Competitions / Awards
Clean energy access companies in India should seriously consider applying for international competitions and awards. Most international competitions come with prize money. More importantly, they provide an opportunity to interact with impact investors.
We have put together a list of these international competitions and awards. There is a lot of international interest in clean energy access and we keep tracking the active “calls”. So, bookmark and keep coming back to this page.
You will see that most well-known clean energy access companies have won several of these competitions. This will give you an indication that applying for these competitions should be a part of your strategy. One important thing to remember is that applying for competitions requires time and effort. You will require one of the founders to focus on this.
If you are a member of the GSBI-New Ventures Energy Access Investment Readiness project, you will have access to mentors who can review your application.
For early stage social ventures. Matched funding of upto USD 100,000, business support and exposure to a closed network of impact investors.
Key Application Details
Rolling application on the website from August to August annually.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Boond, Avani Bioenergy, Sakhi Unique Rural Enterprise and Ecozen Solutions
For students from 18 participating universities globally. Prizes awarded at the university level are a grand prize of USD 10,000 and a runner up prize of USD 2,500 each.
Key Application Details
Application through participating university, open by October annually.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Ecozen Solutions
For projects that provide a minimum of 1000 new electricity connections. Risk capital of EUR 0.5 million upto EUR 10 million for 7 years. Seeks additionality to existing funders.
Key Application Details
Register on the website for more information. Application through calls for proposals.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
TTS Solar
India based global competition. For businesses, winner prize is INR 5 lakhs and runner up prize INR 3 lakhs. For social enterprises winner prize is INR 2 lakhs and runners up 1 lakh. Additional cash prizes totaling INR 11 lakhs.
Key Application Details
Register on the website for more information. Application opens by August annually.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Greenway Grameen Infra
International competition for energy-efficient off-grid appliances currently TVs, fans and refrigerators. Winners benefit from a procurement incentives program, exposure and impact investment opportunities.
Key Application Details
Nominations on the website from September to 20 January annually.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
NIWA, BBOXX, Omnivore, Onergy and d.light
For any type of innovative organization with potential for large scale social impact in developing countries. Flexible type of financing ranging from USD 50,000 upto USD 15 million.
Key Application Details
Application open all year round on the website.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
PoaPower, Simpa Networks, PayGo Energy and Sparkmeter
For mobile-based platforms, products and services which enable local populations to share underutilized assets and /or provides services to MSMEs. Grants in the range of GBP 100,000 and GBP 250,000.
Key Application Details
Two rounds of application on the website:
Round 1 open from 1 March to 16 April,
Round 2 open from 1 June to 16 July.
To test and scale the use of mobile to improve or increase access to energy, water and sanitation services. Seed grants for early stage trials from GBP 100,000 to GBP 150,000 and market validation grant upto GBP 300,000.
Key Application Details
Two rounds of application on the website:
Round 1 open from 1 March to 16 April,
Round 2 open from July to August (TBC).
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Village Infrastructure Angels, d.light, M-KOPA, Mobisol, Fenix International, Lumos, Gham Power, Grassroots Energy, Devergy, SunCulture, Econergy and African Solar Designs
Global startup challenge for breakthrough technology entreprenuers. A grand prize of EUR 100,000 and EUR 15,000 prize for each of the ten categories.
Key Application Details
Applications open on the website from 10 April to 1 June annually.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
H2GO Power and Coco Pallet
For innovative solutions that benefit the base of the pyramid. Three types of grants: Stage 1-pilot or testing grant of INR 30 lakhs, Stage 2-scaling or replicating innovation grant upto 1 Cr and South-South grant size decided on a case by case basis.
Key Application Details
Call for application advertised in leading daily newspapers, magazines, web portals and conducting roadshows in Tier I, II, III and IV cities. Applications to be submitted online.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Greenway Grameen Infra, PRPP Ltd., SEWA Bharat, Gram Oorja, Simpa Networks and TARA
Student entrepreneurship competition with one team member currently registered as a student at MIT. Three annual competitions called Pitch, Accelerate and Launch. A grand prize of USD 100,000 and more than USD 300,000 non dilutive awards in total.
Key Application Details
Applications for Pitch opens in September till October. Applications for Accelerate opens end of November till beginning December. Applications for Launch opens February to mid March.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Promethean Power Systems
Global technology challenges for recognized organizations and academic researchers. The winner gets cash prize of up to USD 80,000 and upto four other additional grants totaling USD 40,000.
Key Application Details
Register on the website for more information.
Early stage grant funding for innovative off-grid clean energy products, system and business models in India. Grants ranging from USD 50,000 to USD 300,000.
Key Application Details
Expresions of Interest forms available on the website. Applications through calls for proposals annually.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Shri Shakti Alternative Energy Ltd., Ahuja Engineering Services Pvt Ltd, BioLite, Grassroots Energy, Mera Gaon Power and Onergy
Global competition for sustainability entrepreneurship supported by the Dutch Postcode Lottery. A grand prize of EUR 500,000 and runner up prize of EUR 200,000.
Key Application Details
Applications open annually from 1 March till 1 June.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Physee, Biobean, Solsource and Ridgeblade
Competitions to support entrepreneurs and young people working in the energy access sector. May have financial prizes and mentorship.
Key Application Details
Register on the website for more information.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Naturetech, Gram Oorja, Lytyfy, Karmasukom Energy, Mlinda , Team Sustain, Kumudini Enterprise and Global Himalaya Expedition
Global initiative for start ups working in energy transition. There is five digit prize money for five categories and a special package worth EUR 20,000 for three nominees in the UN SDG energy access category.
Key Application Details
Register on the website for more information. Applications open on Nov 2017 till 31 Jan 2018.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Tessol Pvt. Ltd. (Mobility meets energy transition)
University student start up program and competition in Copenhagen. One team member must be a student or faculty in a university. A grand prize of USD 25,000 and six category prizes of USD 5,000 each.
Key Application Details
Applications open online from 9 March till 1 June annually.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
Ecological Disposal Systems, Klenergy, Leaves Plates, Sunlectric
For an individual, institution or partnership that uses sustainable energy for development with a focus on capacity building. The grant amount is USD 1 million with implementation timeline of 3 years.
Key Application Details
Application opens from May till 15 June annually.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
We Care Solar and SINTEF
For any type of organization, in any sector and country in which USAID works. Three stages of funding: 1. Proof of Concept or Initial Testing- funding of USD 25,000 to USD 150,000, up to 3 years 2. Testing and Positioning for Scale- funding of USD 150,000 to USD 1.5 million, up to 3 years and 3. Transitioning Proven Solutions to Scale- funding of USD 1.5 million to USD 15 million, up to 5 years.
Key Application Details
Expressions of Interest form available on the website. Application open all year round.
Previous Clean Energy Access Winners
IFMR/Husk Power Systems, Gram Power, Simpa Networks, Mera Gao Power, Orb Energy