The Office of Science (SC) hereby announces its interest in applications to advance basic research in support of the Department of Energy’s Energy Earthshots™ initiative. This FOA is a collaborative effort across three SC research programs: Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, and Biological and Environmental Research. This FOA will support small teams to build the scientific foundations for the Energy Earthshots:

• Hydrogen Shot
• Long Duration Storage Shot
• Carbon Negative Shot
• Enhanced Geothermal Shot
• Floating Offshore Wind Shot
• Industrial Heat Shot

Each year, we choose over 500 early-stage companies to join one of our 3-month, mentorship-driven accelerators, investing $120K and providing hands-on mentorship and access to the Techstars network for life. Techstar Accelerator locations include cities around the U.S. as well as a number of international locations. Once you’re selected for an accelerator, you’ll be part of the Techstars community for life. Expand your business and expand your network with access to a talented group of founders, investors, mentors, and industry leaders.

The MECC invites selected teams to identify a promising market within the blue economy and to determine the best marine energy application within that market to address. Over the course of school year, teams develop materials for two required contests and one optional challenge, outlined below. Teams present their work at the MECC final event, typically held in conjunction with a Spring industry event. MECC teams compete in four required contests:

• Business Plan Challenge: Teams will identify a promising market within the blue economy (either a market identified in the WPTO Powering the Blue Economy report or another potential market within the blue economy) and determine, within that market, the best marine energy application to address. Submissions in this challenge will count for approximately 28% of the total final score.
• Technical Design Challenge: Teams will evaluate the performance requirements in their chosen blue economy market by identifying and interviewing at least three potential end users. Teams will complete a detailed design of a marine-energy-powered device to serve those end users. Submissions in this challenge will count for approximately 30% of the total final score.
• In the Build and Test Challenge: Competitors will build a scaled prototype of their concept and perform a series of lab tests. The submissions in this challenge will count for approximately 16% of the total final score.
• Community Connections Challenge: Competitors will foster connections with the broader marine energy industry and with their local community. The submissions in this challenge will count for approximately 26% of the total final score.

This competition invites interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate and graduate students to:

• Develop a case study on hydropower’s role in a future power grid supported by 100% renewable energy and the associated opportunities and challenges of incorporating the hydropower fleet into this future power grid.
• Partner with hydropower industry professionals to learn about career opportunities in the hydropower industry
• Conduct educational events to raise awareness of hydropower in their communities.

Bio-Solutions Startup Program 2023 Global Edition is seeking applications from startups that have developed a technology and/or business model with high growth potential and looking for a strategic partner and investor. Applicants should be at the pre-seed/seed financing level and technology should be Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 and up. The program is aimed at startups in existence for more than one year and with a minimum of two employees. We are looking for startups with solutions in eucalyptus biomass and/or sustainable packaging domains. As our goal is to have a great impact, we seek applications with large scale potential.

Key Facts:

• Free 10-week business education program focused on Black women sole proprietors
• $2,000 program stipend
• All-expense paid trips to Goldman Sachs in NYC
• Access to a powerful network of Black women entrepreneurs and strategic advisors

Participants will:

• Learn how to scale a profitable business, effectively price products/services,
• manage business finances, create loyal customers and hire for growth and more
• Develop, present, and receive feedback on a business action plan
• Attend in-person orientation and graduation sessions
• Attend online classes with built-in flexibility for their schedule
• Meet with advisors, mentors, and other business leaders

IgniteX is a DOE EPIC Prize-recognized 12-week primarily virtual program designed to empower start-ups offering scalable solutions for critical human infrastructure. Program participants partner with Black & Veatch experts to co-develop, pilot, and market their new technology. Participants receive mentorship, access to our vast industry network, product testing opportunities, pitch development coaching, investor introductions, and potential funding up to $50,000.

We help startups from around the world developing clean energy solutions achieve technical and commercial milestones that accelerate development, establish market adoption, and expand their reach by:

• Growing your business and sparking investment opportunities
• Expanding your network (Access to mentors, resources, investors, talent, potential customers, industry leaders, potential pilots, field trials, demonstration projects, and technical and commercial expertise)
• Building or refining your brand
• Perfecting your pitch
• Receiving a non-dilutive company stipend

The E-Team Program, part of the VentureWell Accelerator, supports student ventures as you embark down the path you’re likely to take as an innovator and entrepreneur. We help you advance your invention through a powerful mix of up to $25,000 in grant funding, entrepreneurship training, mentorship by dedicated staff, national recognition, and networking with peers and industry experts.

Do you have an idea that can change the world? Every year, we award over $800,000 in non-dilutive E-Team grants to early-stage innovator teams that develop scalable innovations which aim to solve a large social, health, or environmental challenge.

ASPIRE is a five-week 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.

The DPE Water Power Technologies Office is launching the Innovating Distributed Embedded Energy Prize (InDEEP) to encourage innovation in distributed embedded energy converter technology  to generate new, precommercial materials for wave energy conversion. This prize will challenge innovators from within and beyond wave energy to design and develop novel materials for marine energy applications that will lay the foundation for generating electricity at the grid scale.

This three-phase, two-year competition is offering a combined cash prize pool up to $2.3 million. Teams will also receive technical support, teaming support, and other forms of mentorship throughout the prize to enable their success.

Apply to Phase I by August 23.