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 program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) has been provided over $2 billion for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvement grants for agricultural producers and rural small business owners through 2031. Rural Development is accepting applications for six quarterly competitions with the following deadlines:

• June 30, 2023
• September 30, 2023
• December 31, 2023
• March 31, 2024
• June 30, 2024
• September 30, 2024

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 FOA provides funding for research, development, and demonstration to:

• Improve the efficiency, increase the durability, and reduce the cost of producing clean hydrogen using electrolyzers to less than $2 per kilogram by 2026
• Advance new manufacturing technologies and techniques for clean hydrogen production and use equipment, specifically for electrolyzer and fuel cell technologies
• Create innovative and practical approaches to increase the reuse and recycling of clean hydrogen and fuel cell technologies

The following topics, in two areas of interest, are included in this funding opportunity.

Area of Interest 1: Clean Hydrogen Electrolysis Program

1. Low Cost, High-Throughput Electrolyzer Manufacturing
2. Electrolyzer Component and Supply Chain Development
3. Advanced Electrolyzer Technology and Component Development

Area of Interest 2: Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing and Recycling

1. Fuel Cell Membrane Electrode Assembly and Stack Manufacturing and Automation
2. Fuel Cell Supply Chain Development
3. Recovery and Recycling Consortium

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to increase the scale and pace of advancing discoveries made while conducting academic research into tangible solutions that benefit the public. This is the primary aim of the “Accelerating Research Translation” (ART) program. Specifically, the primary goals of this program are to build capacity and infrastructure for translational research at U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and to enhance their role in regional innovation ecosystems. In addition, this program seeks to effectively train graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in translational research, benefiting them across a range of career options.

Do you want your company featured during the annual WCS  Pitch Competition? Competition is tight as there are ten pitching slots for female-led startups. Apply now and show us what you’ve got! The 4th WCS pitch competition will feature 10 female-led startups. The competition is centered around the WCS mission statement: furthering the roles of women in growing the green economy and making a positive impact on the environment. The event is to take place on virtually on Friday, June 9th 2023.

Start-up eligibility:
– Current funding stage from seeking Seed funding to recently closed Series A
– Company is led by women, either as Founders, CEOs or in the C-Suite
– Solving a cleantech or sustainability challenge, either hardware or software

Given the pressing need for technologies that are critical for furthering several fields within FECM’s strategic vision (specifically, carbon dioxide removal, hydrogen production with carbon management, mineral sustainability, and methane mitigation), FECM has elected to fund this lab call and associated program. This solicitation offers an opportunity for private industry to partner with DOE’s National Labs to advance energy-related technologies and Lab intellectual property (IP) toward commercialization.