Solar Prize Round 7

Is your team prepared for today’s Solar Prize Round 7 deadline? Submissions are due by 5 p.m. ET today, Sept. 27! 

To enter, competitors must identify a critical need in the solar industry, develop a transformative solution pathway, and make a plan to build a proof of concept for that solution. 

A complete submission package for the Ready! Contest should include the following items:

• Submission form, including Connector Recognition Reward nominations
• 90-second video (to be made public)
• Cover page content
• Narrative that answers four questions about the problem, solution, team, and plan (not to exceed 2,500 words)
• Optional - JEDI Contest Submission (not to exceed 500 words)
• One summary PowerPoint slide (to be made public)
• Technical assistance request (to be made public)
• Letters of commitment or support. 

All documents other than the video must be uploaded as a PDF. Make sure you closely review the rules for full details about what to include in each section.

Your submission may also include an entry into the optional Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Contest that describes how your organization is integrating JEDI principles into your innovation. And don’t forget to tell us about you, your team—and what gives you a competitive edge (view the Official Rules for complete submission requirements). 

Applications are due at 5 p.m. ET and late submissions will not be accepted. We highly recommend uploading your submission early to avoid any technical difficulties. You can also post a question in the HeroX Forum or email the prize team at  if you experience issues uploading your submission.  

Good luck! 

If you’re applying for Solar Prize Round 7, make sure your application is submitted by Sept. 27, 5 p.m. ET! We highly encourage you to apply early to avoid technical difficulties. The submission portal closes at 5 pm ET sharp, so make sure you hit submit before then!

Make sure you’re familiar with the Official Rules and what’s expected of each submission. Get ready to tell us about a critical need in the solar industry, your solution for meeting that need, and how you plan to build a proof of concept for this solution. Remember, we’re looking for something that has the potential to be commercialized in 3 to 5 years. 

Would your solution help accelerate solar adoption in underserved communities? We encourage you to include an entry in the optional Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Contest that describes how your organization is integrating JEDI principles into your innovation. 

Looking for inspiration to get your submission over the finish line? Solar Prize alumni have shared their success stories and advice for competitors in a few short videos. Check them out now!

We strongly encourage competitors to engage the American-Made Network to gain help and support, especially Power Connectors who are available to help provide feedback and guidance on your submission. You can also stream the informational webinar to catch up on prize basics, post a question in the HeroX Forum, or email the prize team at .  

And don’t forget—even if your submission doesn’t win the Ready! Contest, it may be eligible for the Power Up Contest, which offers cash prizes and tailored business support to get your submission ready for a future prize. 

We look forward to seeing your innovative concepts! 

New resources are available for teams preparing to apply for Solar Prize Round 7! Power Connectors VentureWell and ADL Ventures have created several helpful videos, or learning modules—with more on the way—covering key topics that can be helpful for potential applicants. 

Check out the following as you’re preparing your submission to learn more about how to best position your innovation: 

• Intro to Non-Dilutive Funding and the Advantages of the Prize Mechanism 
• Economic Value Creation 
• Customer Discovery 
• Successful Business Model and Value Proposition Design in Solar

You can access these learning modules, along with future videos, in the HeroX resources tab.

As a reminder, the Power Connectors are available to provide free submission support! Contact one of the Power Connectors for application review and assistance.

If you have further questions, stream the informational webinar recording, view the presentation slides, or reach out to prize administrators at . And don’t forget: The deadline for all submissions is Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. ET. Just click “Solve This Challenge” on the HeroX page!

Does your idea or innovation have the potential to be in the solar marketplace within 3 to 5 years? The ability to commercialize your program or product is a key piece of the Solar Prize Round 7, but what exactly does that mean? 

Commercialization is the process of taking a research-based idea and turning it into a business-based solution ready for widespread adoption by customers. Participation in the Solar Prize enables you to advance your impactful solar technology idea through the proof-of-concept and prototype phases of the commercialization process. 

