Bethesda Green’s Innovation Center is the leading entrepreneurship program in the Mid-Atlantic region that identifies and attracts leaders who are building for-profit business models around innovative and sustainable solutions to tackle environmental and social challenges.
Entrepreneurs who join the Innovation Center can expect to be welcomed into a vibrant and collaborative community that is bolstered by the participation of industry and community leaders who share in our vision for a sustainable economy.
Whether you’re a burgeoning eco-entrepreneur or an experienced veteran of the startup community, we invite you to learn more about the programs we offer here at the Innovation Center and join our growing network of innovators.
Bethesda Green’s Innovation Center won the Small Business Administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC), as one of only two winners in Maryland. The awarded funds from the competition will be allocated to addressing some of the many challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and providing them with access to the tools and resources they need to successfully prepare for SBIR and STTR proposals. The winners of the GAFC are accelerators and incubators who proposed targeted assistance to STEM/R&D entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups, including women, people of color, rural, and veteran entrepreneurs. The GAFC prize winners support a broad range of industries including clean energy, supply chain resilience, and infrastructure. Learn more!
Please see: Application Overview for Innovation Center
- Incubator – Through this year-round program, we guide entrepreneurs at every level of the business cycle, providing guidance through early-stage challenges and fueling growth in later stages. Rolling applications open now. Learn more!
- Accelerator (ON HOLD)- The Accelerator program includes a fast-paced, high-touch, intensive curriculum. We look for companies with a coachable, committed, founding team with a rapid growth mindset, and a demonstrated problem/solution fit. Learn more.
Have questions about the Innovation Center? Contact us at InnovationCenter@bethesdagreen.org and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Innovation Center Events
The Entrepreneur Showcase is Bethesda Green’s premier annual event, celebrating innovative sustainability startups. Held at the KID Museum, this year’s event will spotlight entrepreneurs from our Incubator, offering them a unique platform to share their visions with the community, including mentors, potential investors, customers, partners, and supporters. Unlike a traditional pitch competition, the Showcase will provide startups the chance to pitch, receive valuable feedback, and connect with like-minded innovators. In addition to pitches, there will be an exhibition area featuring various businesses, highlighting Bethesda Green’s mission to foster sustainable solutions alongside the KID Museum’s commitment to inspiring next-generation environmental innovators. Join us in supporting these visionary entrepreneurs and be part of a vibrant community celebration!
The Innovation Center Summer Speaker Series is aimed to educate and inspire prospective entrepreneurs by highlighting gaps in the market, and challenge them to address those gaps with innovative and sustainable for-profit business solutions. Each summer, we choose a couple of trending topics and gather experts in the field to address entrepreneur’s questions and concerns for growing their businesses, while tackling environmental and social impact issues. Learn more about our upcoming and past Speaker Series here.
Thank you to our partners and sponsors who help make our work possible at the Innovation Lab!
