# Public Grid

> Public Grid is a climate-tech company building a software layer on top of the existing electric grid so households can switch to renewable energy and find savings without hardware, paperwork, or gatekeeping. Its platform sits on top of a user's utility account, brokers bulk green-energy contracts, applies local incentives, and surfaces cleaner, cheaper options in one click. Founded in 2022 (originally as Cottage Energy) and based in New York City, Public Grid says it serves 25,000+ households and is backed by Redbud VC and Hamilton Ventures.

- **Founded:** 2022
- **Headquarters:** New York, New York, United States
- **Founders:** Zack Schmitz (Co-Founder & CEO), Joseph Robbins (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~30 employees
- **Products:** Public Grid platform, Renewable energy switching, Bill insights & automation, Property partner integration
- **Notable:** Reports serving 25,000+ households on its platform., Grew a team to roughly 30 people from a New York City base., Selected as a member of Greentown Labs, a leading climate-tech incubator.

## Products & services

- **Public Grid platform** — A software layer that sits on top of a user's existing utility account to scan for savings, apply local incentives, and connect them to renewable energy - no hardware or service interruption required.
- **Renewable energy switching** — Brokers renewable and community solar energy in bulk from wholesalers, letting residents move to 100% clean power in one click, often at or below their existing rate.
- **Bill insights & automation** — Usage tracking, environmental impact monitoring, bill alerts, and auto-pay so households manage energy on autopilot.
- **Property partner integration** — Multifamily/property-management integration that plugs into the resident move-in flow and shares revenue back to property partners, with no hardware to install.

## Achievements

- Reports serving 25,000+ households on its platform.
- Grew a team to roughly 30 people from a New York City base.
- Selected as a member of Greentown Labs, a leading climate-tech incubator.
- Raised seed funding from Redbud VC and Hamilton Ventures.
- Recognized among the Hudson Valley region's most promising companies (SUNY New Paltz HV Venture Hub, April 2025).

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — Recognized as one of the Hudson Valley region's most promising companies via SUNY New Paltz's HV Venture Hub.
- **2025-10** — Public regulatory filing lists Zack Schmitz as CEO of Cottage Energy Inc. (dba Public Grid) with the New York Department of Public Service.
- **2023-10** — Redbud VC published its investment thesis on Public Grid, citing its live launch in New York City.

## Links

- Website: https://onepublicgrid.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/publicgrid
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/public_grid/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/public-grid
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-03