Hi!
I’m on a mission to solve climate change, and my trimtab is climate tech innovation and commercialization. I’ve created some of the world’s largest innovation and funding programs, written and open-sourced some of the most popular curriculum in the world and started and run some of the largest climate tech communities. This is the decade. Let’s do it!
I am the Co-founder and Director of Outreach at Third Derivative, a joint venture between Rocky Mountain Institute and New Energy Nexus. Third Derivative now has the largest cohort of climate tech startups in the world, an SPV to fund all current and future companies, $4 trillion in market cap across corporate partners and $7 billion in deployable funds across VC partners.
Why do I do what I do? Our world faces vexing problems, and startups and the ecosystems that support them are one of the best tools we have to address the issues of climate change, inequality, injustice, employment and beyond. Having been on all sides of both startups and accelerators, I have a unique perspective on what the industry is, what makes it tick, and where it’s headed.
I’m the author of Accelerate This! A Super Not Boring Guide To Startup Accelerators And Clean Energy Entrepreneurship – a guide for entrepreneurs and accelerators to accelerate their own work. The book takes you behind the scenes of programs like Y Combinator, Techstars, 500 Startups, and over 70+ other programs from all over the world. The book is sponsored and endorsed by The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Wildlife Fund, New Energy Nexus and the California Clean Energy Fund. From US Navy-funded cleantech accelerators, to venture-funded clean meat programs, foundation-supported carbontech and oceantech programs and beyond, I consult, write about, and teach at top accelerators and the startups that they support.
I leverage my experience and research to help design and run accelerator programs all over the world, and advise startups in a variety of industries. To help you accelerate, these are some critical resources:
Learn anything about being an entrepreneur here. I’ve sourced and vetted or written all of this. It’s not easy on the eyes, but it’s epic in scope.
Join the global climate tech community on the New Energy Network. I started and run this almost 2,500 strong, open, global network. Make an intro, contribute, and be kind.
Apply to Third Derivative. This is my life’s work, and the most ambitious and resourced program I’ve ever heard of.
TEDx: The Inevitable, Incredible Path to 100% Clean Energy
Honored to have Accelerate This! translate into Mandarin, with the help of New Energy Nexus and Tsinghua University.
Accelerate This!
A Super Not Boring Guide To
Startup Accelerators And Clean Energy
Entrepreneurship
Book Sponsors
Featuring
Testimonials
"The book is not only an extremely useful guidebook, but also asks critical questions like if accelerators are good for the economy and world. Kushner manages to keep a potentially dry topic fun all the way through tone and graphics without overdoing it.”
-Neal Gorenflo, Co-Founder, Sharable
“I'm thrilled that someone who actually knows what he's talking about decided to document it and set us all straight. Awesome read for those of us in the proverbial trenches!”
-Nathalie Molina, CEO, BRAVA Investments
“Great for the leaders of tomorrow, written by the leaders of today.”
-Andrew Beebe, Managing Director at Obvious Ventures
“Sitting down to read this book is like going to coffee with 3 dozen global entrepreneurs to find out what they do and why they do it.”
-Marjory Garrison, Senior Vice President M+R Communications
"This book is chock-full of useful frameworks, tools, stories, tips and tricks for both entrepreneurs and accelerators alike. And it is super duper not boring. Kushner brings his witty playful voice to the pages, making this genuine info-tainment."
-Amanda Ravenhill, Executive Director, Buckminster Fuller Institute
