USGBC California Announces 2025 Net Zero Accelerator Cohort to Pilot Building Tech Across California
Key Highlights
- USGBC-CA’s 2025 Net Zero Accelerator cohort includes 17 startups offering scalable building tech solutions.
- The program emphasizes pilot deployment in California to drive market adoption of net-zero strategies.
- Participating companies focus on areas including energy, HVAC, materials, water, and waste reduction.
- The initiative provides support through mentorship, networking, and access to municipal and commercial pilot hosts.
- A public event featuring the new Pilot Flight Manual will be held September 12, 2025.
The U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA) recently announced the 2025 cohort of its Net Zero Accelerator (NZA), a six-month program aimed at scaling practical building technologies through pilot projects across the state.
This year’s group includes 17 startups from the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Singapore, spanning areas such as energy efficiency, HVAC, water conservation, waste reduction, advanced materials, and data analytics. The program supports companies that are pilot-ready and commercially available, helping them overcome market barriers through access to workshops, advisors, and pilot hosts in California’s diverse regions.
Since its inception, the NZA has helped more than 100 companies complete over 60 pilot projects statewide, with prior deployments in affordable housing, higher education, and public-sector facilities. The 2025 cohort will continue this momentum, supported by USGBC-CA’s network of building professionals, investors, and public-sector partners.
Colin Mangham, Director of Innovation at USGBC California, commented:
“These founders are building things the world really needs. And they’re doing it with urgency, clarity, and a strong business case. They’re bringing disciplined focus and economic logic to the implementation of common-sense solutions that are in high demand. Our role is to help clear the path so these innovations can deliver meaningful, measurable results.”
2025 cohort members by focus area include:
- Advanced Materials: HempCement Co., Mad River Mass Timber
- Building Envelope: ThermalShell
- Building Systems: Gradient, Verdant Structural
- Data Analytics & Platforms: Qflow, Performance Resource Management, Pure Energy Stream
- Energy Resources & Efficiency: AlumaPower, Ampd Energy, Verv Energy, Wayside Energy
- HVAC & Air Quality: Build Smartr Robotics, Harvest Thermal
- Waste Reduction & Circularity: Atrium Energy, Further JanSan, Digne
- Water Conservation: Capture H2O
For more details on the cohort or to inquire about pilot opportunities, visit netzeroaccelerator.org.