You know how much I love it when folks outside of our region recognize the talent from our region. Like when a Portland startup gets picked for a national startup accelerator program. That’s what happened with Fordje (pronounced “forj”) — the Portland startup building an AI platform that clarifies city-specific climate, fire, and zoning codes for the construction industry. They were just selected for the third cohort of the Cox Cleantech Accelerator.
If Fordje sounds familiar, it should. I wrote about their Code Clarifier back in October 2024. They pitched at Bend Venture Conference 2024. And they won the Pre-Revenue Award at the 2025 Oregon Technology Awards. So they’ve been on my radar for a mintue.
What’s this new accelerator adventure in Atlanta amount to…?
The Cox Cleantech Accelerator, a partnership between Cox Enterprises, gener8tor and the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub, today announces its third cohort of companies developing innovative solutions for the most pressing sustainability challenges of our time. The 12-week, in-person program now includes an investment of $250,000 per startup. It aims to help early-stage companies scale technologies that address climate change and environmental challenges while strengthening the cleantech ecosystem in Georgia, the Southeast and beyond. Part of Cox Enterprises’ more than $3 billion investment in cleantech solutions, the accelerator reflects the company’s long-term commitment to building the next generation of cleantech leaders and establishing Atlanta as a leading cleantech startup hub.
[Editor: *wistfully remembering when Portland had the potential to be a cleantech startup hub*]
“The Cox Cleantech Accelerator reflects our dedication to building a thriving venture ecosystem in Atlanta and across the Southeast,” said Jack Semrau, Atlanta Venture Ecosystem lead at Cox Enterprises in a press release. “By investing in promising founders from Atlanta and beyond, bringing them together in the city, and connecting them with the resources, expertise and networks they need, we’re accelerating the development of technologies that can benefit both the economy and the environment.”
Fordje is one of five companies in the cohort — alongside WattsUp (EV charger operations, Birmingham), Silvis Materials (bio-based adhesives, Boulder), LCOE.ai (solar asset management, Atlanta), and Buckstop (energy asset benchmarking, DC). Fordje is the only Pacific Northwest company in the mix.
In addition to the $250,000 investment, the program includes 12 weeks of in-person programming in Atlanta, mentorship from Cox leadership, and access to enterprise customers.
For more information or to follow along, visit Fordje or the Cox Cleantech Accelerator.
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