At Cradle to Commerce, we curate the most compelling climate technologies from 4 national labs. We connect inventors and entrepreneurs with these curated climate technologies, and with critical resources such as state-of-the-art test beds, prototyping facilities, and seed funding for technology advancement. We provide entrepreneurship training and access to early commercialization partners, mentors, and investors.

Join the world’s largest multi-sector commercialization program for emerging deep technologies. Showcase, pitch and connect your innovations for licensing and investment opportunities with leading corporate, investment and federal prospectors.

This funding opportunity will establish the Onsite Energy TAPs, which will help facilities across the nation integrate the latest onsite energy technologies by providing specialized technical assistance that can range from initial site screenings to identify onsite energy opportunities to more advanced analysis to support project installations. The TAPs will have expertise to advise on a wide variety on technologies, including battery storage, combined heat and power (CHP), district energy, fuel cells, geothermal, industrial heat pumps, renewable fuels, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, thermal storage, and wind power.  Topic Areas:

1. Regional Onsite TAPs: Funding for up to 10 entities to serve as regional Onsite Energy TAPs. Each TAP will represent a multi-state region and serve as the primary technical, market, and policy point of contact for end-users and other state and local stakeholders.
2. Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center: Funding for one national entity to serve as the Onsite Energy Technical Analysis and Support Center (TASC). The TASC will centrally coordinate technical analysis and programmatic activities of the Onsite Energy TAPs.

The launch of the $50M 2030 Fund signals to the market that Massachusetts is increasing its commitment to the commercialization of climate technologies. MassCEC invests impactfully and countercyclically in Massachusetts’ brightest climate technology innovators.  Our investments support climatetech companies as they de-risk their technology, reach early commercial milestones, and attract growth funding. Equity investments average about $500k in early-stage financings. MassCEC also offers venture debt, ranging from $100k to $1.5M.

Since 2013, IncubateMass has provided funding to Massachusetts incubators with the goal of growing the clean energy innovation ecosystem and commercializing cleantech startups through incubator membership. This funding supports incubator activities such as

• build-out of facilities or infrastructure
• equipment purchases
• networking events and workshops
• growing strategic clusters
• professional development of incubator staff

Grants are up to $175,000 per year and award payments are typically tied to incubator management deliverables and startup member milestones.

The Catalyst Program provides grants of up to $75,000 to researchers and early-stage companies looking to demonstrate initial prototypes of their clean energy technologies. Specifically, the program is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of transforming new ideas from the research stage to commercially viable technologies to increase industry and investor interest. All awardees gain access to a vast network of partners, expert local market and policy insights, and mentoring from MassCEC and MassVentures, while all finalists receive complimentary pitch coaching and business mentoring.

In parallel with Catalyst, MassCEC and MassVentures will award up to two additional grants of up to $75,000 each for projects led by eligible (certified or certifiable) women-owned or minority-owned early-stage companies, to demonstrate initial prototypes of their clean energy technologies.

With multiple cohorts per year, we have regular opportunities to apply to join the Long Beach Accelerator. During the program, founders will be aligned with mentors to help them hack their business into the best shape possible to scale and grow and appeal to investors. To qualify for the program, founders must have a scalable technology start up, be able to demonstrate traction in their business and be venture capital backable. Applicants that fall within a competitive industry or vertical (Logistics/Supply Chain, HealthTech, GreenTech, BlueTech, Aerospace, Cybersecurity, and EdTech) will be considered with higher priority.

Now in its third year, the AWS Space Accelerator, delivered by TechConnect, is a hybrid technical, business, and mentorship opportunity open to space startups from around the globe who are looking to power their space missions using AWS. The 2023 programming will take place from May 1 – May 25. Applications are open now through March 6. Startups will advance to a final round of selection on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) manages the DOE’s Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP). The MPP helps increase participation and maximize opportunities for small businesses to work with the Department. The DOE’s MPP seeks to foster long-term business relationships between small businesses and DOE prime contractors and to increase the overall number of small businesses that receive DOE prime contracts and subcontracts.

This program encourages DOE prime contractors to assist small disadvantaged businesses (SDB) certified by SBA under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (8(a)), other small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned small businesses (WOSB), service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSB), veteran-owned small businesses (VOSB), historically underutilized business zone (HUBZone) small businesses, historically black colleges and universities (HCBUs), and other minority institutions of higher learning to enhance their capabilities and improve their abilities to perform contracts and subcontracts for the DOE and other federal agencies.

For more information about the DOE’s Mentor-Protégé Program, contact the OSDBU office at 202-586-7377 or by email at SmallBusiness@hq.doe.gov

Because the challenges climate tech startups face are not one-size-fits all, our flexible and virtual 18-month accelerator is designed to meet your startup exactly where you are. From day one you get matched with a D³ connector, who acts as your bridge into our powerfully curated network of partners.