Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center

We were incredibly excited to host our Valley Ventures Capstone Pitch Competition at the Fresno State Winery earlier this month. This event marked the conclusion of our intensive, month-long curriculum, which focused on sales and marketing training, grant writing, investor relations, pilot site demonstrations, and technical mentorship. Congratulations to Penny Lane Case from Nexstera Tech for presenting the winning pitch of the evening! Penny will have the opportunity to present at the Plug & Play Silicon Valley Summit in June. View a recap of the pitch competition here - https://lnkd.in/g-qEYrMv A special thanks to all the founders, judges, and community members who made our pitch competition a success. We cannot wait to see what the future holds for these visionary companies!

⭐ Investor Mentor Spotlight ⭐ Chris Mangieri is a climate investor, co-founder, engineer, and UNEP author with a decade of experience operating at the intersection of climate, finance, and technology. He has led numerous company-level investments from Seed through Series C and supported climate tech companies in project finance and development, helping them scale in his roles as Principal (now Venture Advisor) at Pulse Fund and VP at FullCycle Climate Partners. He is a start-up mentor at Valley Ventures and advises multiple climate tech companies. We've been incredibly fortunate to have Chris as part of our Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center community for the past 3 years. His remarkable insight has fostered lasting connections with our start-ups, even after they've graduated from Valley Ventures. There are still a few spots available! Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g-7Vg5je

⭐️ Attention business growers! ⭐️ ✏️We currently have THREE available office spaces for lease—which comes with many perks! Some benefits include: -24/7 access to the workspace -Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity -Access to multiple conference rooms -Community kitchen -Mailbox … and more!! Contact our office for more info: 📞(559)278-4540 📧info@wetcenter.org

⚡ Exciting News! ⚡ The Water, Energy and Technology (WET) Center is now a Drop-Off Site for Wonderful Laboratories! We are thrilled to announce that the Water, Energy, and Technology Center is now an official drop-off site for Wonderful Laboratories! This collaboration strengthens our commitment to sustainability and innovation by offering a convenient, local option for our community to contribute to the lab's groundbreaking work helping our farmers manage their soil, crops and water. At the Water, Energy, and Technology Center, we’re always looking for ways to drive positive change and support cutting-edge initiatives. This partnership is a perfect opportunity for us to continue building on that mission by facilitating easier access to scientific resources. If you’re in the area, stop by to drop off samples and materials, and help us continue supporting our initiatives in water and agriculture solutions! Allie Cushnyr Jose Cobos Eric Hadden Chakty Carrillo #CentralValley #Farming #SoilTesting #WaterTesting #Sustainability

Valley Ventures Mentors Spotlight! ⭐ Our two mentors will give one-on-one guidance throughout the second week of our Valley Ventures Accelerator. They will support the startups through their specific industry landscape and share invaluable insights in their market. John Selep and Arian Aghajanzadeh have both been part of Valley Ventures for 3 years now. Apply to this year's cohort here https://lnkd.in/gbfEvKP5 As president of AgStart, a non-profit incubator for AgriFood technology startups in California’s Central Valley region, John Selep has spent over a decade supporting, mentoring, and advising AgriFoodTech entrepreneurs.  Over the past two years, startup companies housed at the Lab @ AgStart incubator have raised over $60M in capital, and several have graduated to their own pilot facilities.  John’s experience as a former technology executive, angel investor, advisor, and non-profit leader have given him a wealth of insights and an extensive network to share with AgriFoodTech entrepreneurs. Arian has over 10 years of experience working with stakeholders in the industrial, agricultural, water, and energy sectors across the U.S. and globally. Before founding Klimate Consulting, he worked as the Head of Sustainability at an agricultural technology startup and as a researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Arian is deeply committed to addressing climate change through sustainable practices in water, energy, and food systems. His passion revolves around researching agricultural and food system emissions, seeking innovative solutions to reduce these emissions, and exploring the potential of carbon sequestration through practices like regenerative farming. #ValleyVentures #AgTech #ClimateTech #CentralValley

