Join LACI at BATWorks and The Trust for Governors Island for a Climate Scaling Summit focused on one critical inflection point: how climate startups break into government as a customer, regulator, and partner.
Securing contracts with the government can feel opaque to founders, but true entry points exist even if they are not always obvious to a first-time founder. This session demystifies how startups can work with government agencies and offers a valuable opportunity for founders to ask agencies and entities for feedback, technical support, and opportunities to scale.
The morning opens with a fireside chat/panel, followed by five hands-on workshops covering:
Legislation
Permitting & Code
Pilot KPIs for Government Agencies
Capital Projects & Public-Private Development
Education & Workforce
This is the final of four Climate Scaling Summits hosted by LACI at BATWorks in 2026, all under the theme of accelerating commercialization of clean energy innovation in NY by focusing on common problems faced by startups after the pilot stage.
About LACI and The Trust for Governors Island
LACI has deployed $25M in cleantech pilots over the past four years, from first commercial deployments to the nation's first zero-emissions delivery zone and is now supercharging the Pilots at BAT program and deeper deployment of the LACI Cleantech Debt Fund.Â
The Trust for GovÂerÂnors Island’s CliÂmate PilotÂing ProÂgram offers earÂly-stage comÂpaÂnies and innoÂvaÂtors the opporÂtuÂniÂty to test and scale cliÂmate prodÂucts and serÂvices in a real-world enviÂronÂment. Since its launch in 2023, the program has advanced projects in livÂing shoreÂlines, clean water, cirÂcuÂlar econÂoÂmy, buildÂings, enerÂgy, air qualÂiÂty, and urban agriÂculÂture — openÂing doors to new cusÂtomers, supÂpliÂers, talÂent, investors, and pubÂlic agency partÂnerÂships.
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The proÂgram is a core iniÂtiaÂtive of the Trust’s CenÂter for CliÂmate SoluÂtions, an initiative dedÂiÂcatÂed to accelÂerÂatÂing equiÂtable cliÂmate soluÂtions for cities on Governors Island. Visit www.govisland.org/climate to learn more.
1. Legislation – What drives decarbonization and adaptation legislation? What policy priorities lie ahead? How can startups offer their input?
2. Permitting and Code – What are entry points for innovators to influence code updates?Â
3. Pilot KPIs for a government agency – Advice on stakeholder mapping and outreach, defining KPIs, grant seeking, etc. What pilot outcomes are most important to government agencies? How do I market results for this audience that can lead to sales?
4. Capital Projects and Public-Private Development – How can startups find out about and effectively pitch to GCs, CMs, engineering firms, the trades, etc? What are entry points to agencies through RFIs and RFEIs?Â
5. Education and workforce – Piloting takes a lot of MMV labor and can offer a transformative learning experience for students and young professionals. How can startups design meaningful internships and find funding partners?
