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American-Made Challenges

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Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize Round 2

The Office of Technology Transitions EPIC Prize incentivizes incubators that implement high-impact ideas to support energy startups.

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stage:
Prove It! Winner Announcement
prize:
$4,000,000 Prize Pool

This challenge is closed

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Summary
Timeline
Updates13
Forum8
Teams356
Entries
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FAQ
Summary

Overview

The American-Made Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize recognizes the nation’s most innovative incubators. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions (OTT), the EPIC Prize awards cash prizes to regional incubator teams that submit the most creative and impactful plans to develop strong clusters, connections, and support for energy startups and entrepreneurs. 

Technology startups often require more than just capital to launch, grow, and scale innovations. Regional incubators are crucial in providing entrepreneurs mentorship, technology validation, business development, connections to manufacturers, and more to strengthen the America’s clean energy future. The prize seeks to address a capital gap in supporting these critical organizations by providing funds to be applied where incubators need them most. Providing capital to enable creative, forward-thinking organizations is necessary to allow these groups to think more expansively about the role of incubators in the broader regional innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Core to the EPIC Prize Round 2 is the incubator program, which consists of three phases: 

  • Design It! 
  • Move It! 
  • Prove It! 

The Move It! and Prove It! phases will also include a pitch competition in which incubators can nominate local energy startups for a chance to win up to $50,000.


Guidelines

Please review the official rules  for the complete application process and instructions for competing.

If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please subscribe by using the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .

Timeline
Updates13

Challenge Updates

Announcing EPIC Prize Round 2 Winners 🏆

Nov. 1, 2023, 12:27 p.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Congratulations to the four winners of the EPIC Prize Round 2! During the final phase, teams demonstrated that their plans were successful, and their programs could replicate and scale. Selected teams will take home a total of $500,000 for their impactful solutions that strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems, energy startups, and America’s clean energy future.  

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Join us in congratulating the EPIC Prize Round 2 winners! 

The Deployment Engine (Charleston, WV) – ADL Ventures is creating a low-carbon, mass deployment accelerator that connects innovative decarbonization technologies with construction industry customers and deployment opportunities in Appalachia.  

REACHing founders @ the Food, Energy & Water Nexus (Fort Collins, CO) – REACH's accelerator is dedicated to supporting founders at the nexus of food, water, and energy through innovative programming and embedded engineers-in-training (EITs). 

Energy & Mobility Innovation in Michigan (Hadley, MA and Detroit, MI) – Ascend by VentureWell bridges the gap between customer discovery and investment readiness in Detroit by focusing on emissions reductions, smart mobility technologies, infrastructure development, and job creation. 

LabStart: Accessibility to Lab IP Entrepreneurship (Golden, CO) – LabStart is helping launch and accelerate clean energy companies led by people from underrepresented communities and based on technology from DOE National Laboratories. 

You can find more information about the prize, winning teams, and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions on energy.gov

Read the full announcement on energy.gov


Announcing EPIC Pitch Competition Winners!

July 18, 2023, 12:38 p.m. PDT by National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Congratulations to the five winners of the second EPIC Prize Pitch Competition! Hosted in New Orleans at the DOE Small Business Forum and Expo, eight startups took to the stage to pitch their clean energy technologies to four industry experts and a diverse audience of investors, government officials, national labs, and small businesses.

Each startup was selected by competing incubators in the American-Made EPIC Prize, and five startups won over $160,000 for their groundbreaking technologies. 

Secretary of Jennifer M. Granholm delivered an inspiring speech and presented their checks, and the EPIC Prize incubator that nominated the first-place startup won $25,000. 

All competing startups each showcased impressive technologies that are driving sustainability forward in our nation. 

EPIC Pitch Competition Winners: 

Read the full press release on energy.gov.


Join Us for the Next EPIC Pitch Competition!

June 15, 2023, 8:52 a.m. PDT by National Renewable Energy Laboratory

We’re excited to invite you to the next EPIC Pitch Competition happening at DOE’s 2023 Small Business Forum & Expo on July 11-12 in New Orleans. Come out and support your fellow competitors as our eight nominated teams pitch their cutting-edge clean teach ideas to a panel of expert judges.