Join the WET Center Team! California State University, Fresno is on the lookout for an Assistant Director to join the Water, Energy, and Technology (WET) Center—a hub driving innovation and sustainability in water, energy, and technology sectors. This is an incredible opportunity to be part of an organization that’s dedicated to shaping the future, empowering startups, and fostering collaboration across industries. You’ll play a key role in securing funding, building strategic partnerships, and leading impactful programs that support the growth of game-changing ventures in the Central Valley. With a focus on innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and creating lasting change, the WET Center is the perfect place to make an impact and be at the forefront of sustainable growth in key industries. The WET Center has already achieved remarkable success, supporting 87 founders, evaluating 500+ companies, and facilitating over 2,500 mentor sessions. With $433 million in follow-up funding and 840 jobs created, the Center is making a lasting impact on the innovation landscape. Join us in continuing this incredible work! 📌 Apply now!! — https://lnkd.in/gZK__9SZ

We are thrilled to announce that applications for the Valley Ventures Accelerator Cohort 9 are NOW OPEN! 🌟 Are you a passionate founder with a prototype that's ready to scale? Do you want to take your startup to the next level with expert guidance, mentorship, and resources to fuel your growth? Look no further! Valley Ventures is here to help you turn your vision into reality. Our 4-week Accelerator Program is designed to accelerate your growth in key areas: Sales Training - Master the art of selling your product and building a scalable sales process. One-on-One Mentorship - Tailored sessions with industry experts to provide personalized guidance and support.  Alumni Intuition - Gain valuable insights from successful alumni on a range of topics that will help you navigate and overcome common startup struggles.  Investor Relationships - Here from a dozen investment firms on a variety of important topics that will help you increase investor activity for your company. Farm/Test Lab Tours - Gain invaluable insights through exclusive tours of farms and test labs to enhance your product development. Apply HERE https://lnkd.in/g7UzDWVV. If you have any questions regarding the application or the program please contact jcobos@mail.fresnostate.edu

We are thrilled to announce that applications for the Valley Ventures Accelerator Cohort 9 are NOW OPEN! 🌟 Are you a passionate founder with a prototype that's ready to scale? Do you want to take your startup to the next level with expert guidance, mentorship, and resources to fuel your growth? Look no further! Valley Ventures is here to help you turn your vision into reality. Our 4-week Accelerator Program is designed to accelerate your growth in key areas: Sales Training - Master the art of selling your product and building a scalable sales process. One-on-One Mentorship - Tailored sessions with industry experts to provide personalized guidance and support.  Alumni Intuition - Gain valuable insights from successful alumni on a range of topics that will help you navigate and overcome common startup struggles.  Investor Relationships - Here from a dozen investment firms on a variety of important topics that will help you increase investor activity for your company. Farm/Test Lab Tours - Gain invaluable insights through exclusive tours of farms and test labs to enhance your product development. Apply HERE https://lnkd.in/g7UzDWVV. If you have any questions regarding the application or the program please contact jcobos@mail.fresnostate.edu

As we wrap up 2024, we’re thrilled to reflect on a year of innovation, collaboration, and growth at the Water, Energy, and Technology Center. From supporting 87 founders to facilitating $433M in follow-up funding, and creating 840 jobs, the impact has been incredible. These milestones are a testament to the dedication of our community and partners who are driving change in the water, energy, and technology sectors. Here's to an even more impactful 2025!

As the year comes to a close, we want to reflect on what an incredible and successful 2024 it has been!🎉 Thank you to our amazing team, partners, and supporters for your hard work and collaboration throughout the year. Together, we've accomplished so much, and we're excited to see what 2025 has in store. Wishing you all a joyful holiday season filled with rest, reflection, and quality time with loved ones. The office will reopen on January 2nd, and we can't wait to hit the ground running in the new year. Until then... see you next year!😉 Happy Holidays!✨