Exelon climate investment backs Continuum

Exelon’s climate investment arm has become a minority investor in artificial intelligence-powered infrastructure and transmission planning company Continuum Industries. The move aims to accelerate grid planning efficiency across Exelon’s family of utility companies as electricity demand surges.

Faith Davis, who leads Exelon’s Climate Change Investment Initiative, known as 2c2i, confirmed the investment. The 2c2i fund has a $20 million remit to support startups that catalyze climate solutions within Exelon’s major market areas. While the specific amount invested in Continuum was not disclosed, the fund typically makes equity investments of at least $100,000 and up to $300,000.

The 2c2i portfolio and its goals

Exelon launched its climate investment arm in 2019. The 2c2i fund targets startups whose technologies can advance social equality and economic prosperity in the regions Exelon serves. Companies backed by the initiative have subsequently raised more than $555 million in follow-on funding, created over 3,558 jobs, generated more than $548 million in revenue, and led to 1.2 million metric tons of avoided or removed carbon dioxide emissions.

The fund’s current round of applications closes on September 27. Last month, Exelon added sustainable energy and grid solution companies Public Grid and Backstop to its 2c2i cohort.

Continuum’s AI platform

Continuum Industries, launched in 2018, developed the Optioneer platform. The AI-driven software helps companies plan grid connections, conduct automated environmental risk and land impact analysis, and map the risks, constraints, and impacts of infrastructure projects. Continuum says it has used the platform to screen more than 420,000 miles of infrastructure alternatives, helping developers find the lowest-impact and fastest-to-permit solutions.

Davis said the fund was drawn to Continuum by the growth and opportunity in its market, as well as the confidence and technical expertise of its founding team. She noted the transmission planning space is an area where utilities are actively looking for ways to make processes quicker and more efficient given rising electricity demand.

Deployment and collaboration

As a member of the 2c2i cohort, Continuum will have an Exelon liaison assigned to help it scale. The Optioneer platform is expected to be deployed across Exelon’s family of companies, which operate in the PJM interconnection transmission region across five states and the District of Columbia. Continuum will work with Exelon to identify and prioritize where to deploy the platform across its system.

Exelon, one of the largest investor-owned utilities in the U.S., first connected with Continuum in December 2025. Davis added that technologies which help utilities build infrastructure or run existing infrastructure more effectively are a key focus area for the fund. Exelon will work with Continuum to identify and prioritize deployment locations for the Optioneer platform across its system.