Chicago has always been a hub for businesses and entrepreneurs, but recently the city has experienced a surge in innovation and disruption through a growing tech ecosystem. As the Senior Marketing Manager of Clean Energy Trust, I am fortunate to work with Chicago-based startups and their founders on a daily basis. Many of whom have participated in our cleantech accelerator program the Clean Energy Challenge. SiNode Systems and Ampy are two up-and-comers to keep an eye on in 2015.
SiNode Systems is an intriguing startup developed by Samir Mayekar, Cary Hayner, and Joshua Lau. SiNode Systems has achieved significant success by developing an innovative process that uses materials such as silicon and graphene to increase battery energy density and reduce charging time of a lithium-ion battery. These types of advancements in battery technology are critical to more efficiently store energy generated by renewable resources and provide more power vehicles and devices.
Ampy is another startup in the energy storage space, but focused on capturing kinetic energy that is generated by moving objects. Founded by Tejas Shastry, Mike Geier and Alex Smith, Ampy uses a lithium-ion battery packed with miniature coils to collect and store energy that people generate just by moving around. Ampy has found their success by improving upon existing technology and applying it for our need of always having to charge our electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and wearables. A person could charge their smartphone for up to three hours of use simply by walking around with an Ampy device.
These are both promising technologies that have huge potential for success, but they are still growing startups. In order for companies with big ideas like these to succeed and bring their product to market they need a strong support ecosystem consisting of mentors, collaborators and resources. As a way to help get their ideas from concept to reality SiNode Systems, Ampy, and more than 60 other cleantech startups have participated in the Clean Energy Challenge to gain insight from industry leading mentorship and much needed early investment funding.
On April 14, 2015, Clean Energy Trust will award a record total of $1 million in investments to a new group of startups participating in the accelerator program. Companies participating in the Challenge, such as Ampy and SiNode Systems, have received a total of $2.2 million in startup funding, raised $46 million in additional capital and created over 300 jobs since the Challenge began in 2011. Applications are now open and will be accepted through January 13, 2015. Startups and students can apply at: challenge.cleanenergytrust.org.
Every year we have seen talented, innovative and passionate entrepreneurs and we encourage anyone with an idea that they believe can help revolutionize cleantech to enter the Clean Energy Challenge.
