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mHUB announces Energy Tech Accelerator for novel technologies at the Compute-Energy Nexus. Press Releases Published Date May 19, 2026 The next cohort of mHUB's Energy Tech Accelerator, supported by partners Equinix Foundation, Generac, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation, Marmon Holdings, and Salesforce, will advance the commercialization of technologies in energy and infrastructure. CHICAGO | May 19, 2026 - As AI and digital technology continue to scale, the demand for smarter, more resilient energy and compute infrastructure has never been greater. In response, mHUB, the nation's largest independent hard tech innovation center, today announced a global call for startups building solutions at the compute-energy nexus to join its accelerator program. In partnership with Equinix Foundation, Generac, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation, Marmon Holdings, and Salesforce, and with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the next mHUB accelerator will focus on technologies advancing data center efficiency, grid and infrastructure resilience, and sustainable energy systems. Applications are now open and will be accepted through Monday, July 13. The 6-10 startups accepted into the program will receive a $200,000 initial investment from mHUB Ventures in exchange for 6.5% equity, which includes $100K in cash, $30K in cash reimbursement for product development, and $70K for in-kind services. Participants receive access to state-of-the-art prototyping labs and technical assistance at mHUB, dedicated mentors and expert-led programming, and connections to industry leaders, investors, and a deep manufacturing ecosystem. The program's Executive Director is Ryan Fant, who brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial experience and operational leadership to mHUB. A two-time Techstars founder, he co-founded Keen Home (acquired) and has led innovation strategy at organizations including Koch Industries and ConnectM. "Surging compute demand is creating one of the most exciting innovation opportunities in energy we've seen in decades," said Ryan Fant, Executive Director, mHUB Accelerator. "This program is designed to find the boldest early-stage solutions and get them to market faster." "We believe technology can create the greatest opportunity when it's built thoughtfully," said Paige Rodgers, Director, Equinix Foundation. "When founders receive the support they need, they can advance more sustainable, resilient solutions that both strengthen communities and reduce environmental impact. That's why the Equinix Foundation is proud to collaborate with mHUB on this accelerator." "Our partnership with mHUB reflects Generac's commitment to advancing the next generation of energy innovation - particularly as data center demand accelerates and power infrastructure becomes more complex," said Erik Wilde, EVP and President, Domestic C&I at Generac. "We look forward to connecting with the entrepreneurial talent creating breakthrough technologies and helping drive more resilient, efficient, and sustainable power solutions." "Rising digital demand must be met with more efficient and resilient systems. We already have solutions in place that can dramatically improve IT efficiency, but solving this challenge at scale will require innovation and ecosystem collaboration to accelerate real-world impact," said Fred Tan, Global Head of Social Impact at HPE. "We're proud to convene and support the cross-sector partnerships needed to turn breakthrough ideas into deployable technologies for the next era of AI and digital infrastructure." "The energy demands of AI are not a challenge any single company can solve alone. Meeting them will require innovators willing to take bold bets on solutions that don't yet have a proven market," said Sunya Norman, SVP of Impact, Salesforce. "That's exactly the kind of community-driven, forward-leaning work mHUB enables, and we're proud to support it." "The rapid growth of AI and data centers underscores the need for innovative, sustainable solutions," said Slav Gatchev, Vice President of Innovative Finance at The Rockefeller Foundation. "We are proud to support mHUB's next Energy Tech Accelerator, which brings together entrepreneurs to turn bold ideas into cutting-edge hardware at the compute-energy nexus. Initiatives like this are critical to advancing resilient infrastructure, improving efficiency, creating jobs, and ensuring an equitable, sustainable energy future." The accelerator is further supported by Evergreen Climate Innovations, an organization that provides catalytic capital and support to startups bringing impactful climate technologies to market. Evergreen will bring subject matter expertise and expanded access to industry and investment. Additionally, legal partner Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP will provide legal counsel for business formation and IP protection. Applications for the Compute-Energy Nexus Cohort of the mHUB Energy Tech Accelerator are now open. To learn more and apply, visit: https://mhub.org/energy-tech-accelerator About mHUB mHUB is an innovation platform that drives the commercialization of hard tech, helping companies build, scale, and innovate with speed and purpose. The platform includes a Chicago-based incubator and prototyping lab; venture and real estate investment company, mHUB Ventures; and an engineering and product consulting arm. Together, infrastructure, capital, and expertise combine to enable emerging technologies, create new manufacturing businesses, and strengthen U.S. industry. To date, mHUB has worked with over 200 public and private partners and supported over 500 startups that have collectively generated $5B in economic activity. Learn more at mhub.org. About mHUB Ventures mHUB Ventures is the investment management arm of mHUB, governing both venture capital and real estate funds to accelerate hard tech innovation and strengthen U.S. industrial competitiveness. Its venture platform invests in early-stage startups across energy, medical technology, and advanced manufacturing, leveraging mHUB's world-class prototyping facilities, engineering talent, and corporate partnerships to reduce risk and speed commercialization. Its real estate platform focuses on transformative industrial redevelopment and next-generation manufacturing facilities designed to support the full lifecycle of product development. Together, these integrated platforms create a unique engine for scaling physical technologies and driving manufacturing industry growth. Media contacts. Kim blomquist. Jessica kosmider. The Rockefeller Foundation Get Updates

