Behind Every Climate Startup Is a Mentor Helping Make the Impossible Possible
When early-stage founders begin their entrepreneurial journey, they don’t just need capital—they need guidance, technical wisdom, and a trusted sounding board. That’s where people like Sheri Palazzo step in.
Sheri is an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) for the MassChallenge ClimateTech track, and also supports founders at Greentown Labs through her consultancy, Saplings Consulting. With a background that spans technical development and operations, she describes her role simply:
“I’m like a sliver of a CTO or COO. I help climate startups move faster, smarter, and with clarity.”
And it’s not just her expertise that makes her invaluable—it’s her heart for the mission.
Why MassChallenge? Community, Impact, and Purpose
When MassChallenge relaunched its sector-specific tracks this year, the Climate cohort immediately resonated with Sheri.
“I saw the Climate track and said, ‘That’s speaking my name,’” she recalls. “Helping founders build impactful products that tackle the world’s toughest problems is what fills me up.”
For Sheri, being part of MassChallenge means more than attending sessions—it’s about active partnership in a founder’s journey, from technical validation to go-to-market strategy.
Supporting Startups Through the Rollercoaster
Startups move fast, pivot often, and face emotional highs and lows—especially in deep-tech and cleantech. Sheri sees her role not just as an advisor, but as a stability anchor during the chaos.
“The startup rollercoaster can be exhausting,” she says. “Being in a room with others going through the same thing, and having people who’ve done it before—that kind of support is vital.”
Through one-on-one mentorship and group programming, she helps founders build operational resilience and product confidence.
Trust Is the Foundation
One of Sheri’s most meaningful reflections came from a recent group session focused on building trust.
“The founders are warm, open, and so passionate. You can feel that trust developing among them,” she shares. “And I trust the MassChallenge team just as much—they’re incredible partners in this work.”
What Gives Her Hope?
For Sheri, it’s not just the climate technologies themselves—but the community of people who build them.
“It’s the relationships. It’s the fact that we’re not doing this alone. That sense of community is what gives me momentum every day.”