Village Capital’s Climate Resilience Program for Thriving Communities

Thriving Communities: Climate Resilience US is a national investment-readiness program spearheaded by Village Capital with support from Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation (HPEF) and Salesforce. This initiative is focused on supporting ten early-stage startups that are developing solutions to address the most pressing environmental and climate resilience challenges facing communities across the United States. Special emphasis is placed on benefiting rural and low-income communities that are disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters and economic inequality. The program seeks startups that are creating market-based solutions aligned with four core impact areas: advancing a sustainable economy, enhancing community climate adaptation, incorporating ethical and sustainable AI, and promoting smart and sustainable cities. Selected companies will participate in a structured accelerator-style program from June to September 2025. The program includes milestone development planning, interactive workshops, 1:1 investment analyst support, and peer-to-peer learning. A unique feature of the program is Village Capital’s peer-selected investment process, which places evaluation and selection power in the hands of participating entrepreneurs. Applicants must be legally incorporated for-profit entities operating in the United States, including B-Corps, and must have a minimum viable product (MVP), have raised less than $1.5 million in equity, and demonstrate meaningful customer or business validation. They must also have at least one full-time founder based in the U.S. Key benefits include visibility through Village Capital’s promotional channels, mentorship from industry experts and investors, tailored investment readiness support, and stipends for travel to the in-person program summit in Chicago. At least two participating startups will be selected for investment opportunities at the conclusion of the program. Applications open on April 17, 2025, and must be submitted by May 9, 2025. The selected cohort will be announced in June, and the program will run from June through mid-September 2025, culminating in a two-day summit in Chicago on September 15–16, 2025.