Startup Day at Trellis Impact 26
The climate tech startup ecosystem is navigating a pivotal moment. In response, Trellis Impact 26 introduced Startup Day: a full day of programming dedicated to the investors, founders, corporate leaders and innovators advancing climate solutions. Featuring a dedicated main stage, breakout sessions, curated networking opportunities and the annual Startups to Watch pitch competition, Startup Day brought together the people and ideas shaping the next generation of climate innovation.
About Startup Day
Startup Day was a dynamic program built around the hard questions practitioners are wrestling with. Sessions focused on unpacking the current fundraising landscape, finding late-stage financing, and how founders navigate corporate partnerships.
One underlying theme: Climate tech commercialization has entered a new normal. What matters now is whether solutions can deliver real, sustainable business value. Policy shifts are reshaping funding and AI is capturing investor attention. Startup Day examined these forces, helping founders stand out in a crowded, complex market, and convening the ecosystem to accelerate commercialization.
Key Topics
Sessions explored the climate tech landscape from every angle: market conditions, capital gaps, founder insights, policy risk, and the sectors generating momentum right now.
Making Sense of the Moment
A grounded opening look at where the climate tech market stands today — what’s real, what’s overhyped, and how founders and investors are recalibrating strategy.
Unlocking Capital for Climate Scale-Ups
A fresh and honest look at what’s needed to navigate the capital gap for later-stage climate startups, including first-of-a-kind (FOAK) factories that struggle to move from demonstration to deployment.
Partnering with Corporations
How climate startups can identify, approach, and structure partnerships with corporate sustainability teams — from pilot agreements to procurement pathways and strategic investment relationships
Surviving Policy Whiplash
How to build business models resilient to shifting federal and regional incentives.
Shifting the Language
How founders and ecosystem players are reframing their value propositions to meet the moment.
Hot Sectors Spotlight
Deep dives into three high-signal categories: data center sustainability solutions, next-generation materials, and climate adaptation technologies.
Matchmaking
Curated introductions connecting founders with aligned investors, plus peer-to-peer mentoring that puts experienced operators in the room with early-stage teams.