in the News
At Freshwater Advisors, we are grateful to support the remarkable achievements of our clients. Their dedication to innovation and impact in collaboration with corporate and public sector organizations has gained international recognition. Here, we share these inspiring stories and updates, showing how together we can shape a more sustainable and innovative future.
19 AUG 2026Read More
Exelon’s Climate Bet: How $300,000 Checks Are Unlocking Half A Billion Dollars
The Exelon Foundation's 2c2i program is backing climate startups, including Buckstop, which uses AI to solve a "price discovery problem" by valuing recoverable metals in retired electronics like EV chargers and solar panels.
11 AUG 2026Read More
Exelon Adds Public Grid and Buckstop to 2c2i Portfolio, Advancing Affordable and Sustainable Energy Solutions
The Exelon Foundation has added two new companies to its Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i) portfolio: Public Grid and Buckstop. The investments reflect Exelon's commitment to supporting solutions that improve affordability, make better use of resources and contribute to a more reliable and sustainable energy future.
8 JUL 2026Read More
Voltpost Welcomes David Weinstein to the Advisory Board
Voltpost, a leading EV charging retrofit and integrated infrastructure company, is thrilled to welcome David Weinstein to the Voltpost Advisory Board.
21 MAY 2026Read More
Exelon Expands 2c2i Portfolio with New Investments in Natrion and Blackcurrant AI
The Exelon Foundation has added two new companies to the Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i) portfolio—Blackcurrant AI and Natrion—each tackling different, but critical, energy innovations and positioned to scale as demand for more efficient, lower-cost energy solutions grows.
5 MAR 2026Read More
Portal Innovations to Open New Biotech Incubator in Utah
Portal Innovations is opening a 30,000 sf science incubator in Salt Lake City while also establishing a venture fund to support early-stage life sciences and biotech companies. The expansion is part of Portal’s managed services platform, Powered by Portal, which has launched incubator locations in Chicago, New Jersey, and Rhode Island over the past two years.
3 MAR 2026Read More
Chicago Water Innovation Hub Lands $45M Federal Funding
Great Lakes ReNEW, a water innovation hub led by Chicago non-profit Current, lands $45 million federal funding from the National Science Foundation
6 MAY 2025Read More
Exelon 2c2i New PortCos: Salient Predictions, SusMax, and Zero Homes
Adding to the existing 2c2i portfolio, Exelon recently selected three new companies receiving an investment for their work and commitment to fostering innovation and addressing climate change in the communities Exelon serves.
27 AUG 2024Read More
Empowering Innovation and Sustainability: Exelon’s Investments in Emerging Companies Are Driving Critical Clean Energy and Climate Solutions
Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the nation’s largest utility company, has announced the latest companies to receive venture capital investments as part of Exelon’s Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i). These companies are leading the way with products, services and technologies that are focused on reversing or mitigating the damage done by climate change, while also working to improve the communities where they operate.
24 MAY 2024Read More
GenCell Wows Austin Crowd of Energy Professionals with Hydrogen-Fueled Products that Will Revolutionize Grid Resilience and Disaster Response
GenCell Ltd., (TASE: GNCL), a leading provider of Hydrogen2Power™ technologies, announced the U.S. rollout of the company’s EVOX multipurpose distributed energy resource (DER) power solution combining energy storage and hydrogen-fueled on-site power generation to supplement the grid day-to-day for EV charging and to in parallel provide backup power for facilities, critical EV fleets and reliable, long-duration portable power for emergencies.
30 JAN 2024Read More
Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine is Awarded up to $160 million U.S. National Science Foundation Grant
Current, the Chicago-based water innovation hub, has been
awarded up to $160 million over 10 years from the U.S. National Science Foundation
to develop and grow a water-focused innovation engine in the Great Lakes region, the
NSF announced today.
Visit the Great Lakes ReNEW website, or read the press release from Gov. Pritzker on Illinois.gov
16 JAN 2024Read More
Current 2023 Impact Report: A Watershed Year
Since our founding in 2016, Current has helped bring water front and center as a critical pillar of our region’s climate and innovation strategies. We’ve raised $28M+ dollars for the region to support water innovation and inclusive economic development; launched 9 pilots; supported the commercialization of 30+ innovative water technologies, and educated more than 30,000 people through our events and convenings.
