The U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Award

The U.S. Bank Foundation Cleantech Award is a grant program developed to support entrepreneurs who are building innovative companies focused on driving economic development, creating jobs, and benefiting the environment. This award is offered through a partnership between the U.S. Bank Foundation and Evergreen Climate Innovations. The program underscores a strong commitment to fostering innovation that promotes economic growth, especially within the Midwest, and contributing to the broader cleantech sector. It aims to support startups that are aligned with the ongoing transition to cleaner energy solutions. The primary objective of the Cleantech Award is to accelerate the development of transformative solutions in the cleantech industry. The program places an emphasis on fostering innovations that contribute to reducing harmful emissions, lowering carbon footprints, and positively impacting the environment. Specific goals include driving economic development in the Midwest and beyond, creating new job opportunities within the cleantech sector, and supporting the commercialization of climate-positive technologies. Through this initiative, the program seeks to remove barriers to accessing resources, thereby enabling a more inclusive and dynamic innovation ecosystem. The award provides substantial support to selected entrepreneurs. Two recipients will each receive a non-recourse grant of $30,000. Additionally, the program offers a 12-month business mentorship provided jointly by U.S. Bank and Evergreen Climate Innovations. This mentorship is intended to guide entrepreneurs through the development and scaling of their ventures. Awardees will also gain enhanced visibility among investors and potential customers, further increasing their opportunities for business growth and sustainability. Eligibility criteria for the Cleantech Award are clearly defined. Applicants must be entrepreneurs leading companies that are legally incorporated and headquartered in one of the eligible states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming. Eligible companies should be at the pre-seed or seed stage, have between 2 to 12 full-time employees, not have raised more than $3 million from external investors, and must own or have valid licenses to relevant intellectual property. Preference is given to companies with market-ready products or services that deliver positive social impacts. The eligible sectors for this award encompass a wide range of environmental and cleantech focus areas. These include renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart buildings and cities, energy storage, advanced mobility and transportation, sustainable food and agriculture, resiliency services, carbon mitigation, sustainable wastewater management, and the sustainable management of living and natural resources and land use. Companies generating revenue and demonstrating positive social impact are particularly encouraged to apply, though these factors are not strict requirements. Applications for the Cleantech Award can be submitted through the program’s online application portal. Interested applicants seeking further information or needing assistance can contact Senior Program Manager Dylan O’Reilly via email at dylan@evergreeninno.org. The program does not list a specific open date, pre-application deadline, or final application close date in the provided materials. There is also no mention of a formal Q&A opportunity or announced award date. As such, prospective applicants are encouraged to reach out directly for the most current timeline details. The Cleantech Award represents a valuable opportunity for cleantech entrepreneurs to gain financial support, mentorship, and enhanced market exposure as they work to develop impactful solutions in the climate innovation space.