MARYLAND CLIMATE TECH PRE-ACCELERATOR

Winter 2026 (January 13 to March 24)

The Maryland Climate Tech Pre-Accelerator is a unique opportunity to test your climate-tech research, invention, and ideas to have commercial viability. The Maryland Innovation Energy Accelerator (MEIA) implements the program with the NSF Mid-Atlantic Hub I-Corps team at the University of Maryland.

The exciting agenda of the Pre-Accelerator will have you work on the following elements for your potential venture:

Understand if you are personally ready for the startup journey
Learn the customer discovery and opportunities to learn more at the NSF Mid-Atlantic Hub I-Corp programs at the University of Maryland 
How to develop a viable business model 
Provide a commercialization path that includes potential funding sources, such as grants, equity, bank financing, or sweat equity.

These experienced startup coaches, Kobby Osei-Kusi, Edmund Pendleton, Ben Margolis, and Mike Ducker, will facilitate the pre-accelerator. They have experience with climate tech, startups, customer discovery, facilitating investment, finding federal grants, and product development.

The pre-accelerator will run with weekly mentor sessions or workshops between February and March. The workshop will be primarily virtual, with an in-person graduation. Pre-accelerator graduates who want to continue the startup journey will be welcomed into MEIA's Launchpad or Accelerator programs, where MEIA will recruit an executive and support team for you.  

past pre-accelerator alumni

Slip Signal Technologies

Developed a patented method for eliminating electromagnetic interference (EMI) at the chip level, removing the need for shielding or post-design fixes in digital electronics.

Visit SLip SIgnal

Chargerzilla

Slip Signal Technologies

An AI-powered platform that unites EV drivers, site hosts, and charger networks to make charging smarter, more accessible, and easier to monetize—backed by Techstars, J.P. Morgan, and others.

Visit Chargerzilla

Slash

Slip Signal Technologies

Slash

An on-demand compost pickup service modeled after gig platforms like DoorDash, focused on bringing food waste diversion and local soil solutions to small towns and rural areas.

Visit Slash

MARYLAND CLIMATE TECH PRE-ACCELERATOR

Winter 2026 (January 13 to March 24)

Meet the Instructors

Kobby Osei-Kusi

Edmund Pendleton

Kobby Osei-Kusi

Mike Ducker

Edmund Pendleton

Kobby Osei-Kusi

Ben Margolis

Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton

past pre-accelerator alumni

Slip Signal Technologies

Slip Signal Technologies

Slip Signal Technologies

Chargerzilla

Slip Signal Technologies

Slip Signal Technologies

Slash

Slip Signal Technologies

Slash

Sign up for the 2026 Maryland Climate Tech Pre-Accelerator

MARYLAND CLIMATE TECH PRE-ACCELERATOR

Winter 2026 (January 13 to March 24)

Meet the Instructors

Kobby Osei-Kusi

Edmund Pendleton

Kobby Osei-Kusi

Mike Ducker

Edmund Pendleton

Kobby Osei-Kusi

Ben Margolis

Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton

Edmund Pendleton

past pre-accelerator alumni

Slip Signal Technologies

Slip Signal Technologies

Slip Signal Technologies

Chargerzilla

Slip Signal Technologies

Slip Signal Technologies

Slash

Slip Signal Technologies

Slash

Sign up for the 2026 Maryland Climate Tech Pre-Accelerator

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