Rolling admissions · Rolling admissions
C3 Accelerator is Centrepolis Accelerator’s growth-stage program for cleantech, climatech and circular-economy companies, based at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Launched in 2021 with seed funding from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, it searches globally for proven technologies at technology readiness level 5 and up and connects them to Michigan manufacturing partners, funding and services to help them scale and manufacture locally. Companies need not be based in Michigan, but must show a path to Michigan operations, customers or manufacturing partners. Support combines grants, equity-free investments and in-kind services such as product design, engineering, prototyping and pilot or demonstration cost-sharing, delivered through Centrepolis’s Experts-in-Residence. C3 runs an annual C3 Summit that connects client companies with investors. It is a sibling program to Centrepolis’s Idea to Product HardTech Accelerator, Defense Hardtech Accelerator and Industry 4.0 Accelerator, all run under the same organization.
Frequency
Rolling
Duration
Not specified
Investment
$15,000-$50,000 — equity-free, interest-free
Equity
None — equity-free program
Program fees
None — grant and investment funded
Where
USA
Sectors
CleanTech, Climate Action, ESG
Stages
Growth/Late Stage, Series A
Eligibility
• Positive impact on energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, emissions reduction, or recycling and upcycling
• Strong market potential and defensible intellectual property
• Companies may be based anywhere in the world but must agree to set up Michigan operations or have Michigan customers or strategic partners to qualify for funding
• Growth-stage companies with proven technology, not concept-stage ideas
Selection process
• Applications reviewed for technology readiness, market potential and fit with the program’s cleantech, climatech and circular-economy focus
• Selected companies matched with Experts-in-Residence and funding
Benefits
• Pilot and demonstration project cost-sharing
• Product design, engineering, prototyping, testing and validation services from Experts-in-Residence
• Design-for-manufacturability assessments and supply chain development support
• Go-to-market support and connections to investors, corporate partners and manufacturers
• Participation in the annual C3 Summit, connecting client companies with over 100 investors
Notable alumni
Network
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Michigan Economic Development Corporation, New Economy Initiative, Wells Fargo NREL Innovation Incubator (IN2), William Davidson Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions (EPIC Prize). Sibling Centrepolis programs: Centrepolis Accelerator (I2P), Defense Hardtech Accelerator Program, Industry 4.0 Accelerator.
Portfolio
10 companies in the inaugural 2021 cohort
Funds raised
$5M seed fund (program funding pool; individual company outcomes not aggregated)
🕐 Sep 2026
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