762: Why The Dept. Of Energy Is Funding These 2 Startups

Resource Labs Network founding member, Lisa Ann Pinkerton of Earthlings 2.0 podcast, hosts a discussion with the DOE’s Becca Jones-Albertus, Director of the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office during the annual RE+ tradeshow to introduce the latest round of winners to our audience!  Thank you, Lisa Ann, for leading this discussion on our live stage! Every year at RE+ (since 2019!) we have been honored to receive the newly-crowned winners of the Solar Prize, so Lisa Ann and Becca helped commemorate the 7th year of this competition from the Department of Energy which accelerates solar innovation, offering startups critical resources to bring their ideas to market.And the winners are…Fram Energy, a winner focused on expanding solar access to rental properties, presented a software solution that addresses the "split incentive" issue between landlords and tenants. Their platform allows landlords or third-party developers to install solar panels on rental buildings and sell the generated power to tenants, tapping into a vast, underserved market in clean energy.Gritt Robotics, the other Grand Prize winner, aims to streamline solar construction with robotics. Their approach automates labor-intensive tasks, like moving and installing solar panels, making solar deployments faster and more efficient. Using AI-powered robots, they enhance productivity and allow the human workforce to focus on complex tasks.Competitions like the American-Made Solar Prize are essential for the solar industry, helping innovative startups enter the market faster by providing vital resources, expert connections, and support through the American-Made Network.To learn more about Resource Labs and check out Lisa Ann’s podcast at www.resourcelabs.co If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/valence-content-that-connects-7145928995363049472/You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeoLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalusMentioned in this episode:CPS July 2024 V2