Greentown Labs Taps Veteran Leader to Helm Boston Climatetech Hub

SOMERVILLE, Mass. and HOUSTON – January 15, 2026 – Greentown Labs, widely recognized as the largest climatetech startup incubator in the world, announced today the appointment of Julia Travaglini to the newly created role of Head of its Boston incubator. The move places a ten-year veteran of the organization at the helm of its flagship location, signaling a strategic focus on deepening regional impact and fortifying its leadership structure.

In her new capacity, Travaglini is tasked with overseeing the incubator's Boston operations, which support more than 140 climatetech startups. Her mandate includes enhancing the incubator's services, strengthening its deep-rooted connections within the Massachusetts innovation ecosystem, and amplifying its global reputation as a center for climate solutions.

A Strategic Shift to Localized Leadership

The creation of the inaugural Head of Boston position represents a significant evolution in Greentown Labs' organizational design. This strategic shift toward dedicated, localized leadership appears to be a direct response to both the incubator's expansive growth and a period of recent organizational realignment. In 2024, the nonprofit underwent a considerable restructuring, reducing its workforce by approximately 30% across its Boston and Houston campuses to better align its operational costs with revenue.

By establishing a focused executive for its Boston hub—a structure that mirrors the appointment of Lawson Gow as Head of Greentown Houston—the organization is implementing a more resilient and regionally attuned management model. This approach allows for tailored strategies that can better leverage the unique strengths and address the specific challenges of each ecosystem. The move suggests a deliberate effort to ensure stability and drive focused execution at its two major physical locations, empowering local leaders to manage their complex operations more effectively.

Travaglini's appointment is a cornerstone of this new strategy. Her deep institutional knowledge and long-standing presence in the Boston community position her to steer the incubator through its next phase of impact. This localized leadership model is designed to provide more direct support for the hundreds of entrepreneurs working on-site to develop critical climate technologies.

A Decade of Dedication and Internal Trust

Travaglini's journey to this leadership role is a testament to her long-term commitment to Greentown's mission. Her involvement with the incubator predates her full-time employment, beginning when she was a Senior Account Executive at HB Agency, the marketing firm that managed Greentown's account from 2013 to 2015. She later joined the organization full-time and steadily rose through the ranks, serving for two years as Chief of Staff before taking on the role of Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications.

In her most recent position, she directed brand strategy, managed government affairs, and orchestrated the ecosystem-building events that have become a hallmark of the Greentown community. This extensive experience has given her a panoramic view of the organization's internal mechanics and its external role as a community convener.

Leadership at Greentown Labs expressed unequivocal confidence in the appointment. "Julia has played an immense role in making Greentown the place and community it is today," said Georgina Campbell Flatter, who stepped into the CEO role in early 2025. "As a tireless champion of entrepreneurs and a key builder of Massachusetts's climatetech ecosystem, Julia is the perfect person to be our inaugural Head of Boston."

This sentiment was echoed by Greentown Co-founder Jason Hanna. "I've known Julia since 2016, and she's been essential to everything we've built here," Hanna stated. "What makes her special isn't just her expertise, it's the way she shows up for our entrepreneurs, day in and day out. This role was made for her, and I can't think of anyone better to lead Greentown Boston into its next chapter."

Bolstering Boston's Climatetech Beacon

Travaglini's appointment is not just an internal promotion; it is a strategic move to further solidify Greentown's position as a central pillar of the Massachusetts climatetech ecosystem. The state is a national leader in the sector, boasting the highest number of climatetech startups per capita in the United States and consistently ranking as one of the top ecosystems for investment and innovation.

State-level support, particularly from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), has been instrumental in this growth. MassCEC, which considers Greentown Labs a "cornerstone" of the Commonwealth's innovation economy, has an ambitious plan to support over 1,300 climatetech companies and create 35,000 jobs in the next decade. Travaglini's role will be crucial in aligning Greentown's efforts with these statewide goals, ensuring that the incubator's entrepreneurs have access to the public and private resources necessary to scale their solutions.

In her new position, Travaglini will focus on catalyzing this broader ecosystem, acting as a force multiplier to rally support around founders. Her efforts will be vital in ensuring that Massachusetts continues to inspire and enable climate innovation through community building, strategic connections, and powerful storytelling—all areas where she has a proven track record.

Reinforcing the Leadership Ranks for Future Growth

Travaglini's promotion was announced alongside two other key appointments that round out a newly fortified leadership team. Aisling Carlson, formerly the Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Investor Programs, has been promoted to Chief Growth Officer. In this new capacity, Carlson will spearhead the organization's expansion efforts, focusing on building strategic partnerships and securing new revenue streams to fuel Greentown's mission. Her role is critical for the incubator's long-term sustainability and ability to scale its impact globally.

Simultaneously, Greg Ralich has been named Head of Startup Success for Greentown Boston. Previously the Vice President of Labs and Safety, Ralich will now dedicate his efforts to the direct success of the incubator's member companies. This role complements Travaglini's broader strategic oversight by providing hands-on support, ensuring that startups have the world-class labs, services, and founder pathways needed to thrive. Together, these promotions create a robust leadership structure in Boston, with Travaglini providing overall direction, Ralich managing member success, and Carlson driving growth for the entire organization.

For her part, Travaglini expressed enthusiasm for the challenge ahead. "Greentown exists to support climatetech founders and their teams in their efforts to bring new solutions to market, faster," she said. "We take great pride in this work, and I'm energized by what lies ahead—supporting more startups, expanding our offerings, and continuing to grow the climatetech ecosystem here in Massachusetts. I'm grateful for the opportunity to step into this role and build on Greentown's first 15 years of impact."