For the purposes of the Solar Prize, you should demonstrate that your idea can complete the commercialization process in 3 to 5 years. The complete commercialization process can include steps related to:

1. Research and development – If you’ve completed this phase, you are prepared to enter the Ready! Contest. Winners have an impactful idea or solution for a solar technology that could be commercialized in 3 to 5 years, addressing a critical need in the solar industry.
2. Proof of concept - The Set! Contest is your opportunity to substantially advance your technology or solution toward a viable and promising proof of concept.
3. Prototype - The Go! Contest helps you substantially advance your technology or solution from proof of concept to a refined prototype and find a partner to perform a pilot test of the prototype.

After completing these early phases of the commercialization process, you’ll be prepared to advance to the remaining phases after the competition concludes:

4. Testing and optimization

5. Mass production scale-up and manufacturing

6. Regulatory approvals

7. Market analysis and strategy

8. Launch and distribution

Remember, your Solar Prize entry must be capable of completing this commercialization process (phases 1 to 8) within 3 to 5 years. If you aren’t quite sure how to plan for commercialization, reach out to a Power Connector for support on developing your plan. 

We look forward to reviewing your Round 7 Ready! Contest applications, due by Sept. 27!

If you’re applying for Solar Prize Round 7—and attending RE+ in Las Vegas—make sure to check out the full schedule of American-Made events happening throughout the conference. It’s a great way to connect with partners and get prepared to submit your application on Sept. 27! 

View the full schedule of interesting and informative events and networking opportunities. 

Monday, Sept. 11

• American-Made Mixer Hosted by University of Arizona Center for Innovation
  5:30–7:30 p.m. | The Oak Room Whiskey and Tequila Bar (Venetian Hotel)
  Join us for an opportunity to mix and mingle with UACI staff as well as American-Made network members and team members, and past and present prize competitors. Light appetizers and cash bar will be provided; please RSVP if you’d like to join this free event!

Tuesday, Sept. 12 

• Booth Pop-Up: Community Solar Prizes & Opportunities
  1–2 p.m. | Booth #18028
  Hear about the array of American-Made community solar prizes open for submissions, and learn more about how to find resources, support, and additional funding for your community solar initiatives. 
   
• Booth Pop-Up: Solar Prize Power Connectors 
  2–3 p.m. | Booth #18028
  Applying for Solar Prize Round 7? Join the American-Made team, VentureWell, and University of Arizona Center for Innovation to learn how Power Connectors can provide resources and feedback to help your application stand out.
   
• Solar Prize Round 6 Go! Demo Day & Winner Announcement
  4–6 p.m. | Innovation Stage
  Come see the nation’s top solar innovators take the stage to pitch their solutions to the industry’s top challenges, then stick around to find out who wins the $500,000 prize!

Wednesday, Sept. 13

• Panel: Increasing Renewable Energy Workforce Development in Underserved Communities
  9:30–10:30 a.m. | Innovation Stage
  Listen in on this engaging discussion, featuring members from a diverse pool of government and industry organizations, to learn about workforce development strategies, priorities, and how we can strengthen our energy workforce by bringing in more diverse experiences and perspectives.
   
• QuickTalk: How Your Startup Can Win Big
  11–11:30 a.m. | Innovation Stage
  Stop by to learn how the American-Made program can help take your startup to the next level with no-strings-attached funding for your energy innovation. 
   
• Booth Pop-Up: American-Made Network
  1–2 p.m. | Booth #18028
  The American-Made Network is made up of more than 400 organizations that offer help to prize competitors and startups. Come learn how to use the Network to find support for your startup—or consider joining the Network to help solve some of the nation’s leading energy challenges! 
   
• American-Made Innovators Coffee Chat with ADL Ventures 
  3:30–4:30 p.m. | Booth #18028
  Join Connector ADL Ventures for an opportunity to chat with other industry leaders and professionals about upcoming prizes and competitions, hear about other opportunities to connect with investors, and enjoy light refreshments!