CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator
A commercialization program for pre-seed to seed-stage startups ready to pilot or scale
About the program
The CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator, located at the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub, is a cohort-based program that supports startups tackling the climate crisis and promotes green technology growth. It is funded in partnership with the Seattle Office of Economic Development and co-located with our partners 9Zero and VertueLab.
With support from Microsoft and E8, the 2027 Data Center Innovation Cohort aims to support pre-seed and seed-stage companies developing technologies that address the energy, resource and infrastructure challenges associated with the rising demand for data centers. Elemental Impact will serve as an advisor and ecosystem collaborator to the program.
Join the information session on October 15, 2026, to learn about the program, priority technology areas, eligibility and how to apply.
Who this program is for
We look for startups that:
- Are in the pre-seed to seed phase
- Have a business license
- Have a minimum viable product (MVP) ready for commercialization
- Can be on-site 1 day per week at the downtown Seattle office for curriculum and business development events for the duration of the program
- Can commit to completing 20hrs/mo of cross-functional operations and commercial innovation programming and activities
- Can maintain at least 1 primary contact who can regularly communicate with program manager regarding team updates and connect with mentors 1-2x/mo
Areas of focus for data center innovation:
- Energy infrastructure and advanced electrical systems: Technologies that improve grid integration, power distribution, efficiency, resilience, and flexibility.
- Energy storage and backup power: Battery storage, long-duration energy storage and alternatives or improvements to conventional backup generation.
- Advanced cooling and thermal management: Technologies that reduce the energy and water requirements associated with cooling computing infrastructure, including next-generation liquid and air-cooling systems and heat recovery or reuse.
- Water efficiency and management: Technologies that reduce freshwater consumption, improve water reuse, or otherwise address the water requirements associated with data center operations.
- Low-carbon construction and materials: Innovations in concrete, steel, aluminum, copper and other materials or architectures that can reduce the embodied emissions and resource requirements of data center construction.
- Resource efficiency and circularity: Technologies that extend equipment and material life, enable reuse and recovery, reduce waste, or improve the management of resources throughout the data center life cycle.
- Clean energy integration: Technologies that can help integrate additional renewable and zero-emissions energy resources with data center operations and surrounding energy systems.
- Measurement, controls, and infrastructure intelligence: Hardware and software that can improve the measurement, management and optimization of energy, water, cooling, and other physical infrastructure.
- Community and infrastructure resilience: Technologies with the potential to strengthen local energy systems or provide environmental and infrastructure benefits beyond individual data center facilities.
What teams gain
Commercialization curriculum focused on:
- Building assets and skills to sell, pilot, or manufacture your product
- Preparing for funding, partnerships, and scaling
- Navigating beta launches, pilot deployments, and small-scale manufacturing
Cohort participation benefits
- Support for talent, mentorship, and research connections
- Office in downtown Seattle with sit-stand desks, conference rooms, event space, kitchen, shower, and bike storage with chargers
- Paid parking with EV chargers is available in the building and tenants can access a private fitness center membership
UW Resources & Facilities
- Makerspace membership at the CoMotion Labs Hardware Incubator
- Assistance connecting with labs and specialized equipment available for commercial use across the University of Washington
- Curated, digital resource library of software, cloud, service providers, programs, and other local resources available to CoMotion Labs-affiliated startups
Demo Day & ecosystem access
At the end of the program, teams will present at a Demo Day attended by:
- Investors
- Corporate innovation leaders
- Government officials and economic development agencies
- Industry groups
- Ecosystem partners
You’ll exit the program with:
- A clear path to funding or pilot opportunities
- A network of partners and supporters to help you grow
Program timeline
- September 16th, 2026 – Application launch
- October 15th, 2026 – Virtual information session, RSVP here
- November 15, 2026 – Applications due at midnight
- December 2026 – Review, finalist outreach, and decisions
- January 2027 – Public announcement
- February 4, 2027 – Program kickoff event
- May 20, 2027 – Demo Day event
* Exact dates are subject to change.
Not ready yet?
If you’re still in the idea or R&D phase, we encourage you to explore these resources:
- For UW students, staff, and researchers
- Explore UW CoMotion resources for building a startup and licensing technology
- Learn about innovation training opportunities
- Apply for other funding and competitive opportunities
- Connect with expert mentors
- Chart your path with our Startup Handbook
- For community innovators
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- Join CoMotion Labs at our other locations
- Become a member of the Seattle 9Zero climate community and office space
- Check out VertueLab programs
- Join the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA)
- Learn online from Startup Washington
We do consider promising applied research applications, but this program is not designed for early-stage ideation.
Hear from past participants
“We are grateful for the incredible support and experience the CoMotion team has provided. We have truly enjoyed getting to know and learn from our cohort and mentors. The programming has been top-notch.”
- Adrian Groos, Co-Founder & CEO, Nimbus Aerospace, CoMotion Climate Tech Incubator Member 2025
“CoMotion helped us think more clearly about growth. The mentors pushed us to ask better questions, focus on the right metrics, and make decisions with confidence. That guidance continues to shape how we operate and scale.”
- Angelo Liao, Co-Founder & CEO, Forge, CoMotion Climate Tech Incubator Member 2025
“Our experience in the CoMotion Climate Tech Incubator program has helped us understand new market drivers increasing demand for our technology in building materials, refine how we are sharing the ZILA opportunity, and network with others actively working to create positive impact.”
- Jason Puracal, Co-Founder & CEO, Zila Bioworks, CoMotion Climate Tech Incubator Member 2025
“Joining CoMotion’s ecosystem has proven how universities, entrepreneurs, and clean-tech partners can work together to reimagine how materials are made, how homes are built, and how sustainability can be a shared economic driver for Washington State and beyond.”
- Ashley Stallworth, Founder & CEO, Bio Fiber Industries, CoMotion Climate Tech Incubator Member 2025
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