IMPEL offers unique pitch-training workshops to innovators working in the design, construction, and operations of buildings, or the building-to-grid space such as building-integrated renewables, electric vehicles, and energy storage. Eligible applicants include: 

1. Entrepreneurs and small businesses working in the built environment space such as engineering, architecture, urban design, facilities and real estate, healthy buildings, energy services, microgrids, data science etc.,

2. National Lab staff who conduct buildings and energy research,

3. Non-Lab Awardees who have won Federal Opportunity Announcement Awards, Small Business Awards etc.,

4. Faculty and Graduate Students conducting building science research and development, or from BTO-affiliated university programs such as Solar Decathlon, JUMP into STEM, and others,

5. Buildings Professionals, Fellows, and Staff with new buildings innovation program ideas.

1. Hardware Products: Building materials, assembly, sensors, controls, energy equipment, microgrid components

2. Software Products: Building information and construction management, energy data, building-to-grid optimization tools

3. Services: Design, modeling, construction, consulting, training

4. Systems & Solutions: Hardware + software + consulting

5. Programs & Policies: Residential building programs, energy efficiency programs, healthy buildings programs

First, knowledge and enthusiasm about your building technology or project. 

Second, a specific project you want to take to impact.  This is the “Why” of why you should participate.

Essentially, you the applicant can select a  project of your choice, for instance a tool (software)/ or technology (hardware)/patent to develop and refine your pitch about. The project that you propose is not restricted to BTO-funded projects – it may be funded by another entity, as long as the technology is in the buildings space. Additionally, the project may be at various technology readiness levels (TRL) such as an idea, or bench-tested material, beta-tested prototype, as long as it is at a point in its lifecycle that IMPEL could have a value to the innovator and a potential future application in industry.

You may also bring a policy or program idea to pitch to a decision-maker. 

Whether you are an entrepreneur or small business, national lab, public sector or non-profit staff, if you have an idea for the design, construction or management of built environment and infrastructure, do apply to the IMPEL program. You will gain pitch training at the minimum, and a network of high-quality innovators specifically in your domain area. High-performing innovators will also receive acceleration, incubation, and pitching opportunities at wide exposure events.

 IMPEL is a three-phase program:

• Phase 1: Selected applicants invited to one intense, daylong workshop with expert IMPEL Coaches to learn: How do you pitch? How do you roadmap? How do you develop a unique, compelling value proposition? 

• Phase 2: Select IMPEL Innovators invited to office hours with the IMPEL director, Reshma Singh to discuss progress and identify potential pipeline opportunities.

• Phase 3: Up to five Innovators will be selected per pipeline, which provides further learning engagements for their buildings and buildings-edge projects. These Innovators also receive additional one-on-one office hours with the coaches before they are selected for a pipeline:

  1. Public Sector Pipelines: Five IMPEL Innovators will be selected to pitch to public sector leaders at the IMPEL national showcases hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy and partner agencies.

  2. Private Sector Pipelines: Five IMPEL Innovators will be selected to gain fully-funded access to national pitch events organized by IMPEL's partner Incubator, Greentown Labs. 

See testimonials from Innovators who have been through the IMPEL program.

The workshop will not cover how to write research grants, conduct R&D, or hone lab skills. The workshop will expect that participants have done some pre-work on roadmapping, identifying their target audience, etc. IMPEL will share resources to prepare selected innovators for their workshop.

There are no cohort fees; all programming, coaching, and follow-on opportunities are funded by DOE BTO’s IMPEL  program. 

You will have to cover any travel costs to attend any mandatory in-person events, including the pitch coaching workshop and, if selected, business seminars and pipeline opportunities.

Innovators should plan for one day of attending the workshop and any travel time. There will be minimal but mandatory pre-work expected to be 2-4 hours that entails reviewing recommended readings and videos. You can choose to spend more time on additional pre-work on your pitch prior to the workshop.