Sourcing Climate Tech for Alaska: Inside the NREL Industry Growth Forum
As manager of Launch Alaska’s Tech Deployment Track, I get a front-row view of some of the most innovative climate tech companies interested in doing business in Alaska.
Expanding the pool is one of our top priorities. We know there is always new technology available, and so, for the last two years I’ve spent the first week of May at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Industry Growth Forum meeting with companies, ecosystem partners, and investors who are dedicated to promoting growth within the climate and clean tech spaces.
Above: Launch Alaska Tech Deployment Track Manager Suzanna Caldwell attends the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s 2024 Industry Growth Forum in Denver, CO.
This year over 600 people met in Denver to make connections and spur investment in the climate tech ecosystem. It was inspiring. For two days there were hours of scheduled meetings between startups and investors with the hopes of developing technologies that will make an impact in the world. Beyond those meetings were the countless connections made with ecosystem partners – mostly folks wanting to connect startups with resources, including accelerator programs like Launch Alaska’s Tech Deployment Track.
After two days, I walked away with dozens of connections between startups and other accelerators – all eager to share information or bring their technologies to Alaska. It’s easy for them to see the allure of Alaska as a place filled with opportunities for their technology – to both fight climate change and create meaningful change for local communities by reducing emissions, reducing energy costs and making life better for the people who live here.
The Industry Growth Forum is a reminder of the power of this work – while there’s a huge amount of federal funding for climate tech projects, the amount of private funding is also enormous. It’s a reminder that this tech isn’t just good for the communities it serves, it’s a good business investment, and one on which private investors are extremely bullish. It’s also a reminder that Alaskans should stay ahead of the curve when it comes to these technologies and investments.
As an Alaskan who makes her home here (and plans to for the long-term), I know I’m excited to keep connecting startups and investors to Alaska to bring these technologies home. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.