Ashley Vaughn, the founder of EVALV, experienced a frustrating situation when their Tesla broke down in a rural area outside of Seattle with no EV chargers compatible with their car nearby. Vaughn decided to create a business solution to expand charger utility by offering rental adapters at EV charging stations but needed help getting the idea off the ground. Finding funding and mentorship can be a major challenge for underrepresented entrepreneurs, which led to the collaboration between VertueLab and Tabor 100 to launch 45Camp, a program designed for BIPOC, women, and other underrepresented individuals in the startup community.
The 45Camp program provides support for founders who lack an established network and access to resources that could benefit their startups. The program hosted “Jumpstart” weekends where attendees defined their ideas, tested them through customer interviews, and built pitch decks for potential funders. The top entrepreneurs were chosen to participate in a pre-accelerator program to further develop their ideas with mentor support. This initiative is crucial as venture capital has decreased across the tech industry, but funding for startups founded by Black entrepreneurs has outpaced the overall decline.
Climate tech startups face unique funding challenges as their products often involve a combination of hardware and software, which requires more time and money than creating a typical app. The 45Camp program narrowed down its pool of entrepreneurs to 15 participants who received guidance on customer discovery, legal hurdles, team building, event planning, and other aspects necessary for running a successful business. This support is essential for founders like Keith Crossland, who won best startup and best business model for Carbon Negative Solutions, a venture using AI to reduce the environmental impact of concrete production.
Ashley Vaughn discovered 45Camp while seeking resources within the EV industry for EVALV and has appreciated the valuable connections and inspiration from other participants and mentors. Vaughn is one of the Washington finalists chosen to pitch their startup to potential funders, receiving grant funding of $25,000. Other finalists include founders working on renewable energy alternatives, printing solar cells from sustainable materials, and launching a virtual hub for tracking down technicians and service providers with clean tech expertise.
Participants in 45Camp have access to mentors with diverse skill sets, such as communication, technical expertise, and customer needs assessment. Mentors like AnnaMaria White help startup founders explain technical aspects to investors and customers, while Angie Parker, a former Air Force radar technician, assists founders in building their companies and focusing on customer needs. The program has helped EVALV find a chief technology officer, and Senator Patty Murray provided funding to Tabor 100 for 45Camp. While the program will not be offered in the same format again, the organizers plan to use feedback to inform future efforts and continue supporting climate tech entrepreneurs in the Pacific Northwest.
In addition to 45Camp, similar startup programs exist in different regions, including Greentown Labs, LACI, and Northwest Xcelerator. These programs aim to provide support, funding, and mentorship to underrepresented entrepreneurs in the climate tech industry. By addressing the unique needs of these founders and helping them navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business, these initiatives contribute to the growth of the climate tech ecosystem and promote diversity and innovation in the industry.
