Spark Cleantech Accelerator Program

The Spark Cleantech Accelerator is a 12-week program hosted by the Spark Innovation Center, a program under the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm in Knoxville, Tennessee. Developed in collaboration with Evergreen Climate Innovations and other strategic partners, the accelerator aims to support early-stage cleantech startups, with a focus on advancing the commercialization of innovative technologies across Tennessee, the Midwest, and the Southeast regions of the United States. The initiative also includes support from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the largest public utility in the U.S., which provides participants with access to expert guidance, potential pilot opportunities, and valuable industry connections. The accelerator runs annually, with the 2025 cohort scheduled to begin on August 25, 2025, and conclude on November 20, 2025. This in-person program offers selected startups a comprehensive support package including mentorship, training, business acceleration services, and stipends. Participants benefit from prototyping services provided by the University of Tennessee’s Center for Materials Processing, and one-on-one support in areas such as product design, intellectual property strategy, engineering, market positioning, and manufacturing. The program is designed to assist companies in reaching critical business and technical milestones. Participants receive a $15,000 stipend to help cover travel and living expenses and support their business development goals. The program facilitates high-level networking with customers, investors, strategic partners, universities, and national laboratories such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It also offers access to workshops and training sessions aimed at improving business readiness and innovation impact. The Spark Cleantech Accelerator is supported by organizations such as the U.S. Department of Energy, the City of Knoxville, and the Truist Foundation, with additional programming support from several partners in the cleantech and academic communities. Eligible applicants must be early-stage companies working on cleantech solutions. While the program requires in-person participation, it does not mandate that participants relocate permanently to Knoxville after the program ends. The program seeks to foster growth and development of cleantech businesses but does not necessarily require exclusivity or prevent participation from competing startups. Applications for the 2025 cohort are open now and must be submitted by May 16, 2025. Applicants can expect a thorough selection process, although the number of participating companies has not been specified. Confidentiality of all applicant information is respected throughout the selection process. Applicants are encouraged to prepare for full-time engagement during the program, though some flexibility may be allowed. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the UT Research Park at Cherokee Farm, which oversees the Spark Innovation Center. While specific contact information is not directly listed in the source, interested applicants are encouraged to visit the UT Research Park website for further details and to access the application portal through F6S.