The CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator 2026 Cohort on their first day at the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub.
University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs has launched the 2026 CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator, a six‑month program designed to help founders turn their early-stage climate solutions into scalable, market‑ready companies. Based at the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub in downtown Seattle, this University-integrated program aims to connect founders, mentors, capital, and public‑private partners to accelerate technologies that strengthen climate resilience while unlocking commercialization pathways in Washington State.
Now in its second year, the program supports eight startups working across mobility, ocean health, land management, circular materials, the built environment, climate finance, and regenerative food systems, sectors critical to the region’s future.
Sean Kolk, Co-Founder of Astraeus Ocean Systems, delivers an elevator pitch at the Incubator kickoff event in April 2026.
“We're thrilled to join CoMotion Labs because the coastal communities we serve can't wait for five-year policy cycles to get funding and scientific tools. They need tools that work now, and this program accelerates our ability to put those tools in their hands. The intersection of UW's research depth and Seattle's maritime identity makes this the ideal launchpad for what we're building!”
- Alex Parker, CEO of Astraeus Ocean Systems
Program Design for Real‑World Execution
The Climate Tech Incubator is intentionally designed around the challenges climate founders face between pre‑seed and seed stages. Through feedback from the 2025 cohort, mentors, and ecosystem partners, CoMotion Labs refined a model that prioritizes connections to talent and resources, capital readiness, and business development.
Founders receive:
- Structured, bi‑weekly programming focused on commercial scale-up, operational readiness, and fundraising
- Personalized mentorship from seasoned operators, investors, and climate experts
- Access to UW research, talent, and commercialization resources including space for prototyping at the CoMotion Labs Hardware Incubator
- A collaborative home base embedded in the climate tech ecosystem at the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub alongside partners 9Zero, VertueLab, and the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development
- The opportunity to pitch to investors at Demo Day, positioning them on a trajectory for success after they graduate
“The University of Washington and Seattle climate tech ecosystem can be an outstanding launchpad with the right connections. We designed this program so founders leave with a clearer path to market traction, funding, and strategic partnerships.”
- Sarah O’Sell, Manager of the CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator
Korina Stark, Owner of FlameWise, teaches a biochar workshop and demonstration with their field-ready kiln. Photo by Ted Tarricone.
“I'm thrilled to join CoMotion Labs, and Washington is the perfect home for this work: communities across the state are facing longer, more destructive fire seasons every year. CoMotion Labs's deep roots in the region and commitment to real-world impact make it the right partner to help FlameWise scale as we support land stewards with personal size biochar kilns to reduce the conditions that feed wildfires while rebuilding soils, retaining water, and restoring ecosystems for the long term.”
- Korina Stark, Owner of FlameWise
Meet the 2026 Cohort
Together, these teams illustrate how climate innovation spans technology, infrastructure, materials, food systems, and finance, where meaningful impact meets viable business models.
Astraeus Ocean Systems
Benchmark Star, Inc.
Climate Solutions International, Inc.
EVQ
FlameWise
Ocean Made
REearthable®
Seeking Ferments
The 2026 CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator mentors and advisors.
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Founders don’t succeed in isolation. As CoMotion’s Head of Mentor Programs, Kasie Becker, describes, “Mentorship is woven into everything we do at CoMotion because the right guidance, at the right moment, can transform a promising idea into real-world impact. Our volunteer mentors bring industry and entrepreneurial experience to support innovators at every stage – from customer discovery to investment pitches – helping translate discoveries from the lab to the market.” In 2026, 18 expert mentors are contributing deep expertise across venture capital, operations, energy, oceans, mobility, manufacturing, policy, and commercialization.
Program mentors include:
From top left to bottom right in the image above.
- Kristin Raja, (Former) Operations Officer at NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- Natalie Jones Baitcher, Relationship Manager at AgWest Farm Credit
- Swathi Srinivasan, Senior Manager of Product Management at Comcast Advertising
- Megan McNally, Founder & Managing Director at Edgewater Business Law
- Andrew Buhayar, Program Director, Pathways at Sonder Collective
- Celeste Edman, Chief Executive Officer at EDMAN LLC
- Mark Kotzer, Chief Growth Officer at Growth Jumpstart
- Richard Bristol, President & Founder at Bristol Advisory
- Mike Werner, Chief Executive Officer at Qualterra
- Mark Blue, CTO at TerraVent Environmental Inc.
- Cory James, Consulting at Empowered Start Business Tools
- Shruti Sharma, (Former) Associate Director of Long Island High Technology Incubator
- Julia Freer, Author, Speaker, and Consultant at Material Value Consulting
- Steven Sperry, (Former) Chairman of the Board, Minnow Technologies
- Kamal Patel, Civic Designer at NextCycle Washington
- Andres Ochoa, (Former) Managing Director at Activate
“I’m excited to support these teams and share lessons from my operations work with NOAA. With the right execution, efforts like these can drive real, scalable climate impact.”
- Kristin Raja, (Former) Operations Officer at NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Two special advisors provide focused leadership in:
- Leadership & Organizational Development
Natalie Gray, VP, Operations at PNW Climate Week - Fundraising & Capital Strategy
Jared Silvia, Partner at Gliding Ant Ventures
“It’s easy to develop tunnel vision as a founder. Programs like the Climate Tech Incubator are all about helping founders see a broader perspective to make them more resilient and more likely to succeed. If our region is serious about being a leader in climate tech, we need to find more ways to support more founders. The Climate Tech Incubator is a fantastic addition to the support ecosystem.”
- Jared Silva, Partner at Gliding Ant Ventures
A 2025 Seattle Climate Hackathon success, Benchmark Star was founded at the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub and won “Most Business-Ready Team.”
“Joining the University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator is such a pivotal moment for us. CoMotion Labs’s commercialization expertise and climate‑tech network give us the right environment to accelerate product development and scale a solution that supports the consultants and building owners driving decarbonization in the real world.”
- Renee Gastineau, Co-Founder/President & CEO at Benchmark Star
Value Delivered for the University of Washington and Beyond
The CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator strengthens how climate innovation moves from idea to impact, connecting founders, research, mentorship, and capital within a single commercialization pathway. For the University of Washington, it expands opportunities to translate research and talent into real‑world solutions, engages regional partners, and reinforces UW’s leadership in climate innovation. For Seattle and Washington State, it supports founder‑led growth and job creation while accelerating deployment of solutions across critical climate sectors.
As the 2026 cohort moves toward Demo Day this September, these eight companies are well positioned to turn bold ideas into durable climate solutions that benefit communities, ecosystems, and the regional economy.
Climate Solutions International emerged from research at the University of Washington and has benefitted from CoMotion’s early-stage programming before applying to the CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator. Here, founder Dr. Jan Whittington is joining the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio De Janeiro, to participate in the C40 Cities World Mayors Summit.
“Cities account for about 70% of GHG emissions, and climate change increasingly threatens cities with existential budget impacts due to both private and public property loss and damage. We are excited to team up with the University of Washington’s CoMotion Labs through the Climate Tech Incubator to advance our effort to bring cities the internal tools, skills, and incentives they need to invest effectively for the changing climate, and stem exposure of their assets and communities to damage and loss.”
- Jan Whittington, CEO of Climate Solutions International
Follow the CoMotion Labs Climate Tech Incubator Luma events page for opportunities to engage.