Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize Round 2

Yes, but it’s quick and easy. Just click the “Solve this Challenge” button on this page and follow the instructions to complete your registration. All you need to provide is your name and email address.

If you have a question not answered in the FAQ, we recommend that you post it in the Forum where someone will respond to you. This way, others who may have the same question will be able to see it.

You can also send an email to .

OTT welcomes incubator organizations that aid in the development of new business ventures, business accelerators, co-working start-up communities, or any other organizations that self-identify as advocates for innovation and entrepreneurship to compete in EPIC. The competition is open to private organizations (for-profits and nonprofits), nonfederal government entities (such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities), and academic institutions that meet all eligibility requirements. For more information, review the official prize rules.

Innovation is about making ideas happen. The American-Made Network will accelerate and sustain solar innovation through a diverse and powerful network that includes national laboratories, energy incubators, facilities, and other valuable industry partners from across the U.S. who will engage, connect, mentor, and boost the efforts of Solar Prize competitors.

See who is in the network.

Connectors are the core component of the American-Made Network and are organizations that seek to support the efforts of competitors in the Solar Prize. Use this link to explore the Network to find potential partners and develop relationships.

https://americanmadechallenges.org/network

Power Connector organizations are a core group of Connectors that will work alongside NREL to implement parts of the program and secure additional resources and partners.

Discover who they are and how they will help innovators succeed.

https://americanmadechallenges.org/power_connectors

If you encounter an issue when attempting to submit an entry to the challenge, you may need to contact HeroX or the Prize Administrator.

You may try to connect with HeroX using the online form which appears in the bottom right corner of your browser window, it says Leave a Message.

You may also send a message to the Prize Administrator inbox at  .

Please allow at least 1 business day for a response.

All of your files are uploaded as part of the submission form, access this by clicking the Begin Entry button.  The submission form contains an upload option for each of the required file entries.  Only PDF files will be accepted for upload.

New programming at an established incubator is considered Track 2 – Established Incubator. However, competitors should apply to Track 1 – New Location or Emerging Incubators if they are opening an incubator in a new location - defined as being in a different state from your existing locations.

We recognize that each incubator operates differently and offers different programming. “Supporting 30 or more start-ups” means providing some sort of direct programming, mentoring and commercialization assistance, hosting regular networking opportunities for start-ups, 1:1 consulting, or offering in-kind services to these organizations.

Refer to the criteria on page 13 of which track organizations should apply to. Two of the following statements must be true for an incubator to be considered established:

• Has been incorporated for 5 or more years
• Has provided support to 30 or more start-ups
• Has seen more than $1.5 million in third-party investment flow through the organization in support of start-ups
• Has companies in its portfolio that have reached a combined total of over $100 million in third-party investment.

Yes – organizations that have or are expecting to receive DOE funding can apply for the EPIC Prize, as long as their EPIC Prize concept is new or different from their existing funding. 

New programming is defined as a new offering to your current clientele or a current offering targeting a new clientele group. Competitors must submit a plan for an activity currently not conducted at the incubator.

Competitors may define their region. This can be within one county, state, multi-state, etc. You are the expert on the needs of your area. 

No. Competitors may define “start-up” or “energy entrepreneurs or innovators” in whatever way makes contextual sense for their organization.

No. Your organization can support a variety of stakeholders. However, the minimum viable program proposed through the EPIC Prize should focus on supporting energy entrepreneurs.

For this Bonus Prize, WPTO seeks to support activities that enable economic development, entrepreneurial ventures, and job growth in water power and/or the blue economy. Details about the requirements for each Bonus Prize are found in Appendix 3: Core Incubator Bonus Prizes.

Yes. Winners of Design It! and Bonus Prize winners are all eligible to move forward to the Move It! phase. 

Prizes are awarded for the work completed prior to the submission deadline. In this case, $50,000 is awarded at the end of the first phase (Design It!) for the development of the plan for the minimum viable program. Ideally, competitors should be able to leverage other resources to implement their minimum viable program over the Move It! and Prove It! phases. Additionally, the EPIC prize specifically asks for a minimum viable program, leaving the competitor to identify what “MVP” is achievable in their context.