Request For Information - Understanding the Commercialization of Transformational Energy Technologies through Private Capital This is a Request for Information only.
This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance.
The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input
for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future programs.
ARPA-E is focused on funding new, transformational energy technologies and facilitating awardees’ efforts to bring those technologies to market.
Most successful ARPA-E performers will eventually need private capital to bring their inventions and innovations to market.
Traditional “Venture Capital” funding has decreased by over 50% in the past 5 years for early-stage clean energy ventures .
However, there is significant private capital in the U. S. economy that could be available to support this sector .
The purpose of this RFI is to solicit feedback from the broader private sector community and other stakeholders on their actual experiences related to:
1) either investing or declining to invest private capital in an early-stage energy enterprise; 2) either succeeding or failing to obtain private capital as an early stage enterprise; and 3) how government grant based capital either assisted or hindered the process.
ARPA-E intends to use information that is responsive to this RFI on a non-attribution basis 1) to guide planning and execution of an upcoming ARPA-E public workshop on private capital financing mechanisms (venture, corporate and other funding); 2) for potential dissemination to the broader energy enterprise and stakeholder community; and 3) to strengthen potential new ARPA-E initiatives that would facilitate more private investment in emerging energy technologies.
Interested persons are encouraged to submit comments.
In particular, ARPA-E is interested in receiving responses from the following types of experienced experts:
1) for-profit investors and 2) energy technology firms seeking post-grant phase funding from for-profit investors.
For-profit investors include “angels”, venture capital, corporations, family offices, multilaterals and developmental institutions that have made recent investments or are considering making investments in early stage energy technologies/companies.
ARPA-E welcomes factual information/comments specified in the questions below.
ARPA-E will not provide funding or compensation for any information submitted in response to this RFI.
This RFI is not seeking/accepting applications for financial assistance or financial incentives, and a response to this RFI will not be viewed as a binding commitment to develop or pursue the ideas discussed.
No material submitted for review will be returned.
ARPA-E intends to summarize, for public release, the information submitted to response to this RFI on a non-attribution basis.
ARPA-E will not publish a public compendium of each response received.
ARPA-E has no obligation to respond to those who submit comments, and/or give feedback on any decision made based on the responses received.
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA).
NO FOA EXISTS AT THIS TIME.