18 DEC 2023Read More
Significant Vote of Confidence in GenCell: State of Mexico CFE Purchases Additional Units of the GenCell Backup Power Solution in a Deal Valued at ~$4.5 Million
CFE has an option in the agreement to double the volume of the order for another ~$4.5 million; this deal for multiple GenCell green power systems follows earlier orders for 74 units in recent years already deployed by CFE
10 DEC 2023Read More
GenCell Unveils Vision for GreenFSG Circular Energy Economies in Dubai
GenCell Energy's new system, synthesizing green ammonia solely from water, sunlight, and air, promises to redefine the production and consumption of clean energy globally.
7 DEC 2023Read More
COP28 AWS Clean Energy Accelerator Showcase
The AWS Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0 presents its most diverse cohort yet, showcasing the latest ingenuities in clean energy and climate tech from around the globe. The selected startups and innovators in the Clean Energy and Climate Tech space will exhibit their latest products and solutions during COP28 in Dubai.
20 NOV 2023Read More
GenCell’s Alternative Ammonia Production Solution Achieves Breakthrough
GenCell has announced significant progress in the development of its alternative green ammonia production process. GenCell achieved lab results indicating faradaic efficiency of 50% in its green ammonia synthesis process, compared to 25% efficiency achieved by traditional green ammonia synthesis methods.
21 SEP 2023Read More
AWS Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0 Roadshow
In the run-up to COP 28 the Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0 brings you its most global cohort yet to spotlight the latest ingenuities in clean energy and climate tech from around the globe.
3 AUG 2023Read More
Great Lakes ReNEW Advances to Finalist in Inaugural National Science Foundation Innovation Engines Competition
Great Lakes ReNEW, coordinated by Current and 50+ partners, has been selected as one of 16 finalists across the country in a first-ever National Science Foundation competition for as much as $160 million in funding over 10 years to create a Blue Economy innovation engine in the Great Lakes Region.
17 JUL 2023Read More
Scaling Startups for Sustainable Cities is a Billion-dollar Business
As AWS‘s CEO Adam Selipsky put it, and like many others have said before, “climate change is the issue of our generation”. To nurture the businesses and technologists that can help with Amazon’s decarbonization mission, here entered The Sustainable Cities Accelerator, a virtual six-week, technical, business and mentorship accelerator delivered by Freshwater Advisors along with other industry partners.
12 JUN 2023Read More
Climate change Investment Initiative Paves the Way for Innovation in Communities Served by Exelon
Startups Can Apply Now Through September 15 to Receive Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from the Exelon Foundation to Pursue Inventive Climate Solutions
18 MAY 2023Read More
Exelon 2c2i to host First Annual Community & Investor Forum
Exelon's Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i) is celebrating 4 years & 25+ investments with our first in-person community event in Washington DC. The event will bring together our 2c2i portfolio companies, community stakeholders, investors, and Exelon leaders driving sustainability innovation in our communities.
22 FEB 2023Read More
Exelon Named to Fortune’s Most Admired Companies List
Exelon scored highest in the categories of corporate social responsibility and quality of products and services, for work including Exelon’s $20 million, 10-year Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i) which integrates the companies’ dual commitments to both community investments and the need to invest in new products and technologies.
29 NOV 2022Read More
Announcing nine startups selected to participate in the AWS Sustainable Cities Accelerator for Infrastructure
Today, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced the startups chosen to participate in the AWS Sustainable Cities Accelerator for Infrastructure. These startups are developing groundbreaking solutions to help cities address infrastructure-related sustainability challenges. Infrastructure, or the built environment, encompasses all aspects of our lives, and includes real estate, manufacturing, power, utility, and transportation systems.
9 NOV 2022Read More
Advancing Clean Energy Technology Development Pathways at Scale with the Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the launch and call for applications for the Clean Energy Accelerator 3.0, a high-pace, non-equity dilutive accelerator designed to facilitate partnerships with mature startups developing breakthrough clean energy technologies. The opening of the Clean Energy Accelerator was announced by Kara Hurst, Vice President of Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon, during a session at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
14 SEP 2022Read More
AWS to Mentor Startups Through Infrastructure-Focused Accelerator
Amazon Web Services will offer cloud education and mentorship for startup companies that want to develop infrastructure management tools through the third iteration of the Sustainable Cities Accelerator program.
18 JUL 2022Read More
Exelon Foundation and Exelon Corporation Select Nine Startups In Third Round Of Climate Change Investment Initiative
The Exelon Foundation and Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and the nation’s premier energy transmission and distribution utility company, have selected nine startups to receive funding as part of its Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i), a 10-year, $20 million initiative that focuses on start-ups with bright ideas and clean energy and environmentally sustainable technologies with potential for wide-scale impact.
