Part A · Startup-specific scheme
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)
US Department of Energy
Grant
IdeationPrototype / PoCSeed / Early-Stage
Energy & Clean Tech
ARPA-E funds transformational energy technologies at a stage before they're ready for private-sector investment, working with academia, national labs, startups, and small businesses.
Type of support
Grant
Best suited for
Ideation / Prototype
Headline amount
Typically $2-3M per project
How much
~$2-3M average award
Source
Objectives
Accelerate energy innovations that improve US energy security, affordability, and sustainability, established by the America COMPETES Act of 2007.
Who can apply?
- Open to startups, small businesses, universities, and national labs proposing high-potential, early-stage energy technology.
- Apply through specific ARPA-E funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), not a rolling general application.
What do you get?
- Average award of $2-3 million per project over several years.
- $3.27B provided to over 1,415 projects since 2009 through September 2022.
- 200+ funded projects have attracted over $11B in private follow-on funding; 131 companies formed from ARPA-E projects.
How to apply
Monitor and apply through ARPA-E eXCHANGE for open funding opportunity announcements in your technology area.
Key links
Details as most recently confirmed against the official source linked above. Deadlines, amounts and windows change — verify on the official portal before applying.