Net Zero Start-Up Hub
Where next-generation solutions grow.
The Net Zero Start-Up Hub connects early-stage innovators with industry leaders, investors, and test environments, bridging the gap between ideas and real-world impact.
Accelerate your technology. Connect with industry. Build your path to deployment.
The Net Zero Start-Up Hub helps early-stage companies navigate one of the world's most complex industries: digital infrastructure.
The program is designed specifically for innovative companies developing technologies relevant to data centers, combining industry knowledge, commercial readiness, and direct access to leading operators, technology companies, and experts from across the European data center ecosystem.
The Start-Up Hub is more than an incubation program. It is part of the Net Zero Innovation Hub's structured approach to accelerating innovation. By connecting innovative and promising early-stage companies directly with industry needs, the program helps reduce barriers to deployment and supports the development of technologies that can contribute to more sustainable digital infrastructure.
Find out more about the 2027 Start-Up Hub
The program is designed for innovative companies (TRL 5-7) developing technologies relevant to the future of sustainable digital infrastructure. No prior experience with the data center industry is needed.
The program is designed to meet companies where they are. We will work with selected companies across technical validation and commercial readiness to explore credible pathways to scale in data center environments.
How does the Net Zero Start-up Hub work?
The Start-Up Hub is a flagship initiative under the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers’ approach to identifying, testing, and de-risking new technologies for the data center industry. We focus on technologies and business models that accelerate decarbonisation of digital infrastructure
1. Industry-led requirements
The Start-Up Hub is a flagship initiative under the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers’ approach to identifying, testing, and de-risking new technologies for the data center industry.
The program is built around real challenges identified by leading organizations across the European data center industry, providing a unique perspective on customer needs, procurement processes, market trends, and the evolving data center value chain.
These Industry requirements form the basis for the Innovation Focus Areas and Selection Criteria.
2. Innovation Call: Start-Up Hub
Shared industry requirements are translated into a Call for Innovation to join the Start-Up Hub.
The Program is designed to connect emerging technology companies with the expertise, partnerships, and validation opportunities needed to accelerate innovation in sustainable digital infrastructure
3. Selection & Pitch
Initial selection
During the initial selection, the Hub team reviews all applications.
Interesting and eligible companies will be invited to pitch at a pitch event.
Pitch Event
At the pitch event, a panel of external expert judges will evaluate the pitches and overall potential of each of the participating companies.
Selected start-ups will then be invited to join the 6-month dedicated incubation program.
4. Onbarding & Roadmaps
Individual onboarding meetings to align expectations, meet the team and get started on individual roadmaps
The goal of these meetings is to discuss and define together:
- Goals and expectations for joining the start-up hub
- Define success criteria
- Identify gaps in skills/knowledge and set requirements for mentoring
5. Incubation Program
Over 6 months, selected startups gain direct access to leading data center operators, technology providers, and industry experts while strengthening their product-market fit, gaining industry insights, and building relationships with the organizations shaping the future of digital infrastructure.
The 6-month incubation program combines in-person workshops, virtual sessions, one-on-one mentoring, and industry events.
6. Mentorship & Alumni Network
Alumni remain part of the Hub community, receive continued access to networking opportunities, and may be invited to future events, mentoring activities, innovation calls, and collaboration opportunities as relevant.
Meet the Startups
The following start-ups were a part of the 2025-2026 Net Zero Start-up Hub Incubation program in Fredericia. The inaugural program brought together startups from Denmark, Finland, Germany, and the United States to explore how emerging technologies can help address some of the industry’s most pressing challenges.
In 2026, the inaugural Net Zero Start-Up Hub program brought together startups from Denmark, Finland, Germany, and the United States.
The six-month program connected startups with leading companies across the data center industry to accelerate innovation in energy, cooling, heat reuse, and resource efficiency.
The completion of the inaugural cohort was celebrated with a graduation reception hosted at the Net Zero Innovation Hub for Data Centers in Fredericia
Stay tuned for more information about how to get involved in future Net Zero Start-Up Hubs
News from the Net Zero Start-Up Hub
