Cleantech Open is the oldest and largest cleantech startup accelerator program, with the mission to find, fund, and foster entrepreneurs with ideas to solve our greatest environmental and energy challenges. Through our annual business competition and accelerator program, we connect cleantech startups with the people and resources that will accelerate their success, and provide a national platform for public visibility. Cleantech Open Northeast was founded in 2005 as the Ignite Clean Energy program by the Energy Special Interest Group (ESIG) of the MIT Enterprise Forum. In 2010, Ignite expanded its reach and impact by joining forces with the national organization Cleantech Open, creating the largest cleantech innovation footprint in the country. Cleantech Open Northeast covers Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.