Startups to Watch is a fast-pitch competition featuring entrepreneurs with innovative climate technologies across three strategic categories. Finalists will compete in Trellis webinars (see below). The winners of each category will pitch in person during Startup Day at Trellis Impact 26 for the chance to be deemed Trellis Group’s Startup of the Year.
Meet the Finalists
This virtual pitch featured five entrepreneurs presenting cutting-edge data center solutions — from clean energy and efficiency innovation to cooling breakthroughs and next-generation infrastructure.
Watch Here
This virtual pitch featured five entrepreneurs pitching cutting-edge material innovations — from next-generation battery and energy storage materials to critical mineral recovery, sustainable polymers, and smart building coatings.
Watch Here
This virtual session featured pitches from five entrepreneurs developing cutting-edge climate adaptation solutions — from climate-resilient food systems and built environment adaptation to AI-powered risk intelligence, precision agriculture, and aquatic biosurveillance.
Watch Here
Pitch in person at Trellis Impact 26 in San Francisco, CA, amplifying you and your solution to thousands of professionals accelerating innovative solutions to our planet’s biggest challenges.
Pitch directly to our 100+ member Trellis Network during a virtual convening after Trellis Impact 26.
Receive live feedback from industry experts, giving you direct exposure to investors, corporates and decision-makers with deep experience working with entrepreneurs.
Connect with corporate partners, investors and other Trellis Impact 26 attendees throughout the three-day, in-person event.
Beyond the live event, finalists will benefit from broad amplification via Trellis.net editorial coverage, including Climate Tech Startups to Watch and the Startup of the Year.
Startups are eligible for a discounted booth in the Trellis Impact Expo Hall – reach out to sponsorships@trellis.net to sign up.
Successful applicants must be:
*Startups to Watch Finalists receive a comp ticket to TI26 and are responsible for their travel and stay.
March 3 – March 27: Entrepreneurs submit applications, including a one-minute pitch video.
May: Finalists announced on the “15 Climate Tech Startups to Watch” feature on Trellis.net highlighting the top 5 finalists in each category.
May – early June: Preliminary rounds conducted via Trellis webinars. Three webinars will be held (one per category), where startups pitch to judges and attendees virtually. Community voting on finalists.
June 23-25, 2026: The final pitch sessions will take place in person at Trellis Impact 26 in San Francisco.
Solutions related to energy storage, batteries, grid-optimization, generation, software/AI demand flexibility, cooling, energy efficiency, water solutions. AI-enabled solutions and circular economy innovations are woven throughout each category as appropriate.
Solutions related to low-carbon cement, steel, and building materials; circular materials recovery, sustainable mining for critical minerals, captured GHG to materials, and bio-based materials.
Solutions that help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate extremes—including severe storms, floods, droughts, wildfires, and extreme heat. This includes AI-enabled forecasting and risk analytics, sensing hardware (air quality, water, soil), emergency response platforms, and ecosystem protection and restoration technologies.
