Demonstration and Commercialization (approx. TRL 6-9)
Phase II: Small Business Research Innovation/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
The DOE has released Phase II of the FY23 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This funding opportunity is open to small businesses that have previously received DOE SBIR or STTR grants to provide additional opportunities to compete for funding to develop working prototypes of their discoveries.
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Net Zero Accelerator
With a focus on piloting projects in real world, trackable implementations, we aim to rapidly drive measurable adoption of net zero solutions, today. We pair our Cohort companies with experts to encourage scalable solutions, promote awareness of their solutions to the right audience, and focus a strong emphasis on placing technology pilots with building partners that support a net positive future. All to make net zero carbon, energy, water, and waste a reality for LA, and beyond. Join us and become a net positive part of our net zero future. Key focus areas: waste, water, carbon, energy, and related (such as infrastructure, landscaping, indoor air quality, clean construction, and more).
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Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities – USDA
Up to approximately $1 billion will be made available for the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities projects through this funding opportunity, which will build markets and invest in America’s climate-smart farmers, ranchers, and forest owners to strengthen U.S. rural and agricultural communities. Through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, USDA will support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities through a set of pilot projects that provide voluntary incentives through partners to producers and land owners, including early adopters, to:
- implement climate-smart production practices, activities, and systems on working lands,
- measure/quantify, monitor and verify the carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits associated with those practices, and
- develop markets and promote the resulting climate-smart commodities.
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ASPIRE
ASPIRE is an intensive program that prepares startups for the investments and partnerships necessary to launch their venture. Mentors-in-residence work one-on-one with startups to simulate due diligence conversations and integrate feedback into deal room materials in real-time. You will work with high-caliber mentors throughout the program that have experience investing or partnering with startups like yours. Startups will leave with a clear articulation of their investment needs, including the investment ask and planned milestones for the round. Take part in a mock board meeting to prepare yourself for fundraising and investor conversations. Spend time creating and refining deal room materials to use during the fundraising process. Invest your time and energy into work product for a deal room discussion, not a demo day pitch. Work through real-world disaster scenarios with your team to discover how to best prepare for the unexpected. Connect with fellow founders and leverage the VentureWell investor network after the program ends.
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Early Entrepreneur Bootcamp
Future Founders invites you to apply for the Early Entrepreneur Bootcamp, which is sponsored by the AB InBev Foundation (ABIF) with the financial and technical support provided by ZX Ventures. A six-month program focused on supporting founders from underrepresented populations (e.g., Black, Hispanic, female, non-binary), the Early Entrepreneur Bootcamp will guide early-stage entrepreneurs as they navigate the journey of launching their own business. Participation in the program will be 100% virtual and built on a framework of live skill-development workshops covering topics ranging from design thinking and customer discovery, to leadership, communication, and pitching. Founders who successfully complete the attendance and participation requirements of the Early Entrepreneur Bootcamp will also receive a $5,000 non-dilutive grant to help kickstart their business.
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Mining Cleantech Challenge 2022
The Mining Cleantech Challenge efficiently provides targeted connections between mining industry operators, OEMs, and clean technology solution providers with a mutually beneficial goal of meeting industry’s needs while at the same time introducing innovative solutions to the marketplace. Innovative solutions providers will complete a competitive vetting process, after which 10 – 12 companies will be invited to present their technologies to the partners and sponsor/judges. There are no geographic restrictions or requirements for participating companies. The program will be held virtually on zoom on April 21, 2022.
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Respond 2022: Regenerative Economy
The Respond accelerators works with entrepreneurs to support a regenerative economy where companies not only stop causing harm but restore resources that were lost to society and the planet, while still being profitable. They are looking for innovations relating to: responsible use of resources, fair and sustainable production and consumption, and/or healthy and resilient ecosystems.
The RESPOND Accelerator is a 6-month startup accelerator program that systematically advances how entrepreneurs lead, grow and scale sustainable businesses. Based in Munich, operating internationally and online. Applications are due February 27.
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Aspen Climate Cohort
The climate cohort of the Hub Fellowship is a 10-week, full-time, paid program that trains engineers, scientists, technologists, and business experts who already understand climate how to better apply their ideas to policy. Jointly hosted by the Aspen Tech Policy Hub and the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program, the first climate cohort is tentatively scheduled from June 2 to August 12, 2022. The program will be a mixture of in-person and online learning, pending COVID-19 restrictions. Applicants of all backgrounds with technical expertise in climate change are eligible to apply. Admitted applicants receive an $18,000 stipend to enable their participation.
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The Nicor Gas Multicultural Innovator Award (Illinois)
Together with Clean Energy Trust, Nicor Gas is proud to support the launch of the Nicor Gas Multicultural Innovator Award – a $25,000 equity and inclusion grant to support the development of a clean energy technology startup with a minority founder or CEO. In addition to the grant, recipients of the inaugural award – part of Clean Energy Trust’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiative – will receive 12 months of business mentorship and heightened exposure to investors and customers. Entrepreneurs and businesses making a positive environmental impact throughout the state will be considered.
Small Illinois businesses, or those with a substantial presence in the state, with a focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart buildings and cities, energy storage, water, ag-tech, digital solutions for operational efficiencies, reduced maintenance costs, customer engagement and/or worker training and management may be eligible to apply for the award. Other company criteria include:
- Founder or CEO who identifies as Black, Indigenous and/or person of color
- 2-12 full-time employees
- No more than $3 million in funding raised; must be able to demonstrate at least three to six months of funding runway
- Can be product or service-based; does not need to be market-ready, but is preferred
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The U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award
Evergreen Climate Innovations is on a mission with the U.S. Bank Foundation to support underserved and underrepresented cleantech entrepreneurs. The U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award is a grant awarded to entrepreneurs who are female and/or people of color and who are building innovative companies that benefit the environment, create jobs, and drive economic development.
Recipients of the Cleantech Inclusion Award receive a non-recourse grant of $25,000, 12-months of business mentorship from U.S. Bank Foundation and Evergreen Climate Innovations, and heightened exposure to both investors and potential customers.
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FORGE Product Development Grant
The FORGE Product Development Grant (FPDG) is non-dilutive funding awarded to a startup(s) to support the development of a physical product. This Supply Chain Disruption offering is dedicated specifically to remedying the effects of global supply chain disruptions on cleantech oriented startup companies.
The goal of the grant is to remove barriers to scale and manufacturing, providing the necessary funds for disruption driven redesigns, or to offset part markups driven by disruptions, or to build critical inventory as a guard against future disruptions, or other creative solutions to mitigating disruptions.
This grant will range between $5k-$25k, and must be used by the winning startup(s) to address a specific supply chain challenge, informed by an accompanying quote and/or work order.
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Clean Hydrogen Production, Storage, Transport and Utilization to Enable a Net-Zero Carbon Economy
This FOA will develop technologies enabling clean hydrogen production, transport, storage, and use in the energy sector, including electricity, heat, transportation, and industrial use. The development of these technologies supports the ambitious goals for a greenhouse gasneutral economy by 2050, a carbon pollution free power sector by 2035, and a fifty percent reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net greenhouse gas pollution by 2030. See Amendment 6 FOA for up-to-date information on Areas of Interest.
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