The DOE Voucher Program builds bridges between U.S. entrepreneurs, businesses, technology developers or other relevant partners and third-party voucher providers to advance commercialization of innovative energy technologies. The first submission window solicits proposals from potential voucher providers. As part of the application form, potential providers will submit the details of their capability statement, including the technical scope, deliverables, price, and throughput of the capability. Voucher Opportunity (VO-1) addresses key adoption risk areas faced by companies leaving the research and development stage, through supporting activities including:

• Bankability studies (including insurability evaluation)
• Manufacturing/supply chain assessments
• Techno-economic analyses
• Lifecycle analyses
• Market readiness analyses
• Community benefit assessments
• and more.

mPOWER programs are designed to rebalance opportunity and access for startups building physical products that are founded by women and people of color. Harnessing the existing resources of the nation’s leading independent innovation center for physical product companies, each participant receives hands-on support to turn ideas into hardtech businesses. To be eligible for the next mPOWER cohort, you must have a clear problem that you are solving with a physical product, be building a product or business that impacts the Black community, and can dedicate 7-10 hours a week during the 6-month program beginning in August 2024.

The $2.1 million TCF Open Voucher Call will help facilitate the commercialization of scientific discoveries by helping to identify pathways by which technological breakthroughs can make their way to market. Although a variety of technologies will be considered, applicants are encouraged to leverage the capabilities and initiatives of the National Laboratories when developing their ideas so they can further develop their technology alongside the National Lab. Successful applicants will receive vouchers—valid for testing and validation, use of specialized equipment or software, simulation or modeling, consulting, or various other requests from a National Laboratory—which will ultimately allow them to advance their technologies. In this way, the call will foster a culture of curiosity and collaboration while bridging the gap between scientific expertise and public engagement.

Evergreen Climate Innovations works with Nicor Gas to support entrepreneurs who are making a positive environmental impact throughout Illinois. Recipients of the Nicor Gas Multicultural Innovator Award receive a non-recourse grant of $25,000, 12-months of business mentorship from Nicor Gas and Evergreen Climate Innovations, and heightened exposure to both investors and potential customers.

Dream.Org’s Climate Tech LaunchPad is helping Black and Brown innovators scale cutting-edge ideas that move the needle on climate equity. The cohort will focus on climate justice, prioritizing solutions including electric transportation, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and more. The cohort will also learn how to leverage Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund dollars to fund these projects. Each entrepreneur will create their own milestone development plan towards investment readiness, growth and impact.

Through this R-STEP Opportunity, The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is requesting applications from state-based collaboratives aiming to increase state and local capacity for large-scale renewable energy planning and siting. R-STEP will also serve as a platform for Collaboratives to share learnings and best practices with other stakeholders. A single application should be submitted by a team of organizations interested in working together to form a collaborative. DOE highly encourages state energy offices (or equivalent state agencies) and university extension offices to lead or participate in applications but recognizes that the organizations best suited to perform these activities will vary from state to state. Applicants are encouraged to team with other organizations including, but not limited to: Tribal governments, universities, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations. DOE also recommends that teams include organizations familiar with the needs of local communities in the state. They should have experience providing educational or technical assistance services to local communities and have technical expertise on renewable energy siting topics (e.g., environmental impacts, tax policies, land use, zoning ordinance development).

With over a decade in the books, our program leverages the vast expertise of the Boston ecosystem to accelerate the growth of disruptive and cutting edge innovations in the areas of health tech, sustainability/climate/AgTech, future of work, robotics, the built environment, and AI/ML by providing founders with unparalleled access to top mentors, investors and experts in our community.

• Acceleration in a 90-day Techstars mentorship-driven accelerator program with personal mentorship and office space;
• Lifetime access to the Techstars worldwide network of entrepreneurs, including more than 10,000 mentors, 10,000 investors, 4,000 alumni companies, and over 300 staff members;
• Each company receives up to $120,000 in funding, and access to the worldwide network of investors, hands-on mentorship, and over $4M of perks.

Techstars Los Angeles powered by J.P. Morgan is open to founders of any and all backgrounds, with a focus on Black, Hispanic and Latino, Indigenous American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs building startups in healthcare, wellness, B2B SaaS, Deep Tech, Energy, Robotics, FinTech, Mobility, Logistics, PropTech, CPG, and Climate Tech. Through game-changing investment community partnerships, together we will take steps towards dismantling institutional, structural, and systematic barriers that often limit opportunities.

• Acceleration in a 90-day Techstars mentorship-driven accelerator program with personal mentorship and office space;
• Lifetime access to the Techstars worldwide network of entrepreneurs, including more than 10,000 mentors, 10,000 investors, 4,000 alumni companies, and over 300 staff members;
• Each company receives up to $120,000 in funding, and access to the worldwide network of investors, hands-on mentorship, and over $4M of perks.

This program is designed to provide equitable access to funding and support for Black, Hispanic and Latino, Indigenous American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs who are building the future of Commerce Technology, Consumer Brands and Platforms, the Creator Economy and ClimateTech. Through game-changing investment community partnerships, together we will take steps towards dismantling institutional, structural, and systematic barriers that often limit opportunities.

• Acceleration in a 90-day Techstars mentorship-driven accelerator program with personal mentorship and office space;
• Lifetime access to the Techstars worldwide network of entrepreneurs, including more than 10,000 mentors, 10,000 investors, 4,000 alumni companies, and over 300 staff members;
• Each company receives up to $120,000 in funding, and access to the worldwide network of investors, hands-on mentorship, and over $4M of perks.

Are you an entrepreneur looking to scale a transformative climate technology? Are you invested in scaling a solution that brings both climate and social impact? Elemental Excelerator is a leading nonprofit investor focused on scaling climate solutions and social impact for all communities. Elemental provides an initial investment, usually in the form of SAFEs or convertible notes, to help complete specific milestones tied to the program. Up to $3M is available for climate solutions with deep community impact.

CalSEED supports early-stage entrepreneurs in delivering projects that respond to clean energy, efficiency, or storage needs while considering equity of access and benefit, ensuring these technologies are working to serve California’s most vulnerable populations. As the first step in California’s innovation pipeline, the program incubates energy concepts and readies them for investment and deployment by providing:

• Targeted professional development services including mentorship with seasoned professionals, legal counsel, expert guidance, and training to support technology refinements, market development, and commercialization.
• Direct, non-dilutive grant-based funding to advance clean energy innovations to commercialization ($150K for Concept Awards, and a $450K Prototype Award to winners of the annual Business Plan Competition).
• Access to key accelerator and incubator programs and test facilities.
• Enhanced access to private capital.

The Southern California Energy Innovation Network (SCEIN) is a free program for startups that are developing solutions to help California meet its energy goals. The program provides access to the resources and facilities of a number of regional partner organizations (listed below) and connections with industry in order to accelerate the commercialization of emerging energy technologies.