helped make it happen. And as this training showed, Region 6 is full of institutions ready to lead.

NEX Philippines is proud to support this momentum—and we’re just getting started. Find out more about our work in the Philippines!

The workshop brought together 11 TBIs and institutions across the region:

West Visayas State University BINHI TBI | University of the Philippines – Visayas Seeds TBI | Iloilo Science and Technology University KWADRA TBI | Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas HIVE | Northern Iloilo State University QUINTO | Capiz State University CAPSULE Agri-Aqua TBI | Central Philippines University CPUGAD TBI | Guimaras State University ISLA TBI | University of Antique | Coastline 5023: DOST – UP Visayas Fisheries TBI | Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology DIKE

A report from the International Energy Agency found that 35 percent of emissions reductions needed to reach net zero depend on technology that has yet to be commercialized. That’s why supporting early-stage clean energy innovators is critical to the energy transition and reducing emissions. California’s clean energy transition depends on better energy storage; some of the most exciting breakthroughs are happening now. The latest CalSEED Prototype Award winners are tackling big questions about battery lifespan, recyclability, and how we store power more efficiently and sustainably. From next-gen potassium-ion batteries to innovative battery recycling techniques, these startups are reshaping energy storage. Let’s look at five game-changing solutions in battery storage:

1. ExPost Technology: Giving Batteries a Second Life

We rely on lithium-ion batteries for everything from smartphones to electric vehicles, but what happens when they reach the end of their life? ExPost Technology is rethinking battery recycling—a process that extracts valuable materials without fully breaking down components.. This means less waste, fewer new materials needed, and a stronger circular economy for batteries—something we’ll need as energy storage demand skyrockets. Using Purification and Regeneration Integrated Materials Engineering (PRIME), ExPost recovers pristine quality battery components from battery scraps and end-of-life batteries. With its prominent economic, efficient, and eco-friendly process, this scalable method has the potential to reshape the battery recycling industry.

Photo from ExPost Technology

2. Project K Energy:Making Lithium-Free Batteries a Reality

Lithium has long been the go-to material for batteries, but it’s expensive and difficult to source sustainably. Project K Energy is developing potassium-ion batteries—a cheaper, longer-lasting alternative for large-scale energy storage. Since potassium is much more abundant than lithium, this technology has the potential to cut costs and make clean energy storage more accessible. Project K’s innovation lies in optimizing potassium-based cathode, anode, and electrolyte components with fundamentally different properties than their lithium-ion counterparts. The potential benefits of these potassium-ion batteries include faster charging, lower costs (and less price volatility), better performance at low temperatures, and improved safety.

3. Activated Energy: A Safer, More Sustainable Way to Store Power

Battery safety is a huge concern, especially when dealing with flammable or toxic materials. Activated Energy is reimagining energy storage—making it safer, sustainable, and even carbon-negative. Their innovative solid-state system stores energy by compressing carbon dioxide using eco-friendly materials, creating a compact solution that’s both scalable and long-lasting. Activated Energy’s product builds on compressed air energy storage (CAES) and CO2 energy storage combined with innovative solid-state sorption technology. It has reduced costs and sourcing concerns, as well as increased stability over lithium technologies. In addition to being non-toxic and nonflammable, the proprietary low-pressure storage technology reduces the footprint of the storage system, making it more suitable for congested urban environments than competing large-footprint gas-based storage systems, which require land resources most likely unavailable in urban areas. This long-duration energy storage system improves grid resilience for urban communities, reduces strain on electrical transmission lines, is non-flammable, and enables greater renewable energy adoption.

4. Sperra: Storing Energy Beneath the Ocean

One of the biggest challenges with renewable energy is ensuring we can store power when it is needed most. Sperra has a fascinating solution: Marine Pumped Hydroelectric (MPH) Storage. They’re designing 3D-printed concrete spheres on the ocean floor that store and release energy in sync with offshore wind farms. Unlike traditional energy storage, this system could last decades without losing efficiency. This approach bypasses the land use and permitting challenges that often limit pumped hydro projects. It can be deployed along coastlines or paired directly with offshore wind farms to boost efficiency and lower costs. With innovations like their patented multi-sphere “pod” design, automated 3D-printed manufacturing, and shared infrastructure with other ocean energy projects, Sperra is creating a new, cost-effective path for long-duration energy storage beneath the waves.

