Aina Abiodun 1/7/26 Aina Abiodun 1/7/26

Looking back at 2025 - A note from Aina

In 2025, VertueLab welcomed key partners, collaborators, and entrepreneurs into our growing sphere of impact. In Oregon, with the generous support of philanthropic partners including the Lemelson Foundation, the Collins Foundation, and the Healy Foundation, we launched critical work aligned with VertueLab’s vision for an equitable climate transition—even amid renewed challenges to equity and justice in climate action.

VertueLab 12/23/25 VertueLab 12/23/25

Innovative Solutions to the Climate Crisis

2025 is a year marked by undeniable uncertainty. As the climate crisis worsens and federal funding for environmental initiatives declines, the need for innovation and locally-based, cleantech solutions has never been more crucial. VertueLab aims to empower the entrepreneurs facing this climate crisis head-on, providing them with the tools they need to turn ideas into lasting solutions.

VertueLab 12/19/25 VertueLab 12/19/25

[VIDEO] Seattle Climate Innovation Hub | Where Community Meets Collaboration

As 2025 draws to an end, we look back at a year of incredible partnership between VertueLab, 9Zero, the University of Washington’s CoMotion, and the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development that turned the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub into reality. A space that brings together the entire ecosystem to solve, build, and deploy lasting climate solutions, right here in the Pacific Northwest.

VertueLab 12/11/25 VertueLab 12/11/25

VertueLab’s Impact, Firsthand

Our community is built around our entrepreneurs. Their approaches towards climate solutions are creative, powerful, and a testament to their dedication to a better future. Hear directly from them as they share how VertueLab has impacted their journey.

VertueLab 10/31/25 VertueLab 10/31/25

Portfolio Highlights: Cascadia Seaweed

In this installment of our Portfolio Highlight series, we are diving into the work of Cascadia Seaweed, a sustainable aquaculture company producing high-quality biostimulants derived from regeneratively harvested seaweed. Cascadia Seaweed's goal isn’t just about the product; it focuses on developing climate-resilient cultivation methods while prioritizing the environment.

VertueLab 9/23/25 VertueLab 9/23/25

SBIR/STTR Crash Course

VertueLab’s Accelerator and Funding Assistance Manager, Leo Ochoa is here to demystify some common SBIR/STTR terms, break down the application proocess, and share some helpful insights that can help you navigate your funding journey.

VertueLab 8/26/25 VertueLab 8/26/25

Staff Highlight - Leo Ochoa

Meet our Accelerator & Funding Assistance Manager, Leo Ochoa!

VertueLab 6/18/25 VertueLab 6/18/25

Tapping Into Federal Funding: How We Helped DayZero Enhance Access to Clean Water

VertueLab’s Federal Funding Assistance team supports underrepresented communities and entrepreneurs, helping them turn technical ideas and innovations into a reality. Through this collaboration, DayZero Water was able to unlock federal dollars for their Water Box, allowing them to provide families with access to clean water in places where treated sources are unavailable.

VertueLab 4/24/25 VertueLab 4/24/25

When Collaboration Comes to Life: Inside the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub

Climate change remains a persistent and growing threat to community wellbeing and economic prosperity in Washington State. In the midst of unprecedented disruption to national policy and threats to the climate movement, it's clearer than ever that deep collaboration and marshaling our shared resources is how we can best support and accelerate climate startups in the Pacific Northwest.

VertueLab 4/10/25 VertueLab 4/10/25

Portfolio Highlights: Community Energy Labs

The latest installment in our Portfolio Highlight series highlights Climate Impact Fund portfolio company, Community Energy Labs, a company on a mission to make smart energy management and decarbonization both accessible and affordable for community building owners. Keep reading below to find out more about our chat with Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tanya Barham.

AnnaMaria White 2/3/25 AnnaMaria White 2/3/25

From Vision to Impact: Reflecting on 45Camp’s Acceleration of Diverse Climate Innovations

As we dive fully into 2025, we’re revisiting a bright spot from 2024: our partnership with Tabor 100 and Prosper Portland that resulted in 45Camp. In this blog post, we invited one of the 45Camp mentors, AnnaMaria White, to reflect on why programs like 45Camp are vital to supporting equitable solutions for the climate crisis.

VertueLab 12/29/24 VertueLab 12/29/24

2024 VertueLab Research in Review

The research we conducted in 2024 reveals invaluable insights into the challenges our region faces and highlights the powerful solutions that can emerge when communities, entrepreneurs, innovators and funders work in harmony.

VertueLab 12/16/24 VertueLab 12/16/24

Ways to Support VertueLab’s Mission This Season

The role of climate-focused nonprofits has never been more critical. VertueLab is stepping up to drive innovation and climate solutions when it matters most — but we can’t do it without you. Thanks to your support, we’re able to continue provide funding and other resources to entrepreneurs working on equitable climate solutions key to addressing the climate crisis. Here are some ways you can contribute.

VertueLab 11/19/24 VertueLab 11/19/24

Staff Highlight - Will Lampe

Meet our Donor & Investor Manager, Will Lampe!

Aina Abiodun 11/11/24 Aina Abiodun 11/11/24

A Beacon in this Dark Night

Whether you woke up last Wednesday morning or stayed up all night to see the result of the presidential election, it seems clear that our community currently remains in a state of either shock or profound despair. As I dropped off my son at school the morning after, we talked about what this all meant, how we will live, what will change, and how to move forward with this sadness.

VertueLab 9/12/24 VertueLab 9/12/24

[Webinar] Diving into the communities building a sustainable future

Recorded September 10th, 2024

In conjunction with the release of our latest white paper, Communities Lead in Building a Sustainable Future, we recently hosted a webinar highlighting Sustainable Northwest and their work partnering with communities throughout the Northwest on projects that promote smart water use, clean energy, and healthy forests, farms, and ranches. Watch the full recorded webinar above!

VertueLab 8/12/24 VertueLab 8/12/24

Minding partnerships - and minding politics

As Audre Lorde once said, revolution is not a one-time event. At VertueLab, we understand that the best climate innovations can come from those whose ideas are routinely discounted and sidelined. We are creating a region where low-income people and communities of color are driving climate solutions. Both partnerships and politics are key to our revolution.

Aina Abiodun 7/10/24 Aina Abiodun 7/10/24

Mind The Gap

Recently, my 9-year-old asked me what the world will be like when he’s grown-up. I wanted to burst into tears. Instead, I simply replied: “Hot. It’ll be hot.” He asked: “Exactly how hot?” And I said, “very, very hot.” In moments like these, I’m reminded we have an enormous challenge before us.

VertueLab 7/1/24 VertueLab 7/1/24

[VIDEO] Wings Conference 2024 - Break Everything to Save Everyone

Our President & Executive Director Aina Abiodun took the main stage at the 2024 Wings Conference to address the tech industry’s progress in addressing climate change.

VertueLab 4/24/24 VertueLab 4/24/24

VertueLab Wins Stage One of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced VertueLab as a Stage One winner for the 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC).

Let’s get connected.

VertueLab