Salesforce unveils innovative Forward Deployed engineering Partner Network. April 15, 2026 Salesforce is amplifying its commitment to small businesses by launching the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) Partner Network, a strategic initiative designed to provide enhanced engineering support and accelerate the implementation of AI solutions like Agentforce. This move aims to bridge the execution gap that many companies face, transforming AI ambitions into practical, measurable outcomes. The need for this network has never been more evident. According to research by IDC, over a third of organizations are still navigating the experimental phase of AI, unable to scale their initial proofs of concept into functioning systems. For small businesses hoping to capitalize on these technologies, this development could be a game changer, offering them access to not only AI tools but also the necessary technical expertise to implement them effectively. Through the FDE Partner Network, Salesforce is collaborating with industry giants such as Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, and IBM Consulting, all of which have demonstrated significant success with Agentforce. These partners are not just additional resources; they have been meticulously chosen for their deep industry knowledge and specialized training in Salesforce systems. This means that small business owners can expect tailored support that addresses their unique operational challenges. Miguel Milano, Salesforce's President and Chief Revenue Officer, highlighted the competitive advantage this network offers, stating, "Our partner ecosystem is a massive competitive advantage... The most successful organizations don't just invest in Agentforce. They align with partners who possess the engineering and industry knowledge depth to turn that technology into the engine that transforms them into Agentic Enterprises." Discover more Merchant services providers Small Business Operations Small Business Advice What does this mean for small business owners? The FDE Partner Network promises faster time to value. By connecting businesses directly with partners equipped with Salesforce's internal expertise, it aims to simplify the often daunting task of deploying AI solutions. The engineers within this network are trained to create cohesive systems that function seamlessly within a company's existing frameworks while ensuring compliance and security - critical factors for any business. However, the introduction of such advanced tools and support systems is not without its challenges. While the FDE Partner Network is designed to ease the transition into AI, small businesses may still struggle with the fundamental shifts in operational structure that such technology demands. For instance, the successful implementation of AI requires not only technical solutions but also changes in workplace culture and employee buy-in. Salesforce acknowledges these complexities. As Lori Steele, President of Global Professional Services, noted, "Getting AI into production is an engineering discipline... the Salesforce FDE Partner Network takes what we've built internally... and expands the talent and partnership with our elite network of partners." This approach emphasizes a partnership model rather than a purely vendor-based one, allowing businesses to work collaboratively with experts to ensure successful deployments. The structured nature of this initiative also means businesses can expect comprehensive support from solution architecture design to post-launch care. The consistent engagement framework ensures that companies can address issues that arise in real time, which is critical for maintaining performance and user trust. Discover more Franchise Opportunity Guide Tech News Feed Small Business Funding Furthermore, specialized Product Development Outsourcers (PDOs) involved in the FDE Partner Network - such as Appiphony and Aquiva Labs - are tasked with building robust applications specifically designed for AI-driven environments. This capability not only fortifies the infrastructure required for such deployments but also allows small businesses to innovate without being bogged down by limitations of traditional implementations. The overarching goal of the FDE Partner Network is to help businesses transition from the pilot phase of AI deployment to production-ready applications that deliver substantial business value. This shift is crucial, particularly for small enterprises looking to maintain competitiveness in a rapidly digitalizing market. As small business owners explore the potential of this new initiative, they would do well to evaluate their readiness for such transformative changes. Investing in partnerships through Salesforce could not only streamline their operations but also significantly enhance their capacity for innovation, placing them on a trajectory toward sustainable growth and success in the agentic era. Image Via Salesforce Robert Johnson is a small business sales expert and writer with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs boost revenue and close more deals. With over 12 years of experience in sales strategy, lead generation, and customer relationship management, Robert has worked with startups and established businesses to refine their sales processes and improve conversion rates. His actionable insights on sales techniques, prospecting methods, and closing strategies have been featured in leading business publications. When he's not sharing sales tips, Robert enjoys playing guitar and exploring local music festivals.

