Key Facts:

• Free 10-week business education program focused on Black women sole proprietors
• $2,000 program stipend
• All-expense paid trips to Goldman Sachs in NYC
• Access to a powerful network of Black women entrepreneurs and strategic advisors

Participants will:

• Learn how to scale a profitable business, effectively price products/services,
• manage business finances, create loyal customers and hire for growth and more
• Develop, present, and receive feedback on a business action plan
• Attend in-person orientation and graduation sessions
• Attend online classes with built-in flexibility for their schedule
• Meet with advisors, mentors, and other business leaders

IgniteX is a DOE EPIC Prize-recognized 12-week primarily virtual program designed to empower start-ups offering scalable solutions for critical human infrastructure. Program participants partner with Black & Veatch experts to co-develop, pilot, and market their new technology. Participants receive mentorship, access to our vast industry network, product testing opportunities, pitch development coaching, investor introductions, and potential funding up to $50,000.

The E-Team Program, part of the VentureWell Accelerator, supports student ventures as you embark down the path you’re likely to take as an innovator and entrepreneur. We help you advance your invention through a powerful mix of up to $25,000 in grant funding, entrepreneurship training, mentorship by dedicated staff, national recognition, and networking with peers and industry experts.

Do you have an idea that can change the world? Every year, we award over $800,000 in non-dilutive E-Team grants to early-stage innovator teams that develop scalable innovations which aim to solve a large social, health, or environmental challenge.

ASPIRE is a five-week intensive program that prepares startups for the investments and partnerships necessary to launch their venture.  Mentors-in-residence work one-on-one with startups to simulate due diligence conversations and integrate feedback into deal room materials in real-time.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to increase the scale and pace of advancing discoveries made while conducting academic research into tangible solutions that benefit the public. This is the primary aim of the “Accelerating Research Translation” (ART) program. Specifically, the primary goals of this program are to build capacity and infrastructure for translational research at U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) and to enhance their role in regional innovation ecosystems. In addition, this program seeks to effectively train graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in translational research, benefiting them across a range of career options.

Do you want your company featured during the annual WCS  Pitch Competition? Competition is tight as there are ten pitching slots for female-led startups. Apply now and show us what you’ve got! The 4th WCS pitch competition will feature 10 female-led startups. The competition is centered around the WCS mission statement: furthering the roles of women in growing the green economy and making a positive impact on the environment. The event is to take place on virtually on Friday, June 9th 2023.

Start-up eligibility:
– Current funding stage from seeking Seed funding to recently closed Series A
– Company is led by women, either as Founders, CEOs or in the C-Suite
– Solving a cleantech or sustainability challenge, either hardware or software

Are you an entrepreneur looking to scale a transformative climate technology? Are you invested in scaling a solution that brings both climate and social impact? Elemental Excelerator is a leading nonprofit investor focused on scaling climate solutions and social impact for all communities. Elemental provides an initial investment, usually in the form of SAFEs or convertible notes, to help complete specific milestones tied to the program. The priority application deadline is April 14 and applications will be accepted through May 31, 2023.

The Accelerate Smart Cities Innovation Challenge brings together industry experts with innovators and startups to support smart region solutions. Over 6 weeks, teams create innovative, high-impact solutions while hearing from and collaborating with sector experts and mentors. In addition, the Challenge creates connections among key elements of the startup community and provides a novel way for municipalities to pilot cutting-edge technology solutions in priority policy or program areas. Companies are invited to pitch their solutions to a panel of judges on an innovative topic, including the following: broadband, housing, transportation, health, water, food systems, education, infrastructure, energy, and public safety.

After launching a successful Inaugural Pitch Showcase last fall, our partners at Cleantech Leaders Roundtable (CTLR) have announced a spring CTLR Angels call for pitches. CTLR is now collecting pitches from startups focused on decarbonization, advancing the energy transition, and innovative climate adaptation solutions. Startups seeking early-stage Angel funding at or below $3m will be considered. Three finalists will be invited to CTLR’s Spring 2023 Pitch Showcase to present their pitch to CTLR Angels (location/date TBA).

LaunchTN is a public-private partnership with a vision to make Tennessee the most startup-friendly state in the nation. We empower Network Partners and other stakeholders by making resources accessible in order to activate sustainable economic growth in Tennessee. Our aim is to stimulate the statewide economy by facilitating capital formation, market building and nurturing Tennessee’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

LaunchTN is joining the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) as applicants to the reauthorized State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Program. There will be $70 million administered by LaunchTN for equity investments through InvestTN (formerly referenced as the BuildTN Fund).

The Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program will provide financial investment, technical assistance, and other resources to advance clean energy demonstrations and energy solutions in rural and remote areas that can be replicated and scaled. There are two topic areas: Community-Scale Demonstrations and Large-Scale Demonstrations.