With support from MassCEC, Leading Cities brings its global AcceliCITY model home to help Massachusetts climate tech companies reach cities, scale solutions, and deliver impact in communities across the Commonwealth
Boston, MA — Massachusetts has built one of the world’s strongest engines for climate innovation. Now comes the next test: making sure those solutions reach the cities, towns, and communities working every day to reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, modernize infrastructure, and adapt to a changing climate.
To help close that gap, Leading Cities launched the AcceliCITY Mass Climate Tech Challenge, a Massachusetts-focused accelerator designed to help local climate technology companies move from promising innovation to public-sector readiness, municipal engagement, and real-world deployment.
Made possible through support from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the Challenge brings Leading Cities’ proven global AcceliCITY accelerator model home to Massachusetts. The program will help participating companies understand how cities and towns operate, strengthen public-sector go-to-market strategies, access expert mentorship, connect with municipal leaders, and prepare for adoption in real community settings.
The launch comes as Massachusetts continues to advance its position as a global leader in the climatetech economy. Governor Maura Healey recently highlighted the Commonwealth’s growing leadership in the sector, citing findings from an ACT report showing that 16 of the world’s top 20 energy transition companies have a presence in Massachusetts. Through MassCEC and other state initiatives, Massachusetts is also investing in the infrastructure, commercialization support, workforce, and market development needed to help climate technologies grow, scale, and deliver impact across the Commonwealth.
“Massachusetts has always led by bringing together bold ideas and the people who can turn them into real-world solutions,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These investments help ensure that entrepreneurs have the support they need to grow here, create jobs here, and deliver technologies that make life better.”
“From lab to market, startups need a strong support system to succeed,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These organizations are helping local entrepreneurs navigate that path every day, and this funding strengthens the infrastructure that makes Massachusetts a top destination for innovation.”
“Massachusetts has the talent, technology, and public leadership to help define the next generation of climate solutions,” said Michael Lake, President and CEO of Leading Cities. “Through MassCEC’s support, we can bring our global accelerator home and focus it on companies working to solve climate challenges in our own backyard. The goal is not only to help these companies grow, but to help communities adopt the solutions they need to adapt, prepare, and thrive.”
AcceliCITY, Leading Cities’ flagship accelerator for urban innovation, has helped companies around the world raise more than $3.3 billion, supported deployments across communities, and connected innovators to municipal leaders, investors, and global platforms through a network spanning more than 16,000 communities. The AcceliCITY Mass Climate Tech Challenge applies that global model to Massachusetts companies and Massachusetts climate needs.
Turning Massachusetts Climate Leadership Into Local Deployment
The AcceliCITY Mass Climate Tech Challenge is designed to help translate the Commonwealth’s climate innovation strength into practical community adoption. The Challenge is open to Massachusetts-based companies developing solutions that can help communities reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, improve infrastructure, advance sustainability, or adapt to a changing climate.
Eligible solution areas include climate adaptation, resilience, energy, infrastructure, buildings, transportation, water, waste, and other technologies that support the Commonwealth’s climate goals.
Selected participants will receive:
- Public Project Readiness training through Leading Cities Academy
- Practical support to strengthen public-sector go-to-market strategy
- Mentorship from experts across government, industry, investment, and climate innovation
- Connections to Leading Cities’ global network of more than 16,000 communities, including 287 of the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns
- Visibility through Leading Cities’ broader innovation ecosystem
- Pathways to future deployment, pilot opportunities, and municipal engagement
A Call to Massachusetts Climate Innovators
For startups, the Challenge offers more than training and access to $175,000 in non-dilutive capital. It provides a pathway to understand public-sector customers, identify municipal champions, navigate community needs, and position climate technologies for adoption within real-world constraints.
Companies selected for the Challenge will join a program built around one of the most important questions facing the climate economy: how do promising technologies become trusted, adoptable solutions for the communities that need them?
“Climate innovation only matters if it reaches the communities that need it,” Lake said. “This program is about helping Massachusetts companies bridge the gap between promising technology and implementation. By doing so, we can strengthen local companies, support the Commonwealth’s climate leadership, and move the needle on climate adaptation where people live, work, and build their futures.”
Applications are open through August 20, 2026.
Massachusetts-based climate technology companies can apply HERE.
An Invitation to Municipal Leaders
The Challenge also creates a new opportunity for municipal leaders seeking practical solutions to urgent climate and sustainability challenges. Cities and towns interested in climate adaptation, resilience, infrastructure, energy, transportation, water, waste, or sustainability solutions can connect with Leading Cities to gain visibility into emerging Massachusetts technologies and engage with companies better prepared to understand public-sector needs, constraints, and pathways to adoption.
About MassCEC
The Mass Clean Energy Center is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the clean energy and climatetech sector across the Commonwealth to spur job creation, deliver statewide environmental benefits, increase affordability, and secure long-term economic opportunities for the people of Massachusetts. Since 2010, MassCEC has awarded $990 million in programs and investments and attracted $3 billion in private and public funds.
About Leading Cities
Leading Cities is a global nonprofit that bridges the gap between innovation and implementation, helping municipalities and innovators overcome the procurement, regulatory, and scaling barriers that stall the adoption of scalable solutions. Through AcceliCITY, AcceliGOV, Leading Cities Academy, and a network spanning 16,000+ communities across 70+ countries, Leading Cities connects governments, innovators, specialist expertise, and capital to turn community resilience from ambition into action at scale. For more information, visit www.LeadingCities.org or connect on LinkedIn.
