The Keeper of One of the Coolest Corners at Greentown Labs
"You help them grow, and then they leave." That's how you measure success – whether you’re a parent or a Wet Lab Manager at Greentown Labs.
Part scientist, part coach, part problem-solver, Olesya Mantussova is one of the people behind the scenes at Greentown Labs, helping climate startups scale safely, collaborate effectively, and ultimately graduate.
FUN FACT: While she may not have a favorite start-up, she does pick favorites among periodic elements: Oxygen (O) & Carbon (C) – “because they are the primary composition of life.” And Tungsten (W) - "because why 'W’? It's so unexpected, I love it."
Founders may get the headlines and technologies may attract the attention… but behind many of those success stories are people like Olesya who create the conditions for innovation, solving problems before they become roadblocks, and helping climate startups build safely, responsibly, and successfully.
Capital Energy's Ted Butler has been part of the Greentown community for more than seven years. Despite hundreds of visits, he'd never actually stepped inside the Wet Lab. His key fob simply didn't have clearance.
So when Olesya offered a tour, the answer was an immediate yes. And it’s one of the coolest places you’ll see at Greentown – both in vibes and in temperature.
The Wet Lab is literally cooler than the rest of the building. With chemicals, solvents, and sensitive materials throughout the space, lower temperatures are part of the design.
Of course, the technology is pretty cool too.
Dressed in Greentown-issued white lab coats and safety glasses, we followed Olesya through the lab as she pointed out everything from explosion-proof fume hoods and shared experimentation spaces to a minus-80-degree freezer and sophisticated analytical equipment.
But what stood out most wasn't the equipment - it was the pride she showed in the people and the place. As we walked the space, Olesya introduced each startup with the enthusiasm of someone talking about close friends or family members (or, maybe favorite children).
Because in many ways, they are.
Originally a business major at Salem State University, Olesya eventually found her way to chemistry and began building a career in medicinal chemistry at Novartis and Vertex.
"I wanted to manage a facility, and I've always been interested in climate tech," she told us. "The Wet Lab Manager role at Greentown was a perfect combination of both."
Her mission is simple: Help startups grow and scale safely.
"The goal isn't just managing the lab," she explained. "It's helping companies grow to the point where they can graduate."
That philosophy requires something that doesn't appear in most laboratory manuals: trust.
The best support happens when founders feel comfortable sharing what they're working on, where they're headed, and the challenges they're facing. Those relationships allow Olesya and the Greentown team to help companies avoid costly setbacks and scale more effectively.
"Our primary job is to keep them safe," she explained. "Because the innovations they're working on are so novel, a lot of the things they're doing have never been done before. You don't always know what's going to happen, so we need to make sure everything is being done in a safe environment."
Ultimately, she sees her role as helping companies transform something new and unpredictable into something stable enough to bring into the world.
And what a collection of companies it is:
Adiabatic Materials, Green Chemicals / Electrochemistry
ATOM-X, Clean Fuels / Electrochemistry
Matterworks, Biotech / Life Sciences Tools
PooPoof Inc., Environmental / Waste
Elementium Materials, Energy Storage / Batteries
Tato Labs, Sustainable Materials / Bioplastics
Repsire Energy, Energy Storage
LiftOFF Technology, Energy Storage / Batteries
Laminar, Industrial IoT / Smart Manufacturing
NeuroBionics, Bioelectronics / Med-Tech
Within a few steps, you can encounter startups working on next-generation battery technologies, green methanol for marine shipping, bioplastics derived from potato starch, smart manufacturing systems, and even hair-thin brain implants that could one day eliminate the need for invasive open-brain surgery.
Companies swap ideas. Neighbors solve problems together. Founders make introductions. Unexpected collaborations emerge. Sometimes those interactions lead to entirely new partnerships.
That's Greentown magic.
Helping teams take a realistic, phased approach to growth is often one of the most valuable forms of support she can provide. And when it comes to safety, Olesya jokes that one of her most important tools is her phone that’s used to document issues, track improvements, and create learning opportunities for the community.
We wrapped up our visit with a very poignant, very important question that every Mug Shots! guest should expect:
If the Wet Lab had a theme song, what would it be?
Without hesitation she responded: "Slipping Through My Fingers" by ABBA.
Not because the lab is chaotic. Because the startups are, in the best possible way.
You help them grow. And then they leave.
We're grateful Olesya took the time to share her story with us, and even more grateful for the work she does every day to help climate innovators turn possibility into progress.
