2025 EPIC Pitch Competitions

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) is excited for the 2025 Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Startup Pitch Competition Prize program. This startup pitch competition program aims to infuse capital directly into groundbreaking startups nominated by previous EPIC Prize incubators. 
 

Through the EPIC Pitch Competition program, DOE seeks to fund organizations that are developing innovative energy hardware technologies. A minimum of two national pitch competitions for energy-related startups will be hosted in 2025, with more specific details to come early in the year.

Each EPIC Pitch Competition will offer a minimum prize pool of $105,000 per pitch competition, including first, second, and third place prize winners, as well as an incubator prize for the organization that nominates the first place winner. 

Timeline

More specific dates and deadlines will be added to the official HeroX Timeline once pitch competition details have been announced. 

Pitch Competition Competitors

Competing startups will be nominated by previous EPIC winners (including funding opportunity announcement (FOA) and prize semifinalists, finalists, and grand prize winners). Once a specific pitch competition has been announced, EPIC winners will be asked to nominate startups in their networks. 

Please review the official rules under the “Resources” tab for the complete submission process and instructions for competing.

If you want to receive updates on the pitch competitions or have any questions, please subscribe by using the "Follow" button on the HeroX page or message us directly at epicprize@nrel.gov.

Note the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is evaluating all funding opportunities, including prize challenges, to ensure appropriate resources are allocated efficiently, and that the Department's initiatives are in line with the statutory mission of DOE and the policies and priorities of the Administration and DOE. DOE is undertaking this evaluation in accordance with all laws, regulations, and fiscal responsibility, as efficiently as possible.