Climate and Energy Projects

EFN has a twenty year history in training and mentoring hard, energy and climate tech entrepreneurs.  In 2023, we mentored and trained over 500 entrepreneurs and innovators.  Our major programs and partners are the U.S Department of Energy (DOE), the State of California, and major accelerators, universities and platforms including Activate Global, Clean Tech San Diego, the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, University of Michigan, U.S Embassies in South Korea, Australia, and Spain, and the Empower Innovation Network.  These are some of our projects with the U.S. DOE.

Robotics Competition – Competition to invent robots to enhance building energy performance.  EFN mentors advised 10 finalists.  The grand prize winner, a  professor at UC Berkeley, said that without EFN’s mentoring and help, winning would not have been possible.

Solar Incubator and SBIR Programs – EFN provides coaching and training to solar and water technology startups 

InDEEP – New wave energy technologies have the potential to power much of the nation’s grid. Competitors of this prize will use innovative methods to identify DEEC-Tec components and materials that have high techno-economic potential for wave energy converters.  

Microbattery Design Prize – This prize was awarded to designs for microbatteries to support new uses for small electronic devices with improved performance, safety, and recyclability.

Carbon Management Collegiate Competition – This competition tasked students to propose a regional carbon transport network.

Inclusive Energy Innovation – This prize enabled and enhanced business and technology incubation, acceleration, and other community and university-based entrepreneurship and innovation in climate and clean energy technologies.

Buildings Up – This prize supported actionable and scalable solutions to advance energy efficiency and efficient electrification upgrades in existing U.S. buildings.

Energizing Rural Communities – This prize supported innovative partnerships and finance plans to help rural or remote communities develop clean energy demonstration projects.

Community Energy Innovation Prize – The Community Energy Innovation Prize aims to support local organizations with proven track records of engaging underserved communities and/or promoting environmental, climate, and energy justice as they enact community-led climate and clean energy solutions.