Connect with potential investors, network with other industry experts, and gain insight on the rapidly growing world of clean tech during one of the many breakout sessions. Plus, the Department of Energy’s Secretary Granholm will be there at the announcement of winners on Day 2!

Learn more about the event and register to attend here.


EPIC Pitch Competition Finalists Have Been Selected!

June 7, 2023, 8:36 a.m. PDT by National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Nominated by contestants in the EPIC Prize, 8 teams have been selected to compete in the upcoming EPIC Pitch Competition July 11-12 at the Department of Energy Small Business Forum and Expo in New Orleans.

These eight teams are headed to the Big Easy to pitch their clean tech ideas to a panel of judges for a chance to win the $100k grand prize:

Congratulations to our finalists! Cheer on the teams at the competition, and join Secretary Granholm on Day 2, where the winners will be announced! 

Register today for the Small Business Forum and Expo to attend: https://www.energy.gov/osdbu/2023-small-business-forum-expo


Announcing EPIC Prize Round 2 Finalists!

April 17, 2023, 12:36 p.m. PDT by NREL Prize Administrator

Congratulations to the teams selected to move onto Phase 3 as EPIC Prize Round 2 finalists! These 10 incubators and accelerators will each be awarded $100,000 in cash prizes for implementing their high-impact ideas that are catalyzing place-based energy innovation. See below for the full list of finalist teams.

All Phase 2 participants will receive reviewers’ comments within the next few weeks. For those teams selected to move onto Phase 3, check your email for next steps. We will be sharing a registration link to the Phase 3 informational webinar soon. 

EPIC Prize Round 2 Finalists:

  • ADL Ventures (Charleston, WV)
  • Black and Veatch (Overland Park, KS)
  • Clean Energy Business Incubator Program (Stony Brook, NY)
  • VentureWell (Hadley, MA)
  • FORGE (Somerville, MA)
  • GPV Solutions (Austell, GA)
  • Positive Deviancy (Sterling, VA)
  • LabStart (Golden, CO)
  • REACH (Fort Collins, CO)
  • Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (Los Angeles, CA)

You can find more information about the prize, semifinalist teams, and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions on energy.gov

Read the full press release on energy.gov. 

Congratulations again!


Forum8
Teams356
Entries

Design It - Core Incubator Prize

PowerNorth Incubator
The PowerNorth Incubator matches energy startups with regional corporate partnerships for product refinement and accelerated market entry.
by Nina Axelson
Operation FemBet - Betting On Women Founders
Our idea is to use our hard tech incubator residency program to specifically recruit women founders and advisors to get to an equity round.
by Daybreak Labs
Educating VCs: Advancing Innovation
We teach venture capital investing to women, minorities + those not well networked in tech circles or top universities.
by être Venture Capital
Accelerating the Underestimated and the Overlooked
GPV seeks to positively impact underestimated & overlooked communities with cleantech upgrades using underestimated & overlooked founders.
by Green Power Ventures
Energizing the Blue Economy
Engaging entrepreneurs with industry to advance marine energy and blue economy solutions into the market, leading to pilot projects.
by Ann Lee Carpenter's team
Pathways to Success
Pathways to Success is an outcome based program for solar companies to reach specific milestones in their startup journey.
by University of Arizona Center for Innovation
Idea Foundry Energy Innovation Incubator
Idea Foundry's Energy Innovation Incubator catalyzes the commercialization and global deployment of energy innovation from Southwestern PA.
by Lindsey Matesic
Texas GridTech Accelerator
Growing technology ventures that offer solutions to reduce strain on the energy grid in rural and disadvantaged communities in Texas.
by Anna Rolsma
Connecting Energy Ecosystems Across Texas
A 12-month virtual incubator to connect, support, and enhance Texas hard-tech startups with sector-specific development and insight.
by Erin Autin's team
Northeast Building Systems Incubator Program
Climate Incubator, LLC will deploy the Northeast Building Systems Incubator Program to successfully guide entrepreneurs and startups.
by Climate Incubator
Regional Innovation Start-up Studio
We will build a start-up studio that professionally builds new hard-tech U.S. manufacturing from research conducted at university labs.
by Pegasus Technology
Manufacturing Expertise-In-Residence
FORGE will leverage Experts in Residence with domain knowledge to provide additive, special manufacturing-focused support to startups.
by Anya Losik
Low-Carbon Mass Deployment Accelerator
Low Carbon Mass Deployment Accelerator for Construction Hard-Tech Innovation in Appalachia.
by ADL Ventures
ARIEL Offshore Energy Innovation Program
ARIEL leverages innovation to address tough offshore energy challenges, reduce costs, improve environmental stewardship, and grow startups
by Jerry Cronin
Energy and Mobility Innovation in Detroit
Ascend bridges the gap between customer discovery and investment readiness focusing on energy related venture acceleration.
by VentureWell
Launching the Diverse Companies of the Future
We will establish a fellowship and additional funding pathways to support diverse founders through our accelerator.
by Devin Sandon
view all

