Advance the Sustainable Economy
Introduce new technologies or processes that reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and foster sustainability.
Thriving Communities: Climate Resilience US
Supporting startups advancing the green economy and community climate adaptation across the US
About the Program
Thriving Communities: Climate Resilience US is an investment-readiness program designed to support ten startups addressing the growing environmental challenges across the US.
With support from Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation (HPEF) and Salesforce, the initiative fosters place-based innovators developing solutions that support climate resilience and uplift low-income communities. At the end of the program, two startups will be eligible for investment.
The Effects of Climate-Related Events On Communities
Climate-related events’ consequences are intensifying in US communities, with 376 disasters between 2017 and 2023 causing over USD 1T in damages. Beyond the immediate destruction, these challenges are deepening economic and social disparities, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income communities.
Despite the urgent need for climate-resilience solutions, venture capital funding remains concentrated in a handful of states, leaving high-risk regions without sufficient resources to scale new solutions for these threats.
Eligibility
Eligibility requirements include:
Have legal incorporation as a for profit entity, including B-Corp certified companies.
Be headquartered or with operations in the United States.
Have a market-based solution that directly tackles one or more of the challenges below.
Have a minimum viable product (MVP) and raised less than USD 1.5M in equity.
Have at least one full-time founder based in the US.
Have meaningful customer or business validation (not limited to revenue, it can also be successful pilot studies, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships).
Who Should Apply
The solutions this program aims to support should:
Enhance Community Climate Adaptation
Deploy affordable, clean energy solutions in low-income communities, strengthen grid resiliency, and reduce the energy burden for households most affected by climate change.
Incorporate Ethical and Sustainable AI
Implement AI solutions that adhere to ethical principles – ensuring systems are privacy-enabled, human-focused, inclusive, and robust while upholding transparency, accountability, and explainability.
Promote Smart and Sustainable Cities
Develop urban innovations that integrate smart infrastructure, digital data, and sustainable practices to optimize resource management and increase energy efficiency.
Benefits
Exposure
Visibility on Village Capital’s program website and other communications collateral.
Funding
At least two participants will be eligible for investment to further scale their solutions.
Interactive Workshops
Tailored to help startups identify early milestones and secure capital to support their business, including enhancing the alignment between their capital and growth strategies.
Mentorship and Networking
Opportunities to network and receive mentorship from investors, strategic partners, founders, and industry leaders.
Milestone Development Plans
Each entrepreneur will create their own milestone development plan towards investment readiness, growth, and impact utilizing Abaca, Village Capital’s online milestone tracking tool.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Evaluation
Village Capital’s signature approach to shifting power dynamics in investment decisions by placing entrepreneurs at the center of the due diligence process.
Stipends for Travel
Stipends will cover travel to and from our In-person Program Summit in Chicago.
Tailored Investment Analyst Support
1:1 support by a dedicated Investment Analyst for every startup focused on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and using financial metrics to drive their business and investor diligence.
Program Timeline
April 17, 2025
Applications open
May 9, 2025
Applications close
June 20, 2025
Cohort announcement
June - September, 2025
Program Dates
Orientation: June 25, 2025
Workshop 1: June 30 - July 3, 2025
Workshop 2: July 22 - 23, 2025
Workshop 3: August 12 - 13, 2025
Workshop 4: September 2 - 3, 2025
In-person Program Summit: September 15 - 16, 2025
The Latest
Village Capital Puts Out Call for US Startups Building Innovative Solutions for Climate Resiliency
Washington, DC (April 17, 2025) – Village Capital, with support from Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation and Salesforce, launches Thriving Communities: Climate Resilience US.