The world is facing numerous environmental challenges that require innovative solutions. Hard tech startups that are working on finding ways to tackle these problems need funding and support to take their ideas from conception to reality. However, acquiring funding for hard tech startups can be challenging, especially when government grants require strict deliverables that can limit their ability to explore new ideas. Innovation challenges, such as the American-Made Challenges, and accelerator programs provide a bridge between these startups and the early funding they need to speed up the path to these innovative solutions.
The American-Made Challenges are designed to help hard tech startups explore new technology ideas without being limited by strict grant deliverables or having to answer questions that they don’t yet have answers to. We will discuss the American-Made Challenges and discuss how startups can access funding and support through these challenges, as well as dive into Embryia, an accelerator program that was developed through the Department of Energy Innovation Challenge for accelerator programs, to highlight how this program is helping hard tech startups.
Non-Dilutive Funding for Launching Startups
The American-Made Challenges were established by the Department of Energy (DoE) to issue funding awards for innovation challenges rather than typical grants which generally fund people or companies to execute on a piece of research or business plan.
Unlike traditional grant programs, the American-Made Challenges are designed to help startups explore new ideas and concepts without the strict limitations that grants typically place on the funding. Startups are inherently an exploration endeavor, not an exploitation endeavor. The funding awards provided by the American-Made Challenges therefore makes it easier for startups to adapt their approach as they learn more about their technology and explore new solutions and be flexible with their plan and ideas.
The Benefits of American-Made Challenges for Startups
One of the key benefits of the American Made challenges is the availability of support for startups. The American-Made Network of supporters includes members of both the public and private sector, who provide mentoring, tools, resources, and support to accelerate these startups’ ideas into real-world solutions. The program has several “Power Connectors” and “Connectors” in place to offer assistance to startups.
Power Connectors offer broad help that is specific to the challenge being launched, while Connectors provide individualized support to help startups reframe their approach and reach their goals. These Connectors include professionals from national laboratories, accelerators, incubators, universities, facilities, and industry who support competitors through the development and launch process. They recruit entrepreneurs to participate in the American-Made Challenges and provide the support, resources, and necessary connections participants need to succeed in the competition. Power Connectors are a select group of organizations contracted to help with specific tasks for specific prizes. Such support is crucial for startups that are still in the early stages of development, as it can help them overcome some of the common hurdles that come with bringing a new technology idea to life.
Embryia Cleantech Accelerator Studio
The American-Made Challenges produced Embryia as an accelerator program. The project was initiated by Jade Garrett, a funded female founder who is passionate about renewable energy. Embryia was developed to provide specific support to early-stage hard tech startups through a community of experts.
Embryia aims to provide an immersive experience for startups by offering them access to a dedicated team of experts who can help them navigate the challenges of developing a new technology idea, regardless of where they are in implementing the idea or innovation. By providing hands-on assistance, Embryia offers startups support that is tailored to their specific needs. This approach is unique and separates Embryia from other accelerator programs that take a more generalized approach.
One of the key benefits of Embryia is that it offers startups access to a network of industry experts who can help them secure funding as well as provide services such as connecting startups with funding opportunities, coaching startups through a program to develop their business model and pitch, assist startups with specific needs using a community of experts, preparing startups for applying to challenges and grants, and piloting technology with corporate and community partners.
Conclusion
Hard tech startups face numerous challenges when it comes to securing funding and support for their ideas and innovations. The American-Made Challenges offer an alternative to traditional grant programs, by providing startups with the freedom to explore new ideas and concepts without any of the constrictions placed on them through traditional grant funding. Embryia, an accelerator that was developed through the American-Made Challenges, provides startups with individualized support tailored to their specific needs. As the world continues to face environmental challenges, accelerators and innovative challenges for funding, like the American-Made Challenges and Embryia, are critical to supporting the development of innovative solutions that can make a difference.
Interested in the entire episode with Jade Garret? Listen as host Callye Keen interviews her on episode 005 of The Startup Defense podcast. Available on all podcast platforms.
About Jade Garrett
Positive Deviancy, LLC was founded in 2021 by Jade Garrett. She is one of the most experienced Connectors in the American-Made Network and has over 4 years of experience with the American-Made Challenge Prize Programs. Jade has supported over 50 different teams which have cumulatively won more than $1.85M in Innovation Funding from the DOE while she was their Connector.
She loves being directly engaged with innovators since her work history for the past decade has been primarily with startups in the energy, hardware, and robotics space. She is one of the 2% of female founders who have raised VC investment.
The American-Made Network, https://network.americanmadechallenges.org/
