Deadline: April 17, 2026
Applications are open for the Halcyon Caribbean Climate Pre-Accelerator 2026. In partnership with the Hazelwood Network, Halcyon’s Caribbean Climate Pre-Accelerator will support early-stage climate founders across the region. This six-month pre-accelerator is designed to catalyze climate innovation, target regional challenges, and support proximate founders that have been previously underserved. The program will focus on internationalization, global connectivity, and capital readiness, leveraging Halcyon and the Hazelwood Network’s cross-regional networks in Latin America, Africa, and the United States.
The Pre-Accelerator is dedicated to the architects of Caribbean resilience: those creating the infrastructure, food systems, and tools that allow the region to not only survive the climate crisis, but to lead the world in adaptation solutions. Climate leaders building practical, scalable solutions that help Caribbean communities prepare for, withstand, and recover from climate impacts are encouraged to apply. Also encouraged are service-based models, community enterprises, and tech and blended solutions.
Sectors
Solutions addressing climate adaptation and resilience, including but not limited to:
- Climate-resilient infrastructure and built environment:
- Hurricane-resistant materials; modular housing; flood-proofing systems; cool roofs and passive cooling; stormwater drainage solutions; climate risk tools for real estate; resilient retrofitting services
- Blue economy and coastal protection:
- Coral restoration; mangrove restoration; coastal erosion prevention; storm surge monitoring; regenerative ocean farming; sustainable fisheries technology; marine ecosystem monitoring
- Agriculture and food security:
- Climate-smart agriculture tools; drought-resistant crops; hydroponics and greenhouse systems; regenerative farming; irrigation technology; post-harvest storage; local food processing
- Water resilience and water tech:
- Rainwater harvesting; decentralized water purification; desalination innovation; leak detection systems; watershed monitoring; floodwater capture and reuse
- Nature-based and ecosystem resilience solutions:
- Reforestation ventures; mangrove enterprises; coral reef rehabilitation; watershed restoration; agroforestry; wetland restoration; urban greening; biodiversity monitoring platforms; blue and green carbon project development
- Energy and grid resilience:
- Solar and battery systems; community microgrids; mobile renewable power units; energy storage innovation; demand management platforms; resilient power for critical facilities
- Disaster preparedness and emergency response:
- Early warning systems; emergency communication platforms; rapid damage assessment tools; drones for mapping; disaster logistics coordination; community preparedness apps
- Adaptation finance and data intelligence:
- Climate risk analytics; resilience scoring tools; municipal modeling software; adaptation investment platforms; impact measurement tools
- Climate insurance and risk transfer:
- Parametric insurance; micro-insurance for farmers and fishers; risk pooling models; embedded insurance solutions; climate underwriting tools
- Health and climate resilience:
- Heat stress monitoring; mosquito and vector control; cooling systems for clinics; climate-linked disease tracking; telehealth for disaster recovery
- Community and social resilience:
- Community resilience planning tools; climate workforce training; climate migration support platforms; resilient tourism models; localized supply networks
Benefits
- $10K in Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) credits
- $6K equity-free stipend per venture
- Workshops with experts in internationalization, global connectivity, capital strategy and product-market fit
- Professional advisors
- Networking with investors and varied stakeholders in climate
- Access to Halcyon and the Hazelwood Network’s cross-regional networks
Eligibility
- Location: Companies must be based in the Caribbean with opportunities for scale around and beyond the region.
- Founder or company must be based in the Caribbean or building a solution primarily serving Caribbean markets.
- Diaspora founders with active operations in the region are welcome.
- Stage: Early-stage founders that are pre- or post-revenue.
- Pre-seed or early seed stage.
- Must be beyond idea stage.
- Must have a working prototype, proof of concept, pilot, or early customer validation.
- Revenue is not required, but traction is preferred.
- Business Model: For-profit startups, hybrid models, and revenue-generating social enterprises are eligible.
- Nonprofits are not eligible to apply.
- Legal Status: Companies must be fully legally incorporated.
- Sector: They welcome applications for all adaptation and resilience solutions addressing real climate risks facing Caribbean communities, businesses, or governments.
- Team:
- May apply with up to one Co-Founder.
- Applicant must be the CEO or hold primary decision-making power.
- Must be fluent in English (programming will be in English).
- Must be at least 21 years of age by the start of the program.
- Founder Attributes:
- Have lived experience or deep local knowledge of the region.
- Are building solutions rooted in community needs.
- Demonstrate long-term commitment to the Caribbean.
- Are ready to scale beyond one island or national market.
- Are motivated to engage international markets and investors.
- Program Engagement: Applicant(s) must commit to participating in all residencies, program activities, events, and in-person and virtual sessions.
- Impact: Must be developing a product and venture which contributes towards one or more of the UN’s 17 SDGs.
Application
The program is delivered in a hybrid modality through a virtual kickoff meeting, two in-person residencies in the Caribbean, and four additional virtual programming days.
For more information, visit Halcyon Caribbean Climate Pre-Accelerator.
