Program Description

In 2023 Cleantech Open Northeast, ACT was awarded the U.S. Department of Energy Direct Air Capture (DAC) Pre-Commercial Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize to run the 2024 DAC Academy. This is an accelerator tailored to DAC startups.

Seven DAC startups participated. Five of the startups in the 2024 Cleantech Open Northeast ACT Academy cohort (which is distinctive from the Cleantech Open) each received a $10,000 cash award after completing the DAC Academy accelerator program. The DAC Academy was designed to support emerging direct air capture startups through programming focused on the business of DAC, as well as the overall landscape that includes carbon sequestration, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), as well as an understanding of the carbon credit market. 

The DAC Academy offered a hybrid curriculum with in-person and virtual programming, expert mentoring, and connections specifically for DAC startups to progress their ventures. The in-person programming was held in New York and Boston.

This was designed for startups at TRL 3-5.

The DAC Academy Finale

was held on December 10, 2024

Greentown Labs, Somerville, MA

See the event page here