Utilities and accelerators from across the globe has launched a first-of-its-kind consortium to help energy start-ups refine and test their innovations to drive clean energy breakthroughs. The consortium, Free Electrons, will recruit energy startups to drive the next generation of ideas in clean energy, energy efficiency, e-mobility, digitization, and on-demand customer services.
Twelve energy startups will be selected by the eight utility partners to participate in the six-month accelerator program.
Startups chosen for Free Electrons will gain access to industry leaders who will offer expertise, resources and access to their customer base in exchange for investment and partnership opportunities. Selected entrepreneurs will participate in three separate week-long ‘customer adoption’ modules in Silicon Valley, Lisbon/Dublin and Singapore. Partner utilities are leaders in the clean energy transition, covering more than 40 countries, representing over $148 billion in combined net income and access to over 73 million end customers worldwide.
Energy startups around the world with a working prototype are encouraged to apply to Free Electrons. Twelve energy startups will be selected by the eight utility partners to participate in the six-month accelerator program.
The call for the world’s energy startups starts on 9 January 2017. The application deadline is on 28 February 2017. The selection period is in March 2017 and the selected startups will be announced in April 2017. Interested applicants can apply for the Free Electrons program at www.freelectrons.co.
Chad Hymas, Executive General Manager, AusNet Services
We are passionate about helping entrepreneurs bring their technologies, ideas and products to the global marketplace, and look forward to mentoring them as they turn their energy start-ups into viable businesses that enable us to transform the energy industry globally.
Florian Kolb, Managing Director, innogy New Ventures LLC and Stefan Padberg, Managing Director, innogy New Ventures, LLC
It’s a perfect match – smart startup ideas meet a transforming corporate that is re-inventing itself and has established lean and agile structures that speak “startup” and “corporate” language alike. We can help startups scale fast, startups can help us with the best possible products. We go outside to innovate from within.
Filed Under: Financing