Move It - Core Incubator Prize

Pilot-to-Profit: GPV Solutions
GPV built a platform of BIPoC founders to provide energy solutions to a pipeline of energy projects at institutions in BIPoC communities.
by Dr. Green Power
Seaworthy Collective Founder Mentorship Program
The Founder Mentorship Program provides bespoke support for startups on a monthly basis, equipping participants with business fundamentals.
by Tamara Kahn
Pegasus - Designed to soar
Pegasus startup studio is designed to professionally commercialize innovations. Startup studios have 44% better results than incubators.
by Pegasus Technology
New Energy New York ChargeUp
New Energy New York ChargeUp provides a comprehensive suite of complementary training/microgrant modules focused on major startup gap areas
by Olga Petrova
The Deployment Engine
The Deployment Engine connects hard-tech innovative building decarbonization technologies with customers and deployment opportunities.
by ADL Ventures
PowerNorth Incubator
The PowerNorth Incubator matches energy startups with regional corporate partnerships for product refinement and accelerated market entry.
by Nina Axelson
Pilots to Connect Climate Tech and Community
Technology Partner Program MVP => process and collaboration tools to support entrepreneurs scale # of pilots in N. New England & Upstate NY
by IoT Conduit
SPARK VIRGINIA @ Dominion Energy Innovation Center
SPARK VIRGINIA will help Virginia outpace decarbonization goals by accelerating the commercialization of advanced energy systems.
by Dominion Energy Innovation Center
Xcelerating Black Building Tech Startups
A regional partnership community to grow and support climate justice, building technology start-ups by Black and underserved entrepreneurs.
by NWX
ClimateHaven: A New Haven for Climatetech
ClimateHaven is a climate tech incubator leveraging the manufacturing and research prowess of southern Connecticut to catalyze ventures.
by Kiko Wong
ARIEL Offshore Energy Innovation Program
ARIEL leverages innovation to address tough offshore energy challenges, reduce costs, improve environmental stewardship, and grow startups
by Jerry Cronin
LabStart: Accessibility to Lab IP Entrepreneurship
LabStart is a non-profit with the mission to launch and accelerate women and BIPOC led clean energy companies.
by Troy Daley's team
MEIRs & Innovation Advisors
FORGE will expand a pool of on-call experts with deep domain knowledge to provide special manufacturing-focused support to startups.
by Anya Losik
NM Energy Testbed Access Pathways (ETAP)
The NM Energy Testbed Access Pathways will maximize access to testbeds, eliminate redundancies and support energy technology advancements.
by Arrowhead Center at NMSU
REACHing founders @ the Food, Energy & Water Nexus
We're growing our accelerator supporting founders at the nexus of food, water, and energy through innovative programming & embedded EITs
by Scott Shrake
BlueSwell PATHS Targeted Internship
BlueSwell and UMASS Boston's' PATHS program expand bluetech startup capacity with internship opportunities for students of color in STEM
by BlueSwell team
view all

Prove It - Core Incubator Prize

view all
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