The Nicor Gas Illinois Innovator Award

Evergreen Climate Innovations, formerly known as Clean Energy Trust, is a private organization focused on supporting early-stage climate technology companies. The organization works to bridge the capital gap that exists for these companies, providing critical funding and support that enables entrepreneurs to bring impactful climate technologies to market. Its mission is to foster innovation and growth within the climate tech sector, particularly in the Greater Midwest region of the United States. The Nicor Gas Illinois Innovator Award is one of the opportunities offered by Evergreen Climate Innovations. It is designed to support environmental entrepreneurs based in Illinois. The award provides recipients with a non-recourse grant of $25000, twelve months of business mentorship from Nicor Gas and Evergreen Climate Innovations, and increased exposure to both investors and potential customers. The goal of the award is to bolster the growth of innovative companies that contribute positively to the environment within Illinois. The funding scope of the award encompasses both product and service-based companies across several sectors. Eligible sectors include renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart buildings and cities, water, ag-tech, energy storage, mobility and advanced transportation, circular economy, and digital solutions aimed at operational efficiencies, reduced maintenance costs, customer engagement, and worker training or management. The funding is intended to support companies at the pre-seed or seed stage, particularly those with two to twelve full-time employees and less than $3 million in funding raised. Companies should also demonstrate a funding runway of at least three to six months. The funded amount can be used to advance the company’s product or service offerings and enhance business operations. Eligibility for the award is restricted to companies based in Illinois or those with a substantial presence in the state. The applicant company should fit the outlined employee count and funding stage criteria and operate within the specified sectors. There is no requirement for the company to be market-ready, although this is preferred. The application process involves submitting an online application through the Evergreen Climate Innovations website. Specific application questions and a detailed list of requirements are not provided in the source material. The evaluation criteria are also not explicitly outlined but are likely based on alignment with the funder’s goals, potential environmental impact, and business readiness. For further inquiries about the Nicor Gas Illinois Innovator Award, applicants can contact Dylan O’Reilly, Senior Program Manager, via email at dylan@evegreeninno.org. The application is currently open and accepting submissions, though no specific opening or closing dates are provided in the source material. There are no pre-application deadlines or Q&A opportunities mentioned. The award date is also not specified. Evergreen Climate Innovations continues to play a significant role in supporting climate tech startups through initiatives like this award. Entrepreneurs interested in making a positive environmental impact in Illinois are encouraged to apply for this opportunity and take advantage of the funding and mentorship offered to further their innovations.