Funding Opportunities
Here you can explore various funding opportunities we learn about from Stanford organizations, industry, and government that may be of interest to our Stanford researchers. See below for details on each opportunity.
In addition to these research funding opportunities, OTL is excited to announce our new High Impact Technology (HIT) Fund: HIT Fund Details
This page is updated periodically, so check back here for more opportunities soon!
Don't see anything of interest right now? Check the Stanford Seed Funding website and VPDoR's Propel Grants for additional funding opportunities sponsored by Stanford-associated entities.
Opportunities:
EnergyTech University Prize 2025
Prizes available to students who create/present an energy tech business plan & faculty who elevate energy entrepreneurship at their school.
Overview
Sponsored by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the American-Made EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) challenges student teams to compete for cash prizes for successfully identifying a promising energy technology, assessing its market potential, and creating a business plan for commercialization. Faculty are challenged to create innovative implementation plans that expand energy technology commercialization.
Students: Develop and present a business plan that leverages National Laboratory-developed or other emerging energy technologies developed by students, faculty, or industry. Throughout the EnergyTech UP competition, they receive mentorship and materials to help them succeed, all while competing for more than $400,000 in cash prizes.
Faculty: Develop and implement educational activities to engage more students in energy technology commercialization and entrepreneurship topics at their institution. While faculty have always been, and remain, welcome and encouraged to mentor a team competing in EnergyTech UP, this new track is designed to incentivize and support faculty directly, with more than $100,000 in cash prizes available.
About the Prize
The EnergyTech University Prize 2025 is sponsored by DOE’s OTT, as well as several other program offices. EnergyTech UP, in partnership with American-Made Challenges, is designed to be approachable, equitable, and scalable nationwide. Winners are chosen based on the strength of their business proposals and implementation plans.
Participating students are provided with a curated list of National Lab technologies that are ready for commercialization and that can be used for their business plan.
Get Started
Complete our Interest Form to be sure to receive important updates from organizers prior to signing up for the EnergyTech UP 2025 competition.
Register for the next Informational Webinar on Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. ET.
Read the Overview section below for key prize details, then read the Official Rules document to learn more about the EnergyTech UP 2025 competition and regional pitch events.
Explore Phase student registration is due February 3. Students will present to judges at their corresponding regional event on March 4, 5, and 6, and present a final pitch to judges at the national competition in late Spring 2025.
Submissions for Faculty Explore prize consideration are due January 13.