Leaves Are Falling and Opportunities Are Calling with Scale For ClimateTech
Welcome to For ClimateTalk – For ClimateTech’s monthly newsletter highlighting upcoming opportunities for climate innovators, thought leaders, and community connectors.
Scale For ClimateTech Applications Are Now Open
Apply today to join the 2025 Scale For ClimateTech cohort! Over the course of the nine-month program, participating companies receive immersive training on manufacturing and access to an extensive network of mentors, experts, investors, manufacturers, suppliers, and more – all dedicated to making business growth, commercialization, and manufacturing easier and less costly. Scale For ClimateTech helps companies confidently scale production, meet demand, and navigate key manufacturing decisions. From early-stage Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and refining prototypes, to securing supplier and partner agreements, Scale For ClimateTech guides growing companies through each step of the process.
Click the link to learn more and apply today. Applications close on November 30th, 2024!
Funding Opportunities
Hurry: Pitch Applications for the 2025 NREL Industry Growth Forum Close November 11, 2024
The 2025 NREL Industrial Growth Forum (IGF) is celebrating its 30th year and applications to present a topic are closing soon. The IGF is the premiere event for climate tech and cleantech entrepreneurs, investors, and experts from industry and the public sector to build relationships, showcase innovative technologies, and identify disruptive business solutions. This year, the event is including a virtual pitch competition in February to better accommodate international teams and ecosystems.
Learn more and apply here.
ARPA-E Launches Second Installment of Early Career Innovator Program
The Early Career Innovator program is focused on early-career scientists and engineers converting disruptive ideas into impactful energy technologies. Each IGNIITE 2025 awardee will receive approximately $500,000 to advance research projects at universities, national laboratories, and in the private sector that will span the full spectrum of energy applications.
Read more in the press release here.
Cohort News
Switched Source Awarded $5 Million in Phase 2 Facilities Track MAKE IT Prize
Switched Source, a developer of medium voltage devices that improve utility operations through automation and S4C alumni, received $5 million from the Phase 2 in the Facilities Track of the Manufacture of Advanced Key Energy Infrastructure Technologies (MAKE IT) Prize. The prize is for demonstrating they are ready to build a manufacturing facility.
Read the full announcement here.
Hydronic Shell Technologies is Making News with New Funding
Hydronic Shell, a V4C Cohort 3 company, is aiming to decarbonize large buildings by retrofitting them with prefabricated panels that integrate HVAC systems, reducing disruption for tenants. Its innovative solution involves installing these panels on building exteriors, which connect to centralized heat pumps for efficient heating and cooling. This approach is designed to be less invasive, faster, and more cost-effective than traditional retrofits. The company recently received $250K in funding from the Empire Technology Prize and plans to begin a demonstration project in Syracuse, New York.
You can read more here in Canary Media’s story.
Active Surfaces Wins Phase 2 Award of the DOE’s Making Advanced Technology Commercialization Harmonized (Lab MATCH) Prize.
Active Surfaces, a flexible thin-film solar company from cohort 1 of Venture For ClimateTech, was recognized as a Phase 2 winner of the Lab MATCH prize by the DOE Office of Technology Transitions. Active Surfaces is collaborating with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory focused on Photovoltaic (PV) technology to drive forward innovative solutions in solar energy. The team and other winners of the award will each receive $30,000 and the ability to compete in Phase 3 of the prize.
Read more about the funding here.
Voltpost Awarded Grant in Partnership with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority from The Uptake Alliance
The Uptake Alliance awarded its inaugural collective of four startups a total of $463,000 in grant funding aimed at accelerating critical pilot projects addressing a variety of climate and energy related fields. Voltpost, the maker of retrofitted lamppost EV chargers, is collaborating with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to deploy its chargers with existing city infrastructure. The Uptake Alliance is a market demand-inspired venture development program designed to accelerate the adoption of innovative climate tech solutions by establishing stronger product/market fit with private and public offtake partners.
Learn more about the award and the Uptake Alliance here.
Ateios, Mitico, and AeroShield Make Trellis’ 25 Climate Tech Startups to Watch in 2024 List
Each year Trellis (Formerly Greenbiz) publishes a list of the top 25 climate tech companies bringing forward much needed climate solutions at the seed or series-A funding stage. These 25 companies can be a range of technologies but they must adhere to strict criteria. Of the 108 that submitted, three of the 25 companies selected were alumni from the Scale For ClimateTech program. Ateios, a manufacturer of high energy-density batteries, Mitico, the developer of modular tech to capture CO2 at industrial sites, and AeroShield, maker of clear insulation to make windows energy efficient, all were selected. The next phase winners of the online competition will be announced at Trellis’ VERGE event in San Jose, California.
Learn more about the companies in Trellis’ list here.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain News
Manufacturer & Supply Chain Partner Spotlight: Surmotech
Surmotech, headquartered in Victor, New York, is a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) specializing in electronic contract manufacturing. Since 1991, they have provided a comprehensive range of manufacturing, assembly, and testing services for industries, such as aerospace, medical, military, and optics. Their capabilities include printed circuit board assembly, electromechanical assembly, and electronic testing. By partnering with Surmotech, clients can achieve in-house manufacturing control without the financial burden. For more details on their high-quality products and services, visit Surmotech.
In case you missed it, we’re resharing Manufacturing.gov’s posted report: Advancing U.S. Manufacturing. Small- to mid-sized manufacturers can get the latest insight on trends that are shaping 2024/25 in the areas of workforce development, manufacturing supply chain vulnerabilities, and technology and innovation, along with an explanation of how the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is helping to solve these issues, including direct support to manufacturers.
Read the full report here.
Register Today for NY-BEST’s Upcoming Grid Forming Inverter Controls Webinar
As renewable penetration is accelerating in New York and nationally, the electric grid faces increasing stability challenges. When integrated with energy storage systems, Grid Forming technology (GFM) has the potential to improve grid stability while generating ratepayer savings. NY-BEST invites you to join them for a free webinar, “Introduction to Grid Forming Inverter Controls and the Opportunity for Network Benefits in New York,” on Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 1:00-2:00 PM EST. The webinar will feature subject matter experts from SMA America and Zenobe, who will provide an introduction to GFM, specifically regarding integration with battery storage systems. They will also discuss the potential benefits of GFM in NY, regulatory challenges, and recommendations to unlock this opportunity.
Learn more and register here.
Find New Opportunities—Join the New York SCP Database
If you are a manufacturer or service provider interested in joining the Scale For ClimateTech Supply Chain Partner (SCP) Database, which offers access to projects, the ability to extend your expertise by solving challenges, and revenue potential through connections and matchmaking with new clients, fill out our interest form here.