Clean Energy Trust is on a mission with U.S. Bank Foundation to support underserved and underrepresented cleantech entrepreneurs. The U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award supports entrepreneurs who are female and/or people of color who are building innovative companies that benefit the environment, create jobs, and drive economic development.
“Supporting female and minority business owners and environmental sustainability is at the heart of our commitment to being a socially responsible company,” said Reba Dominski, Chief Social Responsibility Officer for U.S. Bank. “Through this award and our work with Clean Energy Trust, we are able to help accelerate innovative technology and support startups.”
The U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award is a grant awarded to entrepreneurs who are female and/or people of color and who are building innovative companies that benefit the environment, create jobs, and drive economic development. Recipients of the Cleantech Inclusion Award receive a non-recourse grant of $25,000, 12-months of business mentorship from U.S. Bank Foundation and Clean Energy Trust, and heightened exposure to both investors and potential customers.
Award Application Criteria
Founder:
Company must have at least one company founder who identifies as female or a person of color
Eligible Geographies:
Companies headquartered in the following states are eligible:
Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Company Criteria:
- Company must be legally incorporated
- Company employment must be within the range of 2-12 full-time employees
- Company must not have raised greater than $3 million from external investors
- Company must own or have a valid license to relevant IP
- Preferred: Companies with a market-ready product or service
- Preferred: Service provides positive social impact and has the potential to benefit disadvantaged communities
Sector:
Eligible founders must have a product or service that mitigates harmful emissions, reduces carbon, or otherwise positively impacts the environment. Eligible sectors include renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart buildings/cities, energy storage, mobility/advanced transportation, and environmental product/ service innovation.
Additional Qualities:
While not explicitly required, other beneficial qualifications include:
- Company is revenue-generating
If you have any questions, please email Program Manager Dylan O’Reilly at dylan.oreilly@cleanenergytrust.org.
Congratulations to the 2021 winner Rebundle!
The 2021 U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award winner is Rebundle. Rebundle is a black woman-owned startup that manufactures a plant-based alternative to synthetic braiding hair.
“Rebundle is proud to be the 2021 U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award recipient,” said Ciara Imani May, Founder, and CEO of Rebundle. “With our pre-orders selling out twice, and excitement around our product growing, Rebundle is eager to work with Clean Energy Trust and U.S. Bank to continue our steady, sustainable growth while remaining focused on our mission.”
Read more about Rebundle in this news release.
Congratulations to the 2020 winner NUMiX Materials!
The 2020 U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award winner is NUMiX Materials. NUMiX Materials is a women-run cleantech startup that recovers metals from contaminated water for future reuse.
“We are honored to receive the first U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award,” said NUMiX Materials Co-Founder and CEO Katie Kollhoff. “This award provides us with critical funding and business support we need to reach our next technological milestone.”
Read about NUMiX Materials here and watch NUMiX Materials Co-Founder and CEO Katie Kollhoff present at Clean Energy Trust’s annual flagship event, Co_Invest Cleantech 2020: