Six founders selected for 2025 Spark Cleantech Accelerator, after record number of applications
Spark has supported 40 companies that have collectively raised $137.6 million, hired 196 full-time employees, and supported 52 interns. 77 percent of companies served still have an active presence in Knoxville.
This week, six founders received word that they will be participating in the Spark Cleantech Accelerator at the University of Tennessee (UT) Research Park. The program kicks off on August 25. Out of the six, two are currently in Knoxville, and the other four are coming from Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Colorado.
The cohort is made up of start-ups developing innovative technologies in clean energy, water treatment, additive manufacturing, and green building.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome this year’s cohort to the Spark Cleantech Accelerator,” said Lilly Tench, Executive Director of the Spark Innovation Center. “These six start-ups represent the cutting edge of innovation in clean energy and sustainable technologies, and their work directly aligns with our mission to drive economic growth and environmental impact in Tennessee and beyond.”
Spark provides mentorship, connections, stipends, prototyping support, and business acceleration services to help early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs commercialize innovations. The programming will also connect the selected entrepreneurs with support, guidance, and partnership opportunities from local entities, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), UT, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC), Launch Tennessee, and the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center (KEC).
The Spark Innovation Center was founded in 2020 and is headquartered at the UT Research Park. Between the Spark Cleantech Accelerator, Spark Scholars, and Spark Incubator, Spark has supported 40 companies that have collectively raised $137.6 million, hired 196 full-time employees, and supported 52 interns. 77 percent of companies served still have an active presence in Knoxville.
Now, six new companies join the ranks.
Meet the 2025 Cohort
EcoSnap – Sasi Viriyayuthakorn
Joining from Centennial, Colorado, EcoSnap is re-inventing home comfort with its ductless mini-split heat pumps, which aim to cut installation time and costs. Licensed from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), its technology makes energy-efficient HVAC accessible to homeowners.
Caddis Technology – Kendall Byrd
Joining from Columbus, Ohio, Caddis deploys advanced aquatic drones to monitor and treat freshwater bodies, offering a non-chemical, battery-powered solution for cleaner water and public health protection.
Kupros Technology – Ian Ramsdell
Joining from Loogootee, Indiana, Kupros is bringing to market an all-metal conductive filament (Cu29) for 3D printing, enabling embedded circuits and sensors in polymer parts. It required no wires, silver inks, or expensive machines.
NXT MFG – Eric Heikkenen
Representing Knoxville, NXT MFG simplifies large-scale metal 3D printing with intuitive, machine learning powered software, making industrial-grade additive manufacturing practical and accessible for aerospace, defense, and beyond.
ORB Technologies – Ginger Watkins
Joining from Lexington, Kentucky, ORB Technologies replaces traditional construction materials with bio-composite blocks, creating carbon-storing, super-insulated walls in one step—faster, cheaper, and toxin-free.
OTTO Prefab – Maged Guerguis
Also joining from Knoxville, OTTO Prefab’s robotically fabricated, 3D-printed wall panels combine structure, insulation, and airtightness, accelerating energy-efficient home construction for ADUs and single-family housing.
Tench will lead the program, alongside support from the Spark Experts in Residence (EIR) team, Carol Seamons, Bill Malkes, Michael Paley, and Tim Rinks, with support and mentorship provided by the Innovation Crossroad’s EIR team, Angelique Adams, John Derrick, and Gary Rawlings as well as the Energy Network coordinated by the TAEBC, and other local partners.
The program will finish with a Demo Day on Nov. 19, 2025, as part of “Opportunities in Energy,” hosted by the TAEBC.
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