Accelerating STEM startups
Lens of the Market ACCELERATED is the only comprehensive program designed to accelerate science and engineering-based startups from research to market.
How ACCELERATED Works
ecosVC partners with organizations—corporations, universities, non-profits, investors, accelerators and incubators—to identify startups developing innovations aligned with the sponsors’ missions.
ecosVC engages the startup teams in a comprehensive program to advance their technical, commercial, manufacturing and investor readiness.
Lens of the Market ACCELERATED takes place over a 3-6 month period either entirely online or in person and online. Participants engage with the comprehensive curriculum as well as with industry experts, mentors, and aligned investors.
Interested in working with us on YOUR Accelerator Program? Please contact us at info@ecosvc.com
Current Active Programs
Forest Business Accelerator 2025
The Forest Business Accelerator is happening again. Eight companies were selected to participate in this program which formally launched August 4, 2025. The focus is as follows:
Strengthen the forest economy in the Northern Forest region (Maine to northern New York).
Promote circular economy principles and minimize waste.
Address market challenges from decline in traditional low-grade wood uses.
Support growth and commercialization of forest-based startups using low-grade wood, underutilized species, or forest byproducts.
Provide a rigorous 4-month curriculum, mentorship, industry connections, and financial support.
Previous Cohorts:
DeltaClimeVT 2025
This was the NINTH DeltaClimeVT!!
The program sought innovative, early-stage, start-ups addressing the decarbonization of buildings, transportation, heating and industrial processes through electrification, thermal energy networks or other renewables, with a particular focus on load management. Ventures that address the energy burden for under-represented and low to moderate income populations are of particular interest. Entrepreneurs will be working directly with Vermont utilities looking to deploy solutions that contribute to Vermont’s 90% renewable by 2050 and Burlington’s Net Zero by 2030 goals.
The program featured the ecosVC ACCELERATED curriculum, a $25,000 non-equity award for the top venture, paid pilot opportunities, extensive peer feedback, work directly with potential customers, partners, mentors, and investors. Go to the DeltaClimeVT page for more information.
Previous Cohorts:
Energy 2024 Energy 2023 Energy 2022 Energy 2021 Energy 2020 Energy 2019 Energy 2017
What people are saying about ACCELERATED …
“...the best business accelerator. Everyone who participates and puts in the work will learn a ton. Even if you have a PhD or MBA. The learnings are the nuts and bolts for building a successful business”
“We got so much more out of the program than we could have imagined! A great program run by excellent people!”
“This accelerator program is very well suited to tough tech and science-based technology founders and helps to bring market knowledge and skills for building a solid, data-driven business case. We learned a tremendous amount about what can work for future development and how to best position our venture for presentation and investment. ”
The Details
- Teams of 2-3 professionals working on a startup together who have developed a market validated value proposition and innovation differentiators and are interested in taking the next step in business model and go-to-market plan development.
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- Up to 8 teams of at least 2 participants per team
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- 3-6 months, depending on the organization
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- A team of experienced professionals with a track record of successful technology commercialization in start-ups and the Fortune 100.
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- The program starts with a pre-workshop analysis of the research by the facilitators and is comprised of two interwoven components each over a 2-3 month period. This duration can be specified by the sponsoring organization.
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- A business case AND business model based on market validated revenue model, sales channel plan and pricing model plus go-to-market and financing plans;
- Refined market gap analysis and aligned value proposition and differentiators;
- Refined R&D plans coupled to value proposition and differentiators;
- A set of business mentors who can go forward into other roles, as defined by the team; and,
- Skills for participants in developing a business case, a model and a go-to-market plan.
Format
Lens of the Market Process
Part 1: Business Case to Business Model
The program kicks-off with a 3-day intensive workshop (online or in-person) and subsequent online intensives tailored to the particular cohort.
The program features continuous interactive learning focused on building a product market gap analysis including MVP specifications, and a business case. It culminates in presentations by all teams to an audience selected by the host organization.
The Product-Market Gap Analysis results in a market validated set of market requirements including a full competitor product analysis, market structure analysis, competitor analysis, and a validated value proposition for the selected beachhead market.
The Business Case yields a presentation based on the gap analysis to act as the basis for Part 2
Part 2: Business Model to Go-to-Market Plan
The program kicks-off with a multi-day intensive and continues with an interactive learning cycle to build a Business Model, Corporate Structure, and Go-to-Market Plan culminating in presentations by all teams to an audience selected by the host organization.
The output is a working document that ensures agreement among the team and other stakeholders and serves as the basis for presentation materials.
Additionally, a Financing Plan is developed to align the company with current and future best fit financing options.