Agentforce and Slack join forces to transform travel experiences. April 15, 2026 Salesforce is stepping up its game in the travel sector with its latest collaboration with Engine, a leader in business travel solutions. This partnership focuses on enhancing efficiency and customer service through the Agentforce 360 Platform, aimed especially at small and medium-sized enterprises looking for streamlined travel management. Engine, which serves over one million travelers, relies heavily on Agentforce and Slack to create a digital command center, allowing human agents and AI to work seamlessly together. In an environment where group travel has skyrocketed and 80% of bookings occur within a week of the departure date, this technology offers small business owners a robust solution to keep up with demand and complexity in travel management. Discover more Franchise Opportunity Guide Small business accounting software One of the standout features of the Agentforce and Slack integration is its real-time traveler intelligence capability. Sales teams can now use Slackbot as a concierge during client calls to quickly answer questions and highlight historical booking trends. This immediate access to data can significantly boost a small business's ability to respond to client needs more effectively. "AI is like a jet pack for our employees to enhance and elevate every single workflow," said Elia Wallen, Founder and CEO of Engine. This sentiment highlights a crucial benefit for small business owners: the ability to enhance operational efficiency without compromising service quality. Another practical application of this technology is the ability to tailor travel solutions incredibly quickly. Engine's developers employed Agentforce Vibes to create Eva, a customer-facing AI agent capable of managing intricate tasks, like modifying large group bookings, in mere seconds. In a competitive market where rapid response times matter, having such resources at hand can serve as a major advantage. Moreover, when it comes to securing the best rates, the integration with Slackbot reduces research time for sales representatives by a staggering 40%. This means that small business teams can spend less time crunching numbers and more time building relationships with clients, a crucial aspect for any thriving enterprise. However, small business owners should also consider the potential challenges associated with implementing such sophisticated technology. As advanced as AI and digital command centers can be, transitioning to these systems may initially pose hurdles, such as training staff to adapt to new interfaces and workflows. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding data security and the management of sensitive customer information, even with assurances from Salesforce's Trust Layer, which seeks to protect privacy and ensure responsible use of AI. Engine has reported a notable 15% decrease in average handle times for customer service queries and a rise in customer satisfaction scores thanks to this new system. Given that small businesses often have limited customer service resources, such improvements can lead to significant long-term benefits. The partnership is fortified by Salesforce's Data 360, providing companies with a comprehensive view of their customer interactions. This single source of truth not only simplifies client tracking but also empowers small businesses to focus their efforts on more complex situations requiring human intervention. Discover more Startup advice consultations It is also important to note the commitment to maintaining robust security. With the Salesforce Trust Layer in place, businesses can conduct operations securely within their ecosystems, ensuring that customer data remains protected. This attention to security can offer peace of mind for small business owners who may be wary about utilizing cutting-edge technology. In a landscape where every detail counts, Engine's partnership with Salesforce offers a glimpse into the future of travel management for small businesses. By adopting these innovations, firms can not only respond to current demands but also pave the way for future growth and improved client relationships. Explore further insights on how Engine is transforming travel management through this partnership at the original post here. Image Via Salesforce Robert Johnson is a small business sales expert and writer with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs boost revenue and close more deals. With over 12 years of experience in sales strategy, lead generation, and customer relationship management, Robert has worked with startups and established businesses to refine their sales processes and improve conversion rates. His actionable insights on sales techniques, prospecting methods, and closing strategies have been featured in leading business publications. When he's not sharing sales tips, Robert enjoys playing guitar and exploring local music festivals.