Deadline:
As soon as possible
Location(s)
Online
Overview
FLOW's Rocket Fund is a granting pool that helps academic and garage innovators turn their technologies into commercial realities through financial support and entrepreneurial education. The Rocket Fund program, founded by California’s six major utilities, the Moxie Foundation and Caltech's Resnick Sustainability Institute, and supported by a membership consortium of industry experts, provides non-equity grants for building commercial prototypes and testing with customers. Awards range from $25,000 - $75,000 and there are opportunities for matching grants.Launched in 2015, four Rocket Fund companies have already secured million dollar + contracts with customers and first round VC funding approaching $20 million. Scope includes two tracks:, sustainability ( e.g. renewables, CO2 mitigation, transportation, agriculture/food/water/energy nexus) and utility and grid (e.g. energy efficiency, demand response, storage, the distributed grid and data energy management).
Details
The Fund is an exclusive program of the Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech,which is dedicated to supporting the cutting-edge research and creative problem solving necessary to change the balance of the world’s sustainability. The Rocket Fund enables sustainability-related innovations to progress towards commercial reality, where they can have an impact beyond the university laboratory.
In partnership with the Emerging Technologies Coordinating Council (ETCC), a consortium of California utilities, and the Moxie Foundation, the Fund provides awards from $25,000 - $75,000 to help students or new graduates starting companies turn lab innovations into product prototypes, ready for testing with customers.
Interested candidates should check Rocket Fund Guidelines and fill out the Rocket Fund Application Form which will then be screened for eligibility. Selected applicants prepare a business presentation for further consideration by Rocket Fund Advisors. Those moving forward will be invited to present in person to the Rocket Fund Review Panel of technical and industry experts. Those receiving an award sign a Memorandum of Understanding agreement focused on fulfilling the goals outlined in the application but otherwise unrestricted.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Eligibility
- The Rocket Fund supports companies led by students, new graduates and garage entrepreneurs. We do accept a number of pre-commercial, validated proof-of-principle research projects with commercial promise; however, it is important that the project leader be actively considering or be on the way to incorporation, and connecting with potential partners and customers.
- Ventures may not have received equity capital totaling more than $750,000 prior to selection as a Rocket Fund winner.
Dates
Deadline: As soon as possible
Cost/funding for participants
Why You Should Apply
- $25,000 - $75,000 in non-equity grants for cleantech startups
- Opportunity to work with California’s largest utilities
- Introductions to experts in product development, scale up and manufacturing
- Access to legal advice, channels to lab testing facilities and expertise and funding opportunities
What the Fund Covers
- Validated lab scale software or hardware technologies
- Topics: Energy Efficiency; Demand Response; Smart and Microgrid; Data Analytics and Energy Management; Zero Net Energy technologies; Energy Storage; Renewables and Agriculture/Water Energy Nexus. For a complete list, check the Rocket Fund Application Guidelines.
- Fund’s scope: Initial product design; commercial engineering; prototype build out; field testing; equipment purchase; select consulting support for specialized tasks such as programming user interfaces and manufacturing process development and scale up; product certification; lab testing for technology/product validation and manufacturing.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
