The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator Launches Energize California with $5 Million Grant from the California Energy Commission

California Doubling Down On its Commitment to Drive Clean Energy
Innovation through Entrepreneurship

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#CleanEnergy–The Los
Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) today announced the launch of Energize
California, a new initiative to strengthen the region’s
clean energy economy by supporting the industry ecosystem and helping
entrepreneurs access the business and technical services necessary to
successfully bring new technologies to market.

Funded through a six-year, $5 million grant from the California
Energy Commission (CEC), Energize California is part of the
CEC’s statewide initiative to meet increasing demand for innovation in
the energy sector as more renewable resources are deployed. Energize
California will serve as the central coordinating organization for
the clean energy sector in the region and will convene industry leaders
to support new technologies and entrepreneurs in Santa Barbara, Ventura,
Los Angeles, and Orange Counties.

“You never know where the next great clean energy idea will come from,”
said Energy Commission Chair Robert Weisenmiller, “but having a
centralized program like Energize California, where innovators
can easily network with academia, industry, business and professional
development resources, greatly enhances the chances of that happening
here in Southern California.”

The Energize California Innovators program
will help qualified clean energy entrepreneurs accelerate product
commercialization and market entry by providing access to mentors, pilot
programs, testing and prototyping facilities, as well as opportunities
to connect with industry thought-leaders, funding sources and strategic
partners.

“Southern California has long been a center of innovation, but
entrepreneurs in the energy industry have struggled to locate and
connect with the resources and networks needed to commercialize their
products,” said Amanda Sabicer, LACI Vice President of Energize
California. “Now, for the first time through the Energize
California Innovators program, an entrepreneur in Santa Barbara can
access a technology pilot, a networking meeting, or a mentor
relationship in Irvine and vice versa.”

Energize California has partnered with government, regulators,
private industry, researchers, energy customers, utilities, investors,
nonprofits, and community organizations to identify regional energy
needs and help funnel early-stage energy technology solutions into the
local region, especially into disadvantaged communities. In addition to
the CEC and LACI, Energize California’s partners include: the
County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, Southern California
Edison, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Sustain OC, the
Community Environmental Council, the California State University System,
the LA Business Technology Center, Cleantech Open, FLoW, and the Los
Angeles Economic Development Corp.

To apply for the Energize California Innovators program or to
connect with Southern California’s energy community, please visit the Energize
California website at www.energize-ca.org
or email [email protected].

About Energize California

Energize California is the hub for energy innovation in Santa
Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties. Launched in 2017 as
an initiative of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) with funding
from the California Energy Commission, Energize California
accelerates clean energy development by convening and connecting the
energy industry, and by supporting energy entrepreneurs and startups
through its Innovators program. Energize California’s goal
is to create a regional ecosystem that supports new, clean energy
innovation in order to improve the grid system, encourage an inclusive
energy economy, and ultimately benefit all energy users in California.

To learn more, visit www.energize-ca.org
and follow us on Twitter at @EnergizeCal.

About LACI

The
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is a non-profit,
public-private partnership that helps promising companies deliver
market-ready cleantech solutions and the jobs that come with them. LACI
combines capital, universities, research, government support,
entrepreneurs, corporate partners, and business leaders in order to
drive innovation throughout the regional, state, and global economy.
Recognized as one of the most innovative business incubators in the
world by UBI, in just five years LACI has helped 65+ companies raise
$130M+ in funding, create 1,500 jobs, and deliver more than $335M in
long-term economic value. For additional information, please visit: http://www.laci.org

Follow LACI on Twitter @LACIncubator
Follow LACI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LACIncubator
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LACI on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/los-angeles-cleantech-incubator

Contacts

Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI)
Laurie Peters, 818-635-4101
LACI
Communications Director
[email protected]