Sperra’s SPSH systems are designed to be manufactured in 2 MW to 5 MW modules in US ports using locally available materials and labor. Photo from Sperra

5. Aepnus Technology: Cleaning Up Battery Manufacturing

It’s not just about how long batteries last—how they’re made also matters. Aepnus Technology is working on a cleaner, more cost-effective way to produce lithium salts and other battery materials. By making the production process more sustainable, they’re helping reduce the overall carbon footprint of energy storage systems from the start. Aepnus Technology’s innovation uses electricity instead of fossil fuel-based chemicals, reducing waste disposal costs and mitigating carbon emissions, especially when powered by renewable energy. By integrating the system on-site, manufacturers can cut waste disposal costs and achieve up to 35% savings on chemical expenditures. This solution enhances the sustainability and circularity of the battery industry while addressing critical chemical management challenges and contributing to the decarbonization of emissions-heavy chemical manufacturing processes. Aepnus’s ultra-efficient electrolyzers run on renewable energy to process essential materials like lithium salts and other reagents. They are advancing a novel electrolysis platform that recycles sodium sulfate—a common chemical waste in the battery supply chain—into valuable reagents (sulfuric acid and caustic soda), essential for refining battery metals and manufacturing cathode active materials.

Where Energy Storage Is Headed 

The energy storage industry is evolving fast, and these companies are leading the charge toward longer-lasting, more sustainable solutions. Whether it’s recycling old batteries, developing new materials, or rethinking how we store power, these innovations will be critical in the clean energy transition. A future energy system won’t just rely on making better batteries—it’ll depend on keeping valuable materials in use through smart recycling and circular design. With continued investment and support, we’re looking at a future where energy storage isn’t just an afterthought—it’s a key pillar of a cleaner, more resilient, and circular power system. If these startups are any indication, the best is yet to come.

Each Earth Day, we’re reminded of the stakes. Wildfires, floods, and rising seas make it obvious that climate change isn’t just a looming threat; it’s here.

But amid the urgency, there’s also momentum on the solutions front—quietly building in labs, garages, solar farms, and startup accelerators around the world.

In over 20 years building ecosystems for climate and clean energy innovation, we’ve seen founders come up with ingenious ideas that are now driving decarbonization. Startups start small but can deliver exponential impact at scale, and we can actually model potential mitigated emissions as they grow (based on factors including current performance, projected growth trajectories, and market penetration rates).

In fact, from our portfolio of nearly 1,500 climate startups and businesses, we’re spotlighting seven that could collectively reduce over four million metric tons of emissions (CO2e) by 2030. That’s the equivalent of taking nearly 59,000 cars off the road. Learn more below.

Photo from Bedrock Energy

Bedrock Energy (United States)

Emissions (CO2e) reduced (2024): 32 tons
Potential emissions mitigated (2025-2030): 212,498 tons

Bedrock Energy is making geothermal heating and cooling viable for buildings in dense cities, through a proprietary drilling and tech platform that cuts cost, space, time, and risk by 3–5x. The company was named one of America’s Top Greentech Companies in 2024 by TIME and Statista. In early 2025, Bedrock raised US$12 million in Series A funding to advance and expand their technology.

Bedrock Energy joined our New York program The Clean Fight’s Food Service cohort, focused on decarbonizing the storage, distribution, and retail of food. On top of matchmaking opportunities, expert insights, and bespoke support services, Bedrock became eligible to receive up to US$125,000 to implement their demonstration project in New York State.

Hive Energy PH installs a 1.7kWh solar energy system for an off-grid community in 2021, then their largest project. Photo from Hive Energy

Hive Energy PH (Philippines)

Emissions (CO2e) reduced (2024): 127 tons
Potential emissions mitigated (2025-2030): 5,703 tons

Hive Energy PH delivers portable solar generators, battery storage, and solar installations to provide reliable, clean power—especially for underserved communities, students, and remote workers.

CEO & Founder Joseph Amiel Camingal first joined our online course with BARAS TBI in July 2020, where he sparked the idea for a portable energy backup solution. Six months later, he entered our Startup Acceleration Program to strengthen his business skills and scale his startup.

Now, Amiel is joining NEXAccelerate Philippines 2025 to further grow Hive Energy PH and expand access to sustainable, dependable energy across the country.

