FRESNO, Calif. - Calling all innovators! The Valley Ventures accelerator program is now accepting applications for its sixth cohort (VV6) in fall 2021. Each year, Fresno State’s Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center and the BlueTechValley (BTV) Innovation Cluster offer an opportunity for up to 10 ventures to participate in the accelerator, this year incorporating a new addition to the program—Valley Ventures advisory services. The fall 2021 cohort of the Valley Ventures accelerator will provide water, clean energy and agricultural technology ventures opportunities to advance commercialization and business development in California and beyond.

Sixty alumni of the Valley Ventures program have raised a total of $40M in private and public funding and have generated over $35M in sales since the program’s inception in 2017. WET Center staff will guide teams through the accelerator and advisory services programs with a focus on minimizing risk and maximizing impact both financially and for our communities.

Ventures located in California, or those planning to commercialize and develop businesses in California, that provide technological solutions in water, clean energy and agriculture, are encouraged to apply. To apply for the Valley Ventures sixth cohort, visit https://www.valleyventures.org/apply. Applications will be accepted through July 18, 2021. Selected ventures will be notified by August 12, 2021. The program will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 and end Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021.

Valley Ventures is venturing into a new space—advisory services.

After selected ventures complete the two-month Valley Ventures accelerator’s sixth cohort (VV6) this fall, companies will transition into the next phase of the program at no additional expense—the 10-month Valley Ventures advisory services program. The advisory services program is an individualized approach where ventures will work closely with WET Center staff to develop milestones related to growth and fundraising. While accomplishing these milestones, ventures will be paired with a variety of entrepreneurs and industry professionals who have either successfully grown their own startup or possess significant industry insight. This group of advisors has a broad range of expertise in California water-, energy- and ag-tech markets.

Over the full program year, Valley Ventures Cohort 6 participants will work closely with the WET Center and its resources to achieve growth in revenue, market presence, product-market fit and fundraising.

To learn more about the Valley Ventures accelerator and advisory services, please visit https://www.valleyventures.org/apply. For questions regarding the Valley Ventures program, please contact Jeff Macon at jeffmacon@mail.fresnostate.edu.