27 MAY 2022Read More
What you missed in the AWS Summit Washington DC keynote 2022
On Tuesday, May 24, Max Peterson, vice president of worldwide public sector at Amazon Web Services (AWS), took the keynote stage at AWS Summit Washington, DC to share announcements, news, and stories of how our public sector customers are leveraging the cloud to deliver mission-critical outcomes.
27 MAY 2022Read More
Announcing the 12 startups selected for the AWS Sustainable Cities Accelerator
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is pleased to officially announce the innovative startups chosen to participate in the AWS Sustainable Cities Accelerator. The 12 companies were selected from hundreds of applications, representing 19 countries, by a panel of experts from AWS, Freshwater Advisors, and Public Spend Forum. The types of startups that applied to the program ranged from pre-revenue to $50 million in annual revenue and from one to more than 500 employees.
9 JUN 2021Read More
Exelon Foundation and Exelon Corp. Name Selected Startups in Second Round of Climate Change Investment Initiative
The Exelon Foundation and Exelon Corp., the nation’s largest generator of carbon-free energy, have selected nine startups to receive funding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change as part of the company’s Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i). Now in its second year, the initiative demonstrates the Exelon Foundation’s commitment to support programs that benefit the environment, particularly those in underserved communities, which are disproportionately impacted by climate change. The 2c2i initiative adds to Exelon Corp.’s continuing goal to create a clean, next-generation energy grid, utilizing the innovative approach of impact investing to mitigate climate change.
10 MAR 2022Read More
AWS Empowers Startups Solving Critical Challenges
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is launching two AWS Global Accelerator programs to help startups address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The AWS Sustainable Cities Accelerator—launching in collaboration with Freshwater Advisors and Public Spend Forum—focuses on a specific and critical part of the equation: mobility and transportation.
18 AUG 2021Read More
Investment pitches for Chi climate change startups
Freshwater Advisors is working with Exelon Corporation and the non-profit Exelon Foundation to identify promising early-stage companies for the 2nd annual Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2i).
13 JUL 2021Read More
Announcing the 10 finalists for the inaugural AWS Clean Energy Accelerator program
We are happy to announce the selection of the 10 finalists and participants in the inaugural AWS Clean Energy Accelerator program. These ten companies were selected by a panel from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Freshwater Advisors, from 218 applications received from 38 countries around the world.
1 JUN 2021Read More
Featured in the Amazon Sustainability Report (Published June 2021)
Freshwater Advisors is featured in the Amazon Sustainability Report (pages 5 & 39). Amazon’s 2021 Sustainability Report builds on our sustainability progress over the last decade—particularly since 2019 when we co-founded The Climate Pledge and announced our commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across our business by 2040. This report also includes our work on a wider range of Amazon commitments and initiatives to support our employees, our supply chain partners, and the communities where we operate around the world.
06 MAY 2021Read More
Announcing the AWS Clean Energy Accelerator for startups
AWS Clean Energy Accelerator provides a unique platform to catalyze these collaborations and bring new solutions to market,” says David Weinstein, founder and chief executive officer of Freshwater Advisors. “We are delighted and honored to be working with AWS to launch this new accelerator and working towards collaborative solutions to help solve the energy and climate crisis.”
AWS Energy Transition
AWS is committed to innovation in energy and announced the AWS Clean Energy Accelerator program in May to help address the crucial need for clean tech innovation and collaborative solutions to address the global climate and clean energy challenges. The AWS Clean Energy Accelerator is being delivered in collaboration with Freshwater Advisors, a national innovation consultancy and venture catalyst.
28 JAN 2021Read More
The Biden Administration’s Climate Plan Depends on Innovators and Entrepreneurs. They’re Ready to Help.
The U.S. and its peers need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, at the latest. However, this cannot be accomplished through policy alone. The Biden administration is counting on the private sector for solutions and hope.
9 SEP 2020Read More
Corporate America is Struggling to Balance Profits and Purpose. Impact-Driven Innovation is the Solution.
Corporate America is emerging from an identity crisis. The era of maximizing shareholder value, promoted by Milton Friedman and perfected by GE’s Jack Welch, ended with the 08/09 financial crisis. A replacement model of capitalism that successfully balances profits and purpose has yet to gain traction. Why?
15 JUL 2020Read More
Exelon Foundation and Exelon Corp. Name First Round Startups of the $20 Million Climate Change Investment Initiative
The Exelon Foundation and Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the nation’s largest generator of carbon-free energy and the largest energy service provider by customer count, have selected 10 startups to receive a combined $1 million in direct funding to develop new technologies to mitigate and build resiliency to the impacts of climate change in the inaugural year of the company’s $20 million Climate Change Investment Initiative (2c2iSM).
