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MEIA 2025 Year in Review

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What A Year

2025 was a year of resilience for Maryland’s climate tech ecosystem. Despite a constrained funding environment and the growing urgency around climate solutions, MEIA expanded our programming to support startups at every stage—from Phase 0 to Phase 3—helping more innovators thrive. By tailoring programming to meet founders where they are, MEIA continued doing more with less while remaining founder-first.

Supporting Climate Tech Startups

Over the year, MEIA launched new programs, made our first CTFF commitments, rolled out an Investment Readiness program supported by Maryland Department of Commerce, hosted our first Hackathon with FSC First, and introduced a Vicinity Energy ideation event. These initiatives expanded support for startups at every stage and laid the groundwork for continued innovation in 2026, helping accelerate progress for Maryland’s climate tech ecosystem.

In 2025, MEIA supported 39 climate tech companies across multiple stages of development. We celebrated the launch of six Launchpad teams:

In addition, MEIA supported:

  • 16 Pre-Accelerator teams
  • 15 Investment Readiness teams
  • 2 Soft Launch teams

Alumni Achievements That Put Maryland on the Map

Our alumni made headlines in 2025, demonstrating the strength and diversity of Maryland’s climate tech talent:

  • EDAC Labs named a C&EN Start-Up to Watch
  • Four Maryland companies recognized among TIME’s Top 200 GreenTech Companies of 2025
  • Liatris celebrated a ribbon cutting in Rockville
  • Venki Energy won the Solar Prize Round 8
  • HighT-Tech and collaborators selected under the DOE’s Inflation Reduction Act – Methane Emissions Reduction Program
  • USPlasma received an “Oscar of Innovation” award
  • Sustainabli earned a Baltimore Innovation Initiative Award
  • Aquatic Circle’s inaugural shrimp harvest, celebrating sustainable aquaculture innovation

Several companies also secured critical funding and market traction:

  • Forager Station was awarded a $25,000 Rural Business Innovation Initiative (RBII) Pre-Seed investment from TEDCO.
  • BrightWave was featured in Technical.ly for its algae-based sustainable fuel technology and is shipping eight industrial-scale, 40,000-liter photobioreactors to Northumbrian Water Limited in northeast England via the Port of Baltimore.
  • SpringGem awarded a $100,000 grant for icy road forecasting innovation
  • FinEV received $1M in financing from DC Green Bank to support electric vehicle adoption for small businesses

These milestones reflect not just individual success, but an ecosystem that defied the odds in 2025, pushing forward despite challenges to make a mark nationally and globally.

Building a Stronger Climate Tech Community

Beyond startup support, MEIA prioritized ecosystem building by supporting partner events, forging new connections, and engaging in numerous community gatherings.

Highlights included:

  • Baltimore Climate Tech Holiday Party: over 250 registrants. View the recording here.
  • First-ever Prince George’s County Climate Tech Hackathon
  • Support for DC Climate Week, NY Climate Week, and ARPA-E events
  • Participation in a Federal Workers Resource Fair with PGCEDC 
  • Partnerships with the Baltimore Climate Summit and TEDCO Entrepreneur Expo

Looking Ahead: Phase 2: Prototyping & Manufacturing

As we move into 2026, MEIA is launching Phase 2: Prototyping and Manufacturing, a program designed to support teams ready to scale. Through deep engagement with founders and partners, we identified a critical gap in the development pipeline. Phase 2 will integrate teams at this stage into Maryland’s innovation ecosystem, driving growth and scalability across the climate tech sector.

Get Involved in 2026

MEIA invites the community to play an active role in shaping what’s next. We are currently seeking experienced professionals to serve as mentors for our Pre-Accelerator program, supporting early-stage founders as they refine their ideas and build momentum. Founders are also encouraged to apply to MEIA programs, with applications now open for Phase 0, Phase 1, and Phase 3. Whether you are building, advising, or supporting climate innovation, there is a place for you in Maryland’s growing climate tech ecosystem.

Together with our partners, supporters, and founders, MEIA remains committed to strengthening Maryland’s climate tech ecosystem and supporting innovative solutions, even in challenging times. We wish you a happy, healthy, and successful New Year.

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