The National Incubator Initiative for Clean Energy (NIICE) is yielding exciting results in the clean energy solutions space by enabling U.S. companies with new clean energy technologies and business models to enter the marketplace or reach commercial readiness faster than before.
NIICE has established a national network of more than 19 different incubators and supporting organizations. Known as the Incubatenergy Network, its members are working together to share best practices and build connections to support entrepreneurs that are driving innovation in clean energy sectors across the nation.
The initiative also funded several regional incubators that have attracted leading industry partners to help companies scale up, develop markets, and deploy energy innovations at an expedited rate. These incubators include the NextEnergy Center in Detroit, the Clean Energy Trust in Chicago, the Austin Technology Incubator in Texas, and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI).
A new white paper from the Incubatenergy Network, Clean Energy Incubators as Critical Commercialization Center, shows that this growing network is providing a variety of valuable services to startups in the clean energy field. These services include access to laboratory space, mentoring, pilot customers, joint ventures and private venture capital.
The paper, funded in part by EERE and released in May, also highlights how these services are leading to higher levels of success among their early stage companies.
Current Successes
- Collectively, Incubatenergy members have supported more than 350 companies.
- Companies supported by Incubatenergy members have collectively received more than $1 billion in follow-on funding.
- Companies supported by Incubatenergy members have generated more than $330 million in revenue.
- In addition, almost 3,000 people are directly employed by graduated firms.
The paper also highlights successes fostered by the network, including Chai Energy—one of the recent winners of a California Demand Response Auction Mechanism award for its innovative approach to increasing grid-edge flexibility. The company uses smart meter data and a simple mobile app to help customers manage energy use.
With incubator support, the company supported by LACI has swelled from two Caltech grads to nine full-time employees, helped thousands of customers statewide save money on their electric bills, and forged partnerships with multiple Fortune 500 companies.
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced the launch of NIICE in 2014 along with plans to award $3.2 million for a national network for the nation’s clean energy startup community and the incubators that support them.
Amped Up! Magazine is the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s publication that highlights breaking technologies and achievements in renewable power, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation that influence global change toward a clean energy economy.
What are the key facts?
- NIICE has established a national network of more than 19 different incubators and supporting organizations.
- Incubatenergy Network members are working together to share best practices and build connections to support entrepreneurs that are driving innovation in clean energy sectors across the nation.
- Regional incubators include the NextEnergy Center in Detroit, the Clean Energy Trust in Chicago, the Austin Technology Incubator in Texas, and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI).
- Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced the launch of NIICE in 2014 along with plans to award $3.2 million for a national network for the nation’s clean energy startup community and the incubators that support them.
Learn more about Incubatenergy Network