11 JUN 2020Read More
Exelon invests in reducing indoor ag energy needs and costs with GrowFlux
A welcome impact from the Covid-19 pandemic has been clearer skies and returning wildlife to usually polluted areas after industry, transport systems, and more shut down across the world, reducing carbon emissions.
14 OCT 2020Read More
Meat and Potatoes: David Weinstein, Freshwater Advisors
In this episode of the Silicon Slopes Podcast "Meat & Potatoes", we are joined by David Weinstein, Founder and CEO of Freshwater Advisors, a national venture catalyst firm and innovation...
5 DEC 2019Read More
Facedrive Partners With Freshwater Advisors to Enter the U.S. Market Through Strategic Partnerships
Facedrive Inc. (“Facedrive” or the “Corporation”) (TSXV: FD), the first Canadian peer-to-peer, eco-friendly ridesharing network, today announced that it has entered into a Strategic Service Advisory Agreement with Freshwater Advisors (“Freshwater”) to assist Facedrive in sourcing and developing environmentally focused partnerships to support Facedrive’s growth initiatives, specifically in the United States.
1 AUG 2016Read More
Illinois Corporate Startup Challenge Insights Report
The Illinois Corporate-Startup Challenge is a national award–winning program that connects global corporations with the entrepreneurial community for mutual benefit. Developed in 2013 by the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC), in partnership with consultant Freshwater Advisors, the program assembles a class of Fortune 1000 corporations every six months and helps them forge impactful partnerships (pilots / contracts, strategic partnerships, investments, and mentorship) with startup and emerging growth companies.
27 JUN 2016Read More
Cleantech Innovation Bridge Connects Industry Giants and Startups
Archer Daniels Midland, American Electric Power, and Nicor Gas use CIB to source energy innovations in a new, efficient, and effective way. The Cleantech Innovation Bridge program is coordinated and produced jointly by Clean Energy Trust (CET) and Freshwater Advisors, with support from Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s ChicagoNEXT initiative, the U.S. Department of Energy, Accenture, and Deloitte.
10 MAR 2016Read More
Expanding Locations: Key Insights for Opening an Office in a New City
Deciding when and how to grow your business by expanding locations to an entirely new area can be a big challenge for small-business owners.Two companies that have figured out a way to overcome this challenge are Freshwater Advisors and Next Street Financial. Both companies have opened offices in another time zone under the premise that an additional geographic location could spur more growth.
11 FEB 2016Read More
Startup Institute & Freshwater Advisors Team up to Start a Scholarship for Minority Women
If you're a minority woman looking to get into Chicago startups, Startup Institute and Freshwater Advisors want to give you $3,000 to help make the transition.
3 SEPT 2015Read More
Pulling a Corporate Counterpunch
For a traditional company enjoying a long life span, being in business no longer means simply staying in business. To keep going — and growing — leaders of established companies know that they must constantly prepare for and engage with disruptive innovation rather than react to or fight against it.
15 APR 2015Read More
The Illinois Corporate-Startup Challenge: Accelerating Corporate Innovation
We often hear about Illinois’ depth and diversity of global corporations, as well as our growing entrepreneurial community over the last few years – but some might not know about the powerful results that can occur when we mix them together. At the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC), we are leading an effort to better bridge the state’s most promising startups and university spinouts with major corporations that are looking to innovate with partners outside their walls.
15 SEP 2014Read More
Bootstrapping in America
A discussion with David Weinstein, the Founder of Freshwater Advisors, on Bootstrapping and building a startup.
18 NOV 2014Read More
The founder of Freshwater Advisors on the importance of a fast 'No'
Few people have experienced the breadth and depth of Chicago's innovation scene as David Weinstein, founder and managing partner of innovation consultancy Freshwater Advisors. He was the founding president of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, he launched two technology companies, and he was a senior technology advisor to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Today, Weinstein scouts and matches entrepreneurs with large companies through custom programs, demo days and venture funds.
15 FEB 2014Read More
The complex dance of connecting corporations and startups
Pulling off separate showpiece days at Allstate, Molex and Moto Mobility ... Diligence done by workers at the ISTC and consultant Freshwater
4 JAN 2014Read More
Demo day is so yesterday
About 18 Chicago startups are now working with Allstate, John Deere, Molex Inc., Motorola Mobility and Walgreens - thanks to the connections made from the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition’s Corporate-Startup Challenge. Yesterday at 1871 the ISTC, along with Governor Pat Quinn, showcased these relationships and announced the launch of the second Corporate-Startup Challenge this year.