MaRS has announced the 10 entrepreneurs participating in the next cohort of the RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator.
The RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator helps women overcome challenges in the cleantech sector by providing a strong support system, collaboration opportunities, and essential tools for success. This two-year intensive program is designed to help women-led Canadian ventures scale their climate change solutions globally, while embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“As we kick off the third cohort, we’re proud to build on the successes of past participants. They’ve secured funding, obtained grants, hired top talent, and advanced product development,” says Alison Nankivell, CEO of MaRS Discovery District.
By offering mentorship, networking, community, and access to capital, the program isn’t just supporting individual entrepreneurs — it’s investing in a sustainable future for all.
Let’s meet some of the new cohort members, including four working on clean energy initiatives:
- Zaffia Laplante, co-founder and COO of SkyAcres Agrotechnologies: Developing a low-energy indoor farming system in Surrey, B.C.
- Aditi Sitolay, founder and CEO of Synoro Medical Technologies: Creating low-carbon healthcare reprocessing in Vancouver.
- Vida Gabriel, founder and COO of TerraFixing: Developing direct air capture (DAC) technology for cold, remote locations in Ottawa.
- Christine Gabardo, co-founder and CTO of CERT Systems: Producing essential chemicals without fossil fuels in Toronto.
“We wouldn’t have achieved our success without the RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator program,” says Natasha Kostenuk, co-founder and CEO of Calgary’s Ayrton Energy. “My advice to the next cohort is to lean into the group and take full advantage of the opportunities.”