MaRS launches its 2026–2028 RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator cohort
The nine women founders selected for the 2026–2028 cohort, are developing innovations in sustainable materials, energy, biotechnology and resource recovery.
TORONTO, October 6, 2026 – MaRS Discovery District today announced the nine entrepreneurs participating in the next cohort of the RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator. This intensive two-year program helps women-led Canadian ventures scale breakthrough climate solutions and bring them to global markets.
Despite the rapid growth of Canada’s clean technology sector, only about one in 10 cleantech founders is a woman. Many cleantech companies are built on expertise in engineering and deep science — fields where women have historically been underrepresented.
The RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator is designed to help close that gap by giving women founders the connections, expertise and opportunities they need to grow their companies. Participants gain access to investor and mentor networks, as well as opportunities to connect with industry leaders and engage in high-impact events across the MaRS ecosystem.
Since the Women in Cleantech initiative began in 2018, the accelerator has established a strong track record. Between April 2024 and March 2025, ventures in the accelerator’s third cohort collectively raised more than $7 million in funding and secured $19 million in commercial contracts.
“Twenty-five years ago, MaRS was built on a bold idea: to help Canadian entrepreneurs bring promising solutions to market. That mission is even more urgent today as we confront the climate crisis,” says Grace Lee Reynolds, CEO of MaRS Discovery District. “The founders in this fourth cohort are tackling some of the most complex challenges facing our planet. They bring the expertise, creativity and determination to turn ambitious ideas into solutions that scale. We’re proud to help them build their companies and connect them to the customers, partners and resources they need to bring those solutions to market.
“We need entrepreneurs who are willing to rethink how we produce energy, use resources and build for the future,” says Thea Silver, senior director of environmental impact at RBC. “This year’s cohort represents bold ideas across sustainable materials, energy, biotechnology and resource recovery. RBC is proud to support these women as they turn innovative ideas into actions and create lasting impact in their communities. Congratulations to this year’s cohort.”
The new 2026–2028 cohort members include:
Aeon Blue
An integrated hydrogen and carbon capture technology that uses wind energy, seawater and captured carbon dioxide from the air to make cost-efficient efuel.
BryoSphere Biotechnologies
Harnesses genetically engineered moss in a scalable biomanufacturing platform to produce rare bioactive ingredients for skincare and specialty products.
COROL Corp.
The company has developed a range of green and bio-based polyols from renewable vegetable oils that have been designed for use in polyurethane foams, coating, adhesive and other applications.
Elektra Industries
Engineers solid-state sodium battery technologies to provide scalable, safe and high-performance energy storage solutions, leveraging sustainable and abundant materials.
MicroMea Technologies
Provides modular anaerobic digesters that convert organic waste into biogas directly on-site, helping businesses reduce their waste and GHG emissions.
Moltra Metals
Developing a novel ironmaking process designed to reduce emissions by up to 80 percent while remaining cost-competitive with conventional ironmaking.
Moon Trades Technologies
Combines satellite data, autonomous sensors and AI to optimize critical mineral exploration on Earth, while preparing for future off-world resource discovery.
Seafoam Materials
Creates carbon-storing building materials made from seaweed and upcycled waste, beginning with bio-based insulation.
Tydra Labs
Is turning waste into high-performance chitin, a renewable biomaterial with applications in cosmetics to biomedical.
To read about the ventures in the accelerator, click here.
About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District is a charitable organization and one of North America’s largest urban innovation hubs, helping Canadian science and technology companies commercialize and scale. Building on a 25-year legacy of supporting founders, MaRS connects ventures with capital, customers, talent and expertise — through venture programming and partnerships, MaRS IAF (one of Canada’s most active seed-stage venture funds), MaRS Connect (a live digital marketplace linking commercially ready ventures with buyers, partners and sources of capital), and more than 1.5 million square feet of world-class lab, office and event space across the MaRS Centre and MaRS Waterfront in downtown Toronto. Since 2010, MaRS-supported ventures have generated $11.5 billion in cumulative revenue, raised $19 billion in funding and created and maintained more than 33,000 jobs. Learn more about the RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator and this cohort.
Contact Information:
Media contact: Amanda Whalen
awhalen@marsdd.com
MaRS Discovery District