Challenge Overview
The American-Made Solar Prize Round 8 is a multimillion-dollar prize competition designed to energize U.S. solar innovation through a series of contests that accelerate the entrepreneurial process from years to months. Competitors leverage the American-Made Network, our innovation engine of more than 400 organizations, including world-class experts at the U.S. Department of Energy’s 17 national labs, clean tech accelerators, incubators, universities, facilities, and more.
Through the Solar Prize Round 8, teams have the chance to win part of more than $4.2 million in prizes to help them advance in the competition and accelerate the development of their solution toward commercialization.
JEDI Contest: Creating Space for Change
The Solar Prize Round 8 includes an optional additional challenge that focuses on advancing solar in underserved communities. Participants whose solutions advance solar in underserved communities have the chance to be considered for a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Contest and earn part of the $200,000 bonus cash prize!
Power Up Your Idea
For those who have a great idea but need a boost to take their innovation to the next level, the Solar Prize Round 8 offers the Power Up Contest. This contest is designed to support and advance new and diverse teams that have compelling applications but aren’t selected to advance to the Set! Contest. Up to 10 teams may be selected to split a $100,000 prize pool and participate in the Power Up Program, where they will receive tailored business support.
This support will help them refine their technology development road map, improve their business plan, and validate their product/market fit.
The Power Up Program ends with the Power Up Pitch Competition where the Power Up teams can compete for a chance to win complimentary passes to an industry conference.
More than $3 Million in Incentives for Innovation
The Ready!, Set!, and Go! Contests fast-track efforts to identify, develop, and test disruptive solutions to solar industry needs for a total of $3 million in cash prizes and $900,000 in vouchers that can be used at national laboratories and other voucher facilities to develop, test, and validate. Each contest has a performance period when participants work to advance their solutions.
The Ready!, Set!, and Go! Contests
- Ready! Contest
20 winners / $50,000 cash prize each and optional JEDI Contest prize / Power Up Contest
Winners are selected after identifying an impactful idea or solution addressing a critical need in the solar industry; - Set! Contest
10 winners / $100,000 cash prize each and optional JEDI Contest prize
Competitors work to substantially advance their technology solution toward a viable and promising proof of concept. - Go! Contest
2 winners / $500,000 cash prize each and optional JEDI Contest prize
Up to 10 eligible finalists who submit to the Go! Contest / $90,000 support voucher each
Competitors work to substantially advance their solution from proof of concept to a refined prototype and find a partner to perform a pilot test of the prototype.
Read the rules for full details on each contest.
Showcasing Progress
During the competition, competitors in the Set! and Go! Contests participate in live events to discuss and pitch their innovations to a review panel. These events result in the selection of finalists and winners.
- Set! Virtual Interview Day: The culminating event of the Set! Contest is a virtual interview day, where semifinalist teams answer questions from a panel of expert industry reviewers.
- Go! Demo Day: The grand finale of the Solar Prize is a live, in-person pitch event, where finalists present their innovations to a panel of expert industry reviewers, fellow competitors, and a public audience at the RE+ Conference.
Round 8 seeks hardware and software solutions alike. The prize invites anyone, individually or as a team, to transform a conceptual solution into an impactful product and business.
Connecting You to the Innovation Engine
The American-Made Network provides support to Solar Prize competitors throughout the competition and is comprised of national labs, incubators, investors, facilities, and seasoned industry mentors. The American-Made Network strengthens and scales the critical connections needed to grow new businesses, develop solutions, and sustain American innovation.
Join and connect with network members
Who Can Compete?
Competitors are entrepreneurial individuals or teams legally residing or based in the United States. Competitors can be individuals of one or multiple organizations, students, university faculty members, small business owners, researchers, or anyone with the desire and drive to transform an idea into an impactful solution.
Sign up for updates by “following” the prize at the top of this page.
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 follow feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at .
Looking for assistance with your submission? Contact one of our Power Connectors!
All of these Power Connectors can answer questions and provide application assistance, make introductions to partners and teammates, and more. For information on the role of the Power Connectors, please refer to the Official Rules: https://www.herox.com/solarprizeround8/resource/1868
- University of Arizona Center for Innovation - Amanda Buchanan:
- ADL Ventures - Nicole Jacobsen,
- IVT - Nannette Stangle-Castor, : IVT is a WOSB with a team of commercialization experts driving interest in and adoption of new technology innovations and businesses. We work across numerous sectors, including energy, to evaluate market potential and fit, positioning businesses for success. Our team of SMEs in engineering, strategy, and communications have supported businesses from launch, through funding, and beyond for the past 20 years.
- VentureWell - Sarah Wharmby,
If you are looking for JEDI support, we highly encourage you reach out to our JEDI Power Connector:
- Encolor Consulting - Rachel Dortin,
The American-Made Solar Prize is a multimillion-dollar prize competition designed to energize U.S. solar innovation through a series of contests that accelerate the entrepreneurial process from years to months. The American-Made Solar Prize is directed and administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office. Learn more.
