Deadline: 22-Feb-23
The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is now accepting applications for the IncubateMass Program to provide funding to Massachusetts incubators with the goal of growing the clean energy innovation ecosystem and commercializing cleantech startups through incubator membership.
Massachusetts is a hotbed of climate tech and water innovation start-ups, many of whom are eager to participate in business incubators. Incubators need resources to accommodate more startups and provide them with high-quality services and specialized facilities.
Goals
- The goals of the IncubateMass Program are to:
- Grow the clean energy innovation ecosystem;
- Promote commercialization of early stage Cleantech Startups;
- Support Incubators in their endeavors to provide the startup community with valuable resources; and
- Continue to attract early-stage Cleantech Startups to Massachusetts.
Components
- MassCEC seeks to support Incubators that include the following components:
- Shared space or access to other facilities (i.e., academic institutions or research laboratories) that cater to Cleantech Startups; or, if virtual, allow member startups to obtain physical space upon request;
- Relevant programs and services including, but not limited to, business assistance and support services (i.e., educational workshops, networking events) to specifically nurture Cleantech Startups;
- Shared equipment (or a plan to acquire necessary items); and
- Mentoring and coaching from a management team with the necessary experience and expertise to effectively support Cleantech Startups through various commercialization stages.
Funding Information
- Grants are up to $175,000 per year and award payments are typically tied to incubator management deliverables and startup member milestones.
Use of Funds
- Applicants may request funds for Incubator activities. Typical uses of grant funding include, but are not limited to:
- Operations and management expenses;
- Business development services for Cleantech Startups;
- Facilities and infrastructure buildouts;
- Equipment purchases;
- Networking events;
- Educational workshops and programming;
- Growing strategic clusters;
- Cleantech startup recruitment and outreach efforts; and
- Professional development of Incubator staff
Eligibility Criteria
- An applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must be Incubators capable of providing business incubation services to Cleantech Startups at a location within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In recognition of the shift to remote work environments many enterprises have undertaken due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, MassCEC will also consider alternative (virtual) approaches to “hosting” startups as long as the applicant is Massachusetts-based and incubated startups have access to physical space in Massachusetts upon request.
- Applicants must have startups that satisfy the definition of Cleantech Startups.
- Applicants are not required to exclusively host Cleantech Startups in their Incubators, but the Incubator must have a partial clean energy focus to its operations and clientele.
- Applicants are encouraged to tailor their funding request to the needs of their regional economy.
- Applicants should have experienced management teams, a documented track record of providing effective services to Cleantech Startups and a sustainable Incubator model backed by a credible business plan.
- Applicants are encouraged to have a track record of providing effective services to Cleantech Startups (i.e. technology development, fundraising and grant writing, and customer acquisition.
For more information, visit MassCEC.