New leader will guide accelerator as it continues to support high-growth cleantech startups and strengthen innovation in the Southeast
Trenton Spindler has been named managing director of the Cox Cleantech Accelerator and Residency, where he will lead efforts to identify, invest in and help scale the next generation of cleantech companies reshaping industries through technology.
The programs give founders a clear path from breakthrough technology to commercial scale. The Accelerator provides venture-scale startups from pre-seed to seed stage with capital, mentorship and commercial connections, while the Residency helps early-stage companies refine their technologies, strengthen their business models and prepare for growth.
Since 2007, Cox has invested more than $3 billion in companies and solutions across advanced recycling, indoor agriculture, renewable resources and sustainable infrastructure, including Cox Farms and Nexus Circular. Building on Cox’s dedication to cleantech, the program invests $250,000 in the best companies redefining energy, climate and sustainability solutions.
“Cox has a long history of investing in ideas and businesses that can create lasting value,” said Andrew Davis, senior vice president of investments at Cox Enterprises. “The Cox Cleantech Accelerator gives us another way to support entrepreneurs who are solving meaningful problems while strengthening the region’s growing cleantech ecosystem. Trenton has built and scaled companies, and he knows what it takes for founders to earn customers and capital.”
The Accelerator and Residency are a partnership between Cox Enterprises, gener8tor and the Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub. Spindler will work closely with all three to advance the programs’ mission of being a leading commercialization engine for clean technologies, leveraging the Southeast innovation ecosystem to help founders turn promising ideas into market-ready solutions.
Spindler brings nearly two decades of experience as a founder, operator and investor. He most recently served as chief growth officer of Nasdaq-backed Puro.earth, the world’s leading standard and registry for carbon removal, and previously co-founded Atlanta-based sustainability company GreenPrint, which debuted on the Inc. 5000 at No. 71 and was acquired by PDI Technologies.
“I’ve sat on the founder side of the table, and I know how much the right capital, customers and mentorship can change a company’s trajectory,” said Spindler. “Our goal is to attract exceptional cleantech founders from around the world to Atlanta, connecting them with the Southeast’s industry leaders, resources and networks to help them scale globally.”
Applications are now open for the 2027 Cox Cleantech Accelerator, powered by gener8tor, through November 8, 2026. Founders building venture-scale cleantech companies can learn more and apply at coxcleantech.com/accelerator.
About Cox Enterprises
Cox Enterprises is a global, privately held company that owns, operates and invests in businesses across multiple industries, including automotive, broadband and mobile, greenhouse agriculture, renewable energy, and journalism. Guided by its purpose to build a better future for this generation and the next, Cox’s diverse family of businesses deliver solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since its founding in 1898, Cox Enterprises has been fueled by a relentless focus on innovation, resilience, and a deep commitment to people, the planet and progress. To learn more about Cox’s history and how it’s shaping what’s next, visit CoxEnterprises.com.
About gener8tor
gener8tor fosters innovation ecosystems through its accelerator programs, venture capital funds and skills-based workforce initiatives. With a strong track record of supporting high-growth companies, gener8tor has expanded across the U.S. and internationally, building partnerships with governments, corporations, universities and economic development organizations to drive entrepreneurship and economic impact. gener8tor operates accelerators across 29 U.S. states and six other countries globally, working with over 300 startups per year. To date, gener8tor has worked with more than 2,200 startups that have cumulatively gone on to raise over $3 billion in financing and employ a workforce surpassing 15,800 people.
About Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub
Georgia Cleantech Innovation Hub is a 501(c)(3) public-private-academic partnership that aims to make innovation a driver of a robust cleantech economy that elevates people and communities throughout Georgia and the Southeast. By making it easier for innovators to access the talent, capital and resources necessary to create organizations built to last, the Hub aims to make Georgia a leader in cleantech innovation and tomorrow’s growth industries. For more information on how to get involved, visit gacth.org.
