Your first pilot may be closer than you think.
Boston's utilities, energy companies, and industrial players actively partner with climate startups. These are the organizations opening their infrastructure, grids, and customers to new technology.
National Grid Partners
National Grid Partners is the corporate venture and innovation arm of utility National Grid, with a genuine Massachusetts nexus through a Boston office and the utility's US headquarters in Waltham. It is a growth-oriented, multistage investor in grid decarbonisation, electrification, and adjacent infrastructure, and most portfolio companies pilot on National Grid's US and UK networks, backed by its utility-executive network. Beyond capital it offers pilots and business development. Suits grid and energy startups seeking a strategic utility investor and real-world pilots.
Schneider Electric
SE Ventures is Schneider Electric's corporate venture arm, headquartered in the Bay Area with no Boston office, investing across stages in climate and industrial tech from energy management and automation to sustainability and electric mobility. Its differentiator is privileged access to Schneider's global customers, R&D labs, and embedded operating partners for pilots and commercialisation. It is a strategic rather than a local investor. Suits energy-management and industrial climate founders wanting a global strategic partner, noting it is not Boston-based.
Avangrid: PERSEO
PERSEO is the international startup program of utility Iberdrola, whose US subsidiary is Avangrid, offering founders equity investment, strategic alliances, innovation challenges, and pilot projects, with a venture builder based mainly in Spain. Focus spans electrification, decarbonisation, EV charging, solar, offshore wind, and industrial heat, and its Massachusetts nexus runs through Avangrid's US challenges and offshore-wind interests. It is a global program without a dedicated local venture office. Suits energy startups, especially in offshore wind and grid, seeking utility pilots and European market access.
Saint-Gobain: NOVA
NOVA is the corporate venturing arm of building-materials multinational Saint-Gobain and a founding Greentown Labs sponsor, offering both minority equity and non-equity partnerships such as co-development, distribution, licensing, and pilots, plus manufacturing scale-up, IP expertise, and customer introductions. It invests at seed to Series A across sustainable construction, advanced materials, building performance, and circular economy. It is a global team without a dedicated Boston venture office, though Saint-Gobain has regional R&D ties. Suits sustainable-materials and construction-tech founders wanting a strategic corporate partner and route to market.