CalSEED offers up to $600,000 to early stage startups!

CalSEED offers up to $600,000 to early stage startups!

Feb 13, 2018

Here’s a funding source for early stage startups that provides some great opportunities.  The California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) will begin accepting applications for the California Sustainable Energy Entrepreneur Development (CalSEED) program this week. CalSEED offers upto $600,000 in funding for high potential entrepreneurs who are passionate about clean tech and working on very early stage new energy ideas. This is part of a $1.6 Million dollar grant through CalCEF and the CEC. Innovations from CalSEED grants, including hardware, materials science, software-based applications and design solutions, will propel California leadership in building a clean energy future.

Last year Sacramento based Start up Lucent Optics was selected as a winner and presented at the EPIC forum last week.  They are using the grant to fund development of their light diffuser. Check out Epic Symposium Recap.

CalSEED is one of several initiatives funded by the California Energy Commission to advance energy innovation. With the VC model for clean tech broken public sector investment is one of the best was to stimulate the cleantech economy. Don’t miss tomorrow’s CalSEED event on the 28th floor of 801 K Street, being put on by CleanStart Partners The Grant Farm and BlueTech Valley.

Check out our Event on Grants!
Check Out the CalSEED Workshop!
Thomas Hall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

Sponsors

SMUD
CMC
RiverCity Bank

Weintraub | Tobin, Revrnt, Moss Adams, PowerSoft.biz, Greenberg Traurig

EPIC Symposium 2018 Recap

EPIC Symposium 2018 Recap

Feb 8, 2018

At the annual Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) Symposium leaders of California’s commitment to sustainability met to share the latest research, innovation, and plans for a better future.  Lead by the California Energy Commission (CEC) this was the top place to be. In attendance were CleanStart partners The Grant Farm and BlueTech Valley taking an active role, Progress Report companies Lucent Optics and CarbonBlu.

The leading fireside chat was led by Matt Peterson (LACI President), and featured panelists Dr. David Zoldoske and Jason Anderson from Regional Energy Innovation Clusters BlueTech Valley and Cleantech San Diego respectively, and Ilan Gur, founder of Cyclotron Road. All stressed that there is more demand for their services and the inefficiency of the VC model in supporting cleantech. They also noted getting an idea to a deliverable stage is critical to success. Dr. Zoldoske highlighted this is amplified in sustainable agriculture because innovations cycles are constrained by crop cycles.

From there EPIC kicked off with packed sessions on Resilience for Disaster Recovery, Battery Storage, and Building Efficiency.  Look for CleanStart Associate Kate’s Blog

Halfway through the day Sherri Pittman and Danny Kennedy of CalCEF introduced CalSEED and invited four startup companies from the prior years grant round to pitch. Sergey Vasylyev, Ph.D., founder of Sacramento based Lucent Optics, shared his innovation with the attendees.  Lucent Optics use light diffusion and concentration to better utilize solar light in offices.  

One of the more interesting panels at EPIC was Scaling-Up Clean Energy Solutions for Low-Income Customers. Panelist Maria Stamas of the Natural Resources Defense Council stressed we have the tools to reduce the carbon footprint of low-income areas right now. Stephanie Chen of Greenlining Institute highlighted projects in Australia and  regions around the world that have taken initiative to adopt current cleantech in sustainable development focused on underserved communities.

EPIC makes available over $160 million per year for clean energy development and demonstrations, of which the CEC administers about $130 million.  This event was the kickoff for the planning of how to allocate these funds going forward.  CleanStart will be watching this process closely to be sure our community knows what opportunities are available.  

Thomas Hall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

Sponsors

SMUD
CMC
RiverCity Bank

Weintraub | Tobin, Revrnt, Moss Adams, PowerSoft.biz, Greenberg Traurig

ARB and CEC opportunities for a Happy New Year!

ARB and CEC opportunities for a Happy New Year!

Jan 10, 2018

Happy New Year!  CEC and CARB making over $750 million available for clean transportation projects

If you have some innovative clean transportation technologies that can be used in a project to reduce reduce GHG and air pollution emissions, take a look at a couple of funding announcements that came out at the end of the year.  They provide a great “heads-up” on where opportunities will be in 2018.

The whopper is from the California Air Resources Board, which has allocated $663 million to fund clean car, truck, and bus projects in the coming year.  See this link to read the details.  The money is targeted mostly to provide subsidies to those who want to buy clean transportation equipment, with about $400 million focused on freight trucks and buses.  There is also an objective to fund projects that benefit disadvantaged communities.  If you can come up with an idea that fits these objectives and helps you commercialize or deploy your technology, give this funding notice a look.

The California Energy Commission is obligated to devote $100 million per year to alternative and renewable fuel technology for transportation and has released its plan for allocating that money.  See this website.  Some of the solicitations under this plan have already been issued, with deadlines for proposal at the end of January.  The projects they have in mind deal with hydrogen refueling infrastructure, with making renewable hydrogen, with uses of natural gas in vehicles, and with electric vehicle recharging infrastructure in disadvantaged communities.  This CEC money is a bit more on the R&D side, but also favors projects.

Thomas Hall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gary Simon is the Chair of CleanStarts Board. A seasoned energy executive and entrepreneur with 45 years of experience in business, government, and non-profits.