The BEAM Circular Accelerator Launches in California's Agricultural Heartland to Unlock Opportunities to Transform Waste into Value
In Partnership with gener8tor and HawkTower, the New Program Offers $30,000 in Non-Dilutive Funding, up to $100,000 in Venture Funding, and Strategic Mentorship to Bioeconomy Startups
BEAM Circular, in partnership with accelerator network gener8tor and early-stage venture firm HawkTower, today announced the launch of its inaugural accelerator program aimed at supporting startups advancing innovation in the circular bioeconomy. The circular bioeconomy is a growing global sector that uses biology to create valuable bio-based chemicals, materials, energy, and consumer products from sustainably sourced organic materials, including by repurposing agricultural by-products, forestry residues, and other organic waste-streams.
The BEAM Circular Accelerator invests in world-class founders driving the future of innovation in biomanufacturing and bio-enabled climate solutions, providing access to the expertise, bioindustrial manufacturing capacity, and abundant agricultural resources of California’s Northern San Joaquin Valley. The region is poised to become a national leader in circular bioeconomy innovation, underscored by a recent National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines Development Award for efforts to advance bio-based products and climate solutions, and is home to a growing ecosystem of public and private partners dedicated to supporting bioindustry scale-up.
The BEAM Circular Accelerator will provide $30,000 of non-dilutive funding and up to $100,000 in venture funding to five innovative, high-growth startups each year. This intensive three-month program, based in the Northern San Joaquin Valley of California, offers participants strategic mentorship, lab and office space in the region, and access to gener8tor's extensive global network of mentors and investors. The program focuses on engaging founders who reflect the diverse communities impacted by environmental challenges.
"The BEAM Circular Accelerator is committed to fostering sustainable solutions that drive positive change in the Northern San Joaquin Valley and beyond," said Karen Warner, BEAM Circular CEO. "This new program, in partnership with gener8tor and HawkTower, will invest in the next wave of game-changing bioeconomy innovators who will shape a more resilient and sustainable future."
Ryan Jeffery, senior managing director of sustainability at gener8tor, added, "Our mission with this accelerator is to cultivate a platform that supports diverse founders working on the most pressing environmental challenges in the bioeconomy sector. We believe the Northern San Joaquin Valley has the potential to become a leading hub for circular bioeconomy innovation."
Participants in the BEAM Circular Accelerator will benefit from direct access to a distinguished group of mentors who are leaders in the bioeconomy sector, including engagement with BEAM Circular’s innovation partners across the University of California and at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Participants will gain access to investment options from venture partner HawkTower, along with connections to gener8tor’s global network of business mentors and investors. The program’s local and global network of investors and collaborators – which includes Western Growers, the Almond Board of California, The March Group, Plug and Play, California Farm Bureau Federation, BASF, Ponderosa Ventures, Enduring Planet, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Merced, and other industry and innovation leaders – is designed to provide guidance, connections, and resources that will help startups scale and succeed in the marketplace.
Applications for the BEAM Circular Accelerator are open until November 17th, 2024, with the program set to commence in February 2025. Founders developing solutions in sustainable agriculture, renewable bioresources, circular manufacturing, waste reduction, and other areas of the circular bioeconomy are encouraged to apply. For more information or to submit an application, visit gener8tor.com/investment-accelerators/beam-circular.
