Solar Prize Round 5 Hardware Track

Today is the deadline to submit your innovation to the Solar Prize Round 5. Make sure your full submission is uploaded no later than 5 p.m. ET!

 As a reminder, here’s what you need to submit to the Hardware Track: 

• 90-second video (public)
• Cover page content
• Narrative that answers four questions about the problem, solution, team, and plan (not to exceed 2,500 words)
• One summary PowerPoint slide (public)
• Technical assistance request (public)
• Letters of commitment or support (optional).

, Round 5 requires you to create an account in our new Network Matchmaking Tool. Make sure you review the rules carefully and use the submission template to complete your entry. Submissions must be in by 5 p.m. ET today, though we highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays. 

Don’t miss your chance to earn $50,000 in the Ready! Contest—submit your Solar Prize Round 5 Hardware Track submission now!

Don’t forget to submit your Solar Prize Round 5 Hardware Track innovation by 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 5!

With only a few days left until the Round 5 submission deadline, now is the time to finalize your submission elements and get your application uploaded to HeroX. As a reminder, here’s what you need to submit to the Hardware Track: 

• 90-second video (public) 
• Cover page content
• Narrative that answers four questions about the problem, solution, team, and plan (not to exceed 2,500 words)
• One summary PowerPoint slide (public)
• Technical assistance request (public) 
• Letters of commitment or support (optional).

Make sure you review the rules carefully and use the submission template to complete your entry. Submissions must be in by 5 p.m. ET, though we highly recommend uploading your submission as early as possible to avoid connectivity issues or upload delays. 

Don’t miss your chance to earn $50,000 in the Ready! Contest—submit your Solar Prize Round 5 Hardware Track submission now!

Reminder:  Round 5 requires you to create an account in our new Network Matchmaking Tool. Make sure you are signing up as an “Innovator” and provide information about what your needs are related to your innovation. You can also connect directly with our American-Made Network (our connectors) who are willing and able to help you with your submission! Once you sign-in, you will be able to complete your Technical Assistance Request (TAR) form. This is a necessary step for your submission and separate from the HeroX platform. Please make sure that you log-in early and get connected here:  Network Matchmaking Tool.

Looking for more assistance with your Solar Prize Round 5 submission? Take advantage of several Power Connector-led events this week! 

Office Hours with ADL Ventures

AMC Power Connector ADL Ventures is offering free one-on-one feedback sessions for Solar Prize competitors. At these sessions, ADL will be available to answer your questions about submission best practices, the application process, and suggestions for how to improve your submission. 

Sessions start on Sept. 21, so be sure to secure a 30-minute meeting time now! 

Solar Prize Round 5 Town Hall

Join Banks and Company in partnership with Power Connector Clean Energy Business Network in a Solar Prize 5 town hall meeting on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. ET to hear about how the Solar Prize is designed to accelerate solar innovation. Hear from prize administrators and learn how to compete for a share of the $4.6 million total prize pool! 

Learn more and register for the town hall.

Powering Forward: Building a Diverse Clean Energy Economy from the Ground Up

The eighth episode of the web series Powering Forward, hosted by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and the Clean Energy Business Network, explores strategies to strengthen diversity and inclusivity in the clean energy economy. During this live event on Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. ET, they’ll also discuss the Solar Prize Round 5 as a case study, as it seeks to recruit a diverse pool of applicants and focuses on promoting greater justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in solar access. 

Learn more and register to hear the live event.

Don’t forget, submissions are due Oct. 5, so utilize these opportunities for support before it’s too late! 

Find out how you can protect your startup’s intellectual property (IP) at this webinar on Sept. 16, brought to you by Power Connector ADL Ventures. Register here. 

As a budding small business owner or a serial entrepreneur, one of the most valuable pieces of property your business will own is its IP. Protecting your name, brand identity, or design may potentially have significant effects on your success. 

Join Power Connector ADL Ventures on Thursday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. ET for a webinar focused on IP protection fundamentals for tech startups and entrepreneurs. ADL Ventures will be joined by guest speakers from smart grid solution startup PACE, cellulose-based material developer InventWood, and legal experts from national law firm Babst Calland. 

Tune in to learn how to protect your IP as a startup or research team, especially as you get ready to compete in the Solar Prize Round 5. Register for the webinar here.