Six Michigan-affiliated startups in the energy and mobility sectors have been selected for the Ascend Energy & Mobility Accelerator, powered by VentureWell, TechTown Detroit, and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions’s EPIC Prize. After a competitive review process, these committed seed-stage companies were selected for their high-impact solutions, including a scalable sodium ion battery that’s affordable and small in size, storing power for an indefinite period of time; and a mobile solar energy grid that provides reliable, sustainable power to rural communities.
Founders will further develop and strengthen their companies’ financial model through eight weeks of rigorous training, working one-on-one with an expert team of mentors who have extensive experience partnering with and investing in energy and mobility startups. At the end of the program, participants will convene in Detroit, Michigan, for an in-person workshop on October 23 and 24 at entrepreneurship hub TechTown Detroit.
Learn how mentorship has made a big difference to a growing startup.
“Ultimately, these companies are working to position Michigan and the Great Lakes Region at the center of America’s clean energy future,” said Tricia Compas-Markman, director of National Venture Programs at VentureWell. “We are committed to supporting these startups in launching their product—and closing the gaps that still exist at the partner- and investment-readiness stage—to help spur their success. The future of sustainability depends on nimble, alternative innovations in energy and mobility technologies.”
Meet the Cohort
4th Purpose Energy | Ann Arbor, Michigan
4th Purpose Energy is developing software to manage, automate, and communicate with renewable assets and to power buildings, offering customers a means of paying for their energy service without having to make any upfront capital investments.
Michigan Mobility and Logistics | Ypsilanti, Michigan
Michigan Mobility and Logistics is developing software that provides multi-modal, vehicle-to-network data communication, real-time tracking, data transfer, and business analytics to customers for on-demand tracking and dispatch of heavy, medium, and light-duty vehicles.
MOBIQU—Smart Box | Ann Arbor, Michigan
MOBIQU is developing a smart box using Internet of Things (IoT)–enabled technology and electric micro-mobility to ensure secure, efficient, and environmentally sustainable delivery of temperature-sensitive healthcare products.
OneSix Energy Inc. | Detroit, Michigan
OneSix Energy is developing a novel method of producing inexpensive, distributed clean hydrogen for trucks and heavy-duty vehicles, providing fuel without any tailpipe emissions.
SaltWater Energy Solutions LLC | Ann Arbor, Michigan
SaltWater Energy Solutions is developing a scalable sodium ion battery with a design that uses low-cost, naturally abundant materials in a small size, storing power for an extended period of time and redistributing it on demand.
Thought Labs | Ann Arbor, Michigan
Thought Labs is developing a mobile solar energy grid to provide reliable, sustainable power to rural communities, enhancing agricultural productivity and economic stability.
Access to an Enterprising Team of Mentors
Founders in the Ascend Energy & Mobility Accelerator will work closely with expert mentors to prepare their startups to move from customer discovery to commercialization. We are thrilled to welcome Lead Instructor Erika Block, an investor, advisor, and entrepreneur at Sticky Lab and lecturer at the University of Michigan College of Engineering’s Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as the mentors-in-residence: Shubha Chakravarthy, founder, finance and strategy expert; Brian Kerns, angel investor and cleantech advisor, SWAN Angels and Angel Capital Association; Anne Maghas, angel investor and entrepreneur, Milestone Growth Capital Institute; Domineca Neal, angel investor, founder, 3 Brothers Neal LLC; C.J. Whelan, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and former executive director of Rockies Venture Club; and DeWayne Williams, angel investor and and connectivity expert in mobility.
About Our Partners
The Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize recognizes the nation’s most innovative incubators. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Transitions, the EPIC Prize awards cash prizes to regional incubator teams that submit the most creative and impactful plans, then implement those plans to develop strong clusters, connections, and support for energy startups and entrepreneurs.
This effort is funded by the Department of Energy’s EPIC (Energy Program Innovation Cluster) Round 2 competition and supported by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and TechTown Detroit, a nonprofit business service organization incubating and accelerating businesses across Detroit since 2004. Additionally, this cohort is supported by Siemens Industry Software, Inc., which helps organizations digitally transform using software, hardware, and services from the Siemens Xcelerator business platform. Their software and the comprehensive digital twin enable companies to optimize their design, engineering, and manufacturing processes to turn today’s ideas into the sustainable products of the future.