The incubator, based out of Somerville, Massachusetts, celebrated its first expansion outside its home state with during an April 22 ribbon-cutting ceremony at its location near Midtown at 4200 San Jacinto St.
The opening of the 40,000-square-foot facility comes not only on Earth Day, but also one year after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner signed the city’s climate action plan with the aim of having the city become carbon-neutral by 2050.
“It’s no coincidence that one year after Mayor Turner and the city of Houston announced its first ever climate action plan that the city’s first-ever climate tech incubator is opening,” said Emily Reichert, CEO of Greentown Labs, during the ceremony.
Greentown Labs Houston was built through $10 million raised from a mix of partners, including 27 inaugural partners such as Chevron; Shell; BHP; and Microsoft and seven grand opening partners including BP, Mitsubishi Corp. Americas, Intel and others.
The opening comes after the green energy incubator broke ground Feb. 3.
“As we celebrate the grand opening of Greentown Labs Houston today, I am glad to see since we broke ground in February, more Houston companies have joined the incredibly diverse group of partners supporting Greentown Labs in our city,” Turner said. “It is a testament to our business community’s commitment to do their part in implementing the Houston Climate Action Plan, address climate change and advance the global energy transition.”
In a few weeks' time, Greentown Labs Houston will welcome 30 inaugural green energy startup companies and allow them to grow, develop and take their products to market. The facility has the space to allow for 50 startups capable of supporting up to 300 employees, offering prototyping labs, offices and community space.
“Their technology, like that of our members in Boston, will provide climate solutions addressing the largest greenhouse gas-emitting sectors, including electricity, buildings, transportation, agriculture and manufacturing,” Reichert said.
Greentown Labs Houston sits blocks from The Ion, a 270,000-square-foot facility located at the former Sears building at 4201 Main St. that is currently undergoing a $110 million renovation effort expected to open later this year, and will join The Ion in a new 16-acre innovation district near Midtown.
The goal for Greentown Labs Houston is to help push Houston toward becoming a leader in the energy transition away from fossil fuels.
“I’m bullish on Houston leading this transition for many reasons, not the least of which is Houston is home to world-leading energy organizations and incredible engineering strength, talent and assets that can, and frankly, must be redeployed to a decarbonized future,” Reichert said.
