The Beyond the Meter: Energy Storage Integration Prize is a two-phase competition funded by DOE’s Office of Electricity and will foster the development of next-generation energy- storage-enabled solutions, paving the way for an efficient and affordable energy future. The prize offers a total prize pool of $3.4M in cash prizes and $800,000 in vouchers to be used at a DOE national laboratory across two phases with two separate tracks. Behind-the-meter storage is a powerful mechanism to lower costs for consumers, delivering documented annual savings for households, reducing demand charges for commercial entities, and improving net present value for system owners.

The Electrode Code seeks innovative solutions that keep magmeter electrodes clean, accurate, and dependable for longer. Success means extending the meter’s effective lifespan, reducing cleaning frequency, and maintaining the precision that industries rely on, even in the harshest environments. Winning solvers will share in a $30,000 prize pool and may earn the opportunity to collaborate directly with Emerson’s global R&D and manufacturing teams to bring their ideas from concept to commercial reality. By addressing this challenge, you’ll help shape the next generation of flow measurement , one that keeps industry moving without pause.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) is excited for the 2025 Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Startup Pitch Competition Prize program. This startup pitch competition program aims to infuse capital directly into groundbreaking startups nominated by previous EPIC Prize incubators. Through the EPIC Pitch Competition program, DOE seeks to fund organizations that are developing innovative energy hardware technologies. A minimum of two national pitch competitions for energy-related startups will be hosted in 2025, with more specific details to come early in the year.

The ITV program is funded by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). EERE works to strengthen America’s industrial sector and advance global competitiveness of U.S. industry by funding research, development, and early-stage demonstration (RD&D) of efficient, secure, and cost-effective industrial technologies. EERE funds both sector-specific technology solutions—with a focus on helping the most energy-intensive industries overcome barriers and benefit from the latest in technology innovation and strategic analysis—and cross-cutting technologies across the industrial sector. EERE also provides tailored technical assistance programs to leverage energy efficiency measures and help manufacturers save money and streamline operations.

Enel Grids, a world leader in power distribution, is currently focused on improving the reliability and quality of the Group’s grids and is looking for innovative solutions for the rapid undergrounding of overhead power lines in order to reduce the costs and time required for this important activity. If you have a cutting-edge solution, consider taking part in this challenge to win $10,000 and a chance to contribute to improving the reliability and efficiency of Enel’s MV and LV distribution systems

When a reservoir conduit cannot be closed, thousands of cubic feet of water can roar through uncontrolled, threatening public safety, irreplaceable reservoir storage, and power generation. Seal Team Fix invites engineers, fabricators, and creative problem-solvers to stop that torrent in its tracks. Your mission: design a rapid-deploying, temporary seal that can be deployed to a submerged 3- to 25-ft diameter conduit opening, accommodate differential pressure, and achieve a 95–98 % flow reduction – without leaning on trash racks or other non-structural surfaces.

The U.S. Department of Energy AlgaePrize 2025–2027

The AlgaePrize 2025–2027 Competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), supported by the Algae Foundation and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and part of DOE’s American-Made Challenges, challenges students to develop novel solutions to production, processing, and new product development, which will help lower the costs of producing algal biofuels and bioproducts. Apply by November 3rd. 

GUIDE-H2 aims to address a key challenge facing many commercial-scale hydrogen projects: delays or cancellations due to the lack of tools, training, and local support in assessing and optimizing deployments for maximum positive impact. Consistent, universally understandable indicators that can help guide deployments and accelerate progress while enabling long term sustainability can provide significant value.

It is critical that Tribal nations have the capacity to ensure that their perspectives are heard in offshore wind energy decision-making processes that may impact their communities, cultural resources, homelands, and ocean spaces. To support Tribal capacity to engage in offshore wind energy decision-making, planning, and regulatory processes, the Capacity Accelerator for Tribal Offshore Wind Engagement, managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy, is offering a $7.1 million prize pool to Tribal nations and collectives.

Startup Runway is a pitch competition and investor introduction platform for existing businesses led by women and founders of color headquartered in the United States. At this time, we do not take applications from outside of the United States. If your company is still ‘an idea’ please do not submit. Companies with an MVP and a few customers are the most competitive. We also do not take submissions from startups who have previously been chosen by a top ranked national accelerator such as 500 Startups, Gener8tor, YCombinator or Techstars. Startup Runway’s investor introduction platform works for business models that are scalable and looking for funding to grow. Criteria for selection include that your startup has raised less than $200K in investments. The next Showcase will occur on March 6 in Atlanta!