ClimateHaven, the newly established New Haven-based climate tech incubator, today announced the appointment of Ryan Dings as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Dings previously served as the Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel of Greentown Labs, a climate technology incubator in Somerville, MA. Prior to that, he held the same role for Sunwealth, a solar investment fund. In December 2022, he joined Connecticut Innovations as a venture partner in its new $100 million dollar ClimateTech Fund. 

“We don’t have every solution needed today to meet the challenges presented by climate change, which is why supporting climate tech entrepreneurship is so critical role for helping us get to carbon neutrality,” said Dings. “ClimateHaven has an incredible opportunity to tap into the deep well of brilliance and entrepreneurial talent that exists at Yale University and in New Haven and support startups that have the potential to scale globally.” 

“ClimateHaven’s Board of Directors is delighted to appoint Ryan to serve as its founding CEO,” said Josh Geballe, Chairperson of the ClimateHaven Board of Directors and Managing Director of Yale Ventures. “His commitment to entrepreneurship and experience in climate technology and finance will be invaluable as we build the foundation of this organization.” 

ClimateHaven will support early-stage climate tech entrepreneurs through a combination of incubation, accelerator programming, and access to networks of people, partners, and places startups need to scale. The incubator has established its initial location at 770 Chapel Street, where it has executed a lease on 10,000 square feet of office and prototyping space, with the option to expand to upwards of 30,000 square feet. ClimateHaven has retained the New Haven-based architecture firm, Atelier Cho Thompson, to assist in the design and upfit of its initial location. Work will continue through the spring in preparation for welcoming the first startups into its community this summer as well as a grand opening event this fall. 

“ClimateHaven is joining a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in New Haven and will put Connecticut on the map as a climate tech solutions hub,” said Cortney Renton, ClimateHaven Board Member and Executive Director of CitySeed. “The addition of ClimateHaven to this community will open up new possibilities for a more sustainable and equitable future, rooted in our city's strong entrepreneurial spirit." 

In addition to Geballe, Renton, and Dings, ClimateHaven’s founding Board of Directors includes Stuart DeCew, Executive Director for the Yale Center for Business and the Environment; Konstantine Drakonakis, Managing Venture Partner of Connecticut Innovations’ ClimateTech Fund; Katie Dykes, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Sara Harari, Associate Director of Innovation at the Connecticut Green Bank; Jason Price, Founder and Chairperson of the Board of NXTHVN; Claudia Reuter, Director of the Robert Innovation Fund at Yale University; and Caroline Tanbee Smith, co-Founder of Collab New Haven. 

ClimateHaven will provide a preview of its 2023 plans at the Connecticut Climate Tech Social Kickoff taking place on March 29th in partnership with Connecticut Innovations. Dings will share his vision for ClimateHaven and detail opportunities for involvement at the event. 

“Climate change is the unique challenge that unites both moral imperative and economic opportunity,” Dings continued. “I can’t think of a better organization and a better group of folks with whom to join to support entrepreneurs committed to solving this challenge and creating prosperity for themselves, their teams, and the communities they serve.”

To register for the March 29 event, visit the Connecticut Innovations events page. 

About ClimateHaven

ClimateHaven is a community of climate tech entrepreneurs and the passionate people that support them. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, ClimateHaven provides incubation space, accelerator programming, and valuable partners for startups that will deliver the solutions we need to propel us toward carbon neutrality and create a healthy planet for all. For more information, visit https://www.climatehaven.tech.