BlueTechValley Innovation Cluster

Project Update

In 2025, the WET Center expanded its efforts to support innovation through new pilot demonstrations and continued accelerator programming. One of the most exciting developments was the installation of our first on-campus pilot demonstration with ThermoShade at the Fresno State dairy. ThermoShade is a novel shade structure that incorporates phase change material (PCM) panels designed to significantly reduce temperatures beneath the structure—by as much as 20 degrees compared to ambient conditions.

Originally developed for use in the built environment, the company is now exploring whether the technology can help mitigate heat stress in dairy cattle. Currently, most dairy operations rely on water spray emitters that must run continuously during the hot summer months, consuming significant water and energy. By providing passive cooling, ThermoShade’s system could offer a more sustainable alternative. The pilot structure was installed in December 2025, with testing expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026. ThermoShade previously received support for its built environment product through the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and has recently been awarded a CalSEED grant to further advance its technology.

In addition, 2025 marked the launch of the ninth cohort of the Valley Ventures accelerator program, now the longest running in the BlueTech Valley. This year’s cohort included DoubleLand, an agrivoltaics startup developing movable solar panel systems that allow growers and ranchers to temporarily convert farmland to solar production while maintaining the ability to return the land to agriculture when needed. With the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the California Department of Food and Agriculture estimates that nearly one million acres of farmland may be fallowed. DoubleLand’s approach could allow growers to generate revenue from otherwise idle land until water conditions improve.

All Valley Ventures Cohort 9 participants were showcased at the 9th annual AgTech Day, a large-scale event that convened policymakers, growers, academics, investors, and energy advocates on the Fresno State campus. The event provided a platform for startups to present their technologies, engage directly with industry stakeholders, and build connections that can accelerate commercialization. AgTech Day has become a signature gathering for the region’s innovation ecosystem, highlighting emerging agricultural technologies while fostering dialogue around policy, sustainability, and the future of food and energy systems.

In 2024, the BlueTechValley (BTV) project team focused on three key areas Central Valley founders have found the most challenging: testing and demonstrations, funding, and commercialization. The newly developed TEST program combines technology evaluation, advisory support, and potential pilot/demonstration testing sites. Three new community colleges have been confirmed as field testing sites, but finding new sites will remain an ongoing priority. Online programming covering grant funding and sales/commercialization was developed in 2024. The Investor’s Toolkit, a resource on startup investment, is also available online.

The latest Valley Ventures Accelerator cohort began in April 2024 with a dual-track structure. Entrepreneurs in this latest cohort are developing innovations in waste-heat recovery, battery recycling, and passive cooling materials.

By the end of 2024, the BTV Innovation Cluster had surveyed 500+ companies that raised over $270M in private and public funding and created 800+ jobs.

In 2024, the BTV Innovation Cluster supported 98 active companies that continued to create jobs in the region. These companies have 20 percent of their C-suite filled by women and 47 percent filled by minority groups with 21 percent located in disadvantaged communities. Their employee teams are made up of 19 percent women and 16 percent minority groups.