Woburn, MA Climate tech pioneer Active Surfaces has expanded from Somerville to Cummings Properties’ innovation cluster. The solar technology startup moved from Greentown Labs’ cleantech incubator to a 4,800 s/f facility at 34 Commerce Way.
Co-founded in 2022, Active Surfaces is the brainchild of Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers Richard Swartwout, Ph.D. and Shiv Bhakta, M.S./MBA. The pair aims to make clean energy more accessible by commercializing a flexible, lightweight, ultrathin solar panel.
“Relocating to Woburn marks an exciting new chapter for Active Surfaces as we scale our technology and expand our operations,” said Bhakta. “The vibrant climate tech ecosystem here, combined with the support from Cummings Properties, positions us perfectly to accelerate our mission of unlocking more solar for more people in more places.”
“We see many early-stage firms choosing to locate in Woburn, a growing hub for cleantech with strategic proximity to Boston and Cambridge,” said Cummings senior account manager Jeff Pelletier, who worked directly with Bhakta and Swartwout on the lease.
Pelletier also noted the draw of Cummings’ ability to accommodate future expansion. “Just months into the initial lease, Active Surfaces has already grown in place,” he said, noting that the company took an additional 1,400 s/f at 34 Commerce Way earlier in August.
Active Surfaces closed a $5.6 million pre-seed funding round in May. Other recent accolades for the startup include Singapore Management University’s Kajima Innovation Award and U.S. Department of Energy’s Phase 1 Lab MATCH clean energy innovation prize. Additionally, Bhakta was profiled in Forbes’ 2024 “30 Under 30” in energy.
Other Greentown Labs graduates that have leased with Cummings after outgrowing an incubator environment include Folia Materials, Nth Cycle, Phoenix Tailings, Radical Plastics, RootAi, Verdox, and ZwitterCo.
Active Surfaces’ new neighbors at 34 Commerce Way include medical device manufacturer Cytrellis and rechargeable battery producer Solid Energy Systems, among others. The campus also accommodates several younger firms in its “Emerging Tech Center,” a cluster of newly constructed turn-key lab suites with multiple collaboration areas and a shared lounge and conference room.
