Programs

Overview
Entrepreneur Programs
Partner Programs

Grants Program

The goal of the Grants Program is to accelerate and streamline the ability of Cleantech Open contestants and alumni to discern and exploit grant opportunities to advance R&D efforts, secure funding and manage the risk in federal, state and municipal procurements.

Stimulus Opportunities and Resources Project

The mission for the SOAR project is to help Cleantech Open companies:

  • Access Funding Opportunities – grants and bids
  • Get started quickly, so you are set to be an awardee or sub-awardee (named as a supplier in another company's proposal)
  • Offer feedback as a Community to Federal & State agencies on how well Stimulus funding programs are helping to stimulate jobs for Cleantech Open companies

The SOAR program comprises a Cleantech Open exclusive member website, mentor volunteers and workshops to help both Alumni and Contestants:

  • Obtain R&D grants (DOE and CEC)
  • Track energy-related RFP's, RFQ's (using 3rd party Bid Service tools)
  • Track "hidden" opportunities in non-energy projects (e.g. School modernization)
  • Identify partnering opportunities (blog with each other and prime contractors)
  • Understand risk implications in procurement (i.e. Surety bonds)
  • Develop sales tools to help customers understand tax credits  (i.e. weatherization, solar)

Opportunities included in SOAR

While we are principally focused on the opportunities from the 2009 Stimulus Bill, we cover opportunities from multiple sources:

  • Federal Grants/Recovery
  • Federal Grants/Agency Budgets (FY2009 & FY2010)
  • State Grants/ California Energy Commission
  • State & City Block Grants
  • Government Bid Opportunities: Federal, State & Local (via a commercial service)

While we are primarily focused on upside opportunities, we also seek to keep our Cleantech Open members from "spinning their wheels" or overestimating the Stimulus opportunity in Venture pitches (and losing credibility). By providing a centralized clearinghouse and self-assessment tools, we strive to optimize the opportunity for our members.

Grant Program Workshops
  • Federal Opportunities: DOE speaker/Grant Expert
  • State Opportunities: CEC speaker/PIER Success Story
  • Readiness and Risk Assessment: do you quality for government contracts, how to partner to manage the risk, self-assessment guide (Contracting expert)
  • Tax Credits as Sales Tools: Marketing Consultant, Best Practices
Program Test for Commercial Bid Services

One of our SOAR goals is to test commercial bid services to see if they can help us:

  • Win federal, state, local bids (direct)
  • Identify sub-contractor opportunities (once awards are made to main)
  • Identify teaming partners (for major contracts)
  • Prepare for upcoming opportunities (Alerts)

To qualify for our trial program, you must be shipping your product, or close to it.