Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC)

The Energy Program for Innovation Clusters supports incubators and accelerators that serve energy entrepreneurs. It is co-administered by DOE’s Office of Technology Commercialization and FESI, and the prizes are delivered through the American-Made Challenges platform. This is a U.S. prize competition, not an open call for individual startups. For-profit and nonprofit organizations can participate, while universities, research organizations, and individuals are not eligible. The Spring 2026 pitch competition awarded $120,000 total, the record also cites a Round 2 prize of $500,000 per winner and a Round 3 pool of $4 million, and the largest recent phase awards reached up to $1 million for three-year cooperative agreements. EPIC fits regional hubs with active startup pipelines and a track record of supporting founders, because the program rewards the organizations that can build and steward those pipelines. The record places it between cycles in 2026, with no new round announced, so applicants need to watch for the next prize announcement rather than expect a standing open portal.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.