Applications now open: Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator 2026

Amazon launched a climate tech accelerator to break down barriers between innovators and enterprise decision-makers. Here's why you should apply, in the words of one director.

When I envision the future of consumer electronics, I see new devices and experiences customers will love, and opportunities to reimagine how millions of Amazon devices are designed and manufactured.
 

I lead sustainability efforts for Amazon Devices and Services, and throughout my career at Amazon I've watched our company grow tremendously. Because of that, we have a responsibility to work toward reducing the carbon impact of our products.
 

Many of the technologies we need to meet that responsibility already exist. They’re being developed right now by thousands of innovators around the world. It’s exhilarating, but it can be challenging to uncover and evaluate which breakthroughs could help reduce the carbon impact of the Amazon Devices business. Are we looking in the right places? Are we experimenting with the right innovations? Are we moving fast enough on the most impactful solutions?
 

That's why we launched the Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator.

A different kind of accelerator 
 

This program isn't just for startups. We designed it for companies at any stage. Whether they shipped their first prototype last month or their innovation is already in millions of units, what matters is they have technology that can help reduce the carbon impact of consumer electronics.
 

"For companies at that next growth inflection point, this is a great program," said Mike Casper, co-founder and CEO of Azumo, one of our 2025 participants. "We've shipped a million units over eight years to hundreds of customers. But there's a gray zone for companies like ours—too established for traditional startup programs, but not yet at scale with enterprise partnerships in consumer electronics. This accelerator bridges that gap."
 

This program is about accelerating integration of technologies that will define the next generation of consumer electronics. We want to build devices that customers love and that help us achieve our Climate Pledge goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Here are two key reasons you should apply to the program: 
 

1. Senior leadership engagement
 

Building enterprise-scale technology takes time and collaboration. There are technical validations to complete, business cases to build, and cross-functional teams to align. It's not a flaw in the system; it's the reality of integrating new hardware technologies.
 

This program is designed to expedite that timeline.
 

Unlike other accelerators, this program breaks down traditional barriers between innovators and enterprise decision-makers, and streamlines the path from validation to adoption opportunity. 
 

Hundreds of companies from around the world applied to our 2025 cohort. We selected 14 companies that were then immersed in how Amazon works, specifically in our document-driven culture where senior leaders review written narratives to make decisions. After receiving hands-on support to build their proposals, selected participants presented directly to Amazon Devices senior leadership.

All the right people are in the room at once, including the actual leaders who assess integration opportunities and help move promising technologies forward. If approved for integration, outcomes may include various commercial arrangements based on mutual fit and business objectives, such as licensing and supply agreements, technology collaborations, and investment opportunities.
 

"As a publicly traded company, developing strategic enterprise accounts is critical," said Ronnie Tao, a 2025 recipient and vice president of sales at Amprius Technologies. "This program condensed three to four years of pitching and validating into six months. It gave us a more direct path to engage with Amazon's technical and leadership teams."
 

2. Expert mentorship within Amazon's frameworks
 

Perhaps the most surprising benefit, according to our 2025 participants, was the insight they gained into Amazon's decision-making processes.
 

"Being immersed in the mechanisms that Amazon has used to go from a bookstore to launching rockets—that alone is incredibly insightful," said Mark Herrema, co-founder and CEO of Aircarbon. "The most surprising thing about the program was the openness with which Amazon has shared their processes and tools with us, enabling us to collaborate seamlessly using the same decision-making frameworks."

You'll work with a venture team from our accelerator partner, Plug and Play, that consists of engineering, sustainability, and manufacturing experts alongside Amazon experts to validate your technology and strengthen your integration proposal. 
 

Like our founder would say, "Good intentions don't work. Mechanisms do." We built the accelerator to resemble how Amazon works, helping our product leaders make quick decisions about integration potential.
 

My best application tip
 

Transparency. Show us your path to manufacturing at scale in a cost-competitive way. It doesn't have to be cost parity on day one; we understand that can be difficult for new hardware technology. The most successful companies are upfront about what it will realistically take to get there, whether that's two, five, or 10 years. What manufacturing capabilities are needed? What capital investments are needed?
 

Amazon might have better line of sight into how we can help you grow, or we might know how your innovation will reduce or offset costs in other ways in the future. Being transparent is key to making those assessments. 
 

And here's the thing: We're not afraid of big bets. Amazon has a pretty good track record of tackling long-term ambitions.
 

What we're looking for

We need to continue innovating across all hardware components, so if you're working on solutions that reduce carbon in consumer electronics, I encourage you to apply. 
 

For our 2026 program, we welcome solutions in displays, printed circuit boards and assemblies (PCBs and PCBAs), lower carbon materials, semiconductors, device batteries, energy efficiency, AI, circularity, manufacturing processes, and other emerging innovations that can decarbonize consumer electronics.
 

Ready to apply?
 

The 2026 cohort application is now open, and I'm excited to see what innovations you'll bring to the table.

Learn more about how we’re working to make Amazon devices more sustainable—from how we build them to how customers use them.

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