Kazam (India)

Emissions (CO2e) reduced (2022-2024): 35,310 tons

Kazam was founded by Akshay Shekar and Vaibhav Tyagi to make clean mobility more accessible. Today, it’s one of India’s leading EV charging networks—smart, affordable, and built for everyone, from two-wheelers to commercial fleets. With 50,000+ chargers deployed, Kazam is breaking down barriers to EV adoption nationwide.

Through our ElectronVibe program, Kazam partnered with an Indian utility to tackle real-world EV infrastructure challenges, earning first place in the 2022 EV Infrastructure Management Track.

In 2024, Kazam raised US$8 million in Series A3 funding to expand its network and boost its technology.

Sepion (California)

Potential emissions (CO2e) mitigated (2025-2030): 1.4 million tons

Sepion is advancing lithium-metal batteries that boost EV range by 40% and cut energy costs by 15%, using breakthrough membrane technology that protects lithium and integrates with existing lithium-ion manufacturing. In 2023, Sepion also developed an AI-driven liquid electrolyte that reduces EV fire risks.

New Energy Nexus supported Sepion early on through our CalSEED program’s concept and prototype awards, helping de-risk their membrane tech. This support enabled Sepion to retire key technical risks, close an oversubscribed Series A in 2021, and bring on Solvay as a strategic investor.

Solar Run Energy (China)

Emissions (CO2e) reduced (2024): 127 tons
Potential emissions mitigated (2025-2030): 5,703 tons

Li Xia grew up in rural China without electricity—an experience that inspired her mission to bring power to off-grid communities. In 2016, she founded Solar Run Energy, delivering clean, affordable solar solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, from solar lights to full home systems.

In 2022, she launched Solar Media, bringing solar-powered tablets with educational and vocational content to remote Kenyan villages—impacting over 3,000 people so far.

With support from New Energy Nexus, Li gained mentorship, capital access, and a global platform through the NEX COP28 Climate Tech Accelerator to scale her vision.

SWAP Energi (Indonesia)

Emissions (CO2e) reduced (2021-2024): 50,448 tons

SWAP Energi is a pioneering e-mobility start-up focusing on tech-driven swappable energy infrastructure, including portable battery packs, swapping stations, and SMOOT e-motorcycles in Indonesia. The company also developed a user-friendly SWAP Energi app, which helps riders locate stations, track reservations, and receive maintenance alerts.

New Energy Nexus supported them by connecting with investors, assisting with funding documents, and offering acceleration program guidance. As a result, SWAP Energi now operates over 800 swap stations across 14 provinces as of 2023.

Through partnerships with Grab and PLN, SWAP Energi is building an integrated EV ecosystem, advancing the adoption of electric motorcycles in Indonesia’s growing market.

Photo from Xurya Daya Indonesia

Xurya (Indonesia)

Emissions (CO2e) reduced (2020-2024): 225,673 tons
Potential emissions mitigated (2025-2030): 570,252 tons

In Indonesia, high upfront costs have long blocked businesses from switching to solar—slowing progress on climate goals and energy affordability. Xurya Daya solves this with an innovative zero-upfront-cost rooftop solar rental model, enabling commercial and industrial clients to access clean power without capital barriers. Xurya is scaling fast—deploying over 170 projects, and mitigating 225,674MT of GHG emissions since we first supported them.

New Energy Nexus, through its Indonesia 1 Fund, co-invested alongside East Ventures, Saratoga, and Schneider Electric in its US$21.5 million Series A round — the largest Series A funding ever raised by a clean energy startup in Indonesia. They have also received extensive support through programs we operate in Indonesia.

What else can be done?

Strong policy support
Governments must create a more conducive environment for climate solutions through procurement, tax incentives, and regulatory clarity—making it easier for entrepreneurs to start and scale their businesses.

Accessible, early-stage capital
Climate innovation is risky, but necessary. Blended finance, catalytic funds, and climate-aligned venture capital can unlock growth where private capital alone won’t go.

Thriving innovation ecosystem
Accelerators, manufacturing hubs, distribution networks, and cross-border partnerships are essential for solutions to move fast and far.

If you’re an entrepreneur with a groundbreaking climate solution, we’re here to support your success. Explore our programs and subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of opportunities in the sector.