The Southern California Energy Innovation Network (SCEIN) is a free program for startups that are developing solutions to help California meet its energy goals. The program provides access to the resources and facilities of a number of regional partner organizations (listed below) and connections with industry in order to accelerate the commercialization of emerging energy technologies.
To date, 42 companies have been accepted into the Southern California Energy Innovation Network. Together, these startups employ more than 247 people and have raised $46 million in private capital investment and $9 million in public capital investment since being accepted into the program.
The program is the result of a five-year, $5 million grant from the California Energy Commission awarded in 2016 to help advance California’s energy innovation industry.
The Southern California Energy Innovation Network engages with partners, regional stakeholders, and other local service providers to offer free business services customized to the unique needs of each company, including:
- Industry Connections
- Research and Testing Facilities
- Pilot Project Opportunities
- Regulatory and Policy Guidance
- Hardware Design and Simulation Support
- Software/Data Analytics Support
- Access to Student Intern Projects
- Market Intelligence
- Mentoring
- Business Workshops
- Pitch Deck Development
- Presentation/PR Opportunities
- Introductions to Capital Providers
- Notification of Grant Solicitations and Prize Competitions
- Business Service Referrals
Eligibility:
Southern California Energy Innovation Network applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- The company must have a California business address
- The company must currently operate out of (or have near-term plans to do business in) one of the four counties in our territory: San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, or San Bernardino
- The company’s technology must be energy-related with the ability to benefit California’s electric ratepayers. It should fall under one of five general categories:
- Energy Efficiency (envelope, lighting, HVAC, plug loads, pumps, energy management software)
- Renewable Energy Generation (wind, solar, wave, geothermal, hydro)
- Energy Storage (battery materials, electrochemical, mechanical, and thermal storage devices)
- Smart Grid and Energy Services (demand response, energy IoT, smart metering, DERMS, data analytics, and microgrid technologies)
- Clean Transportation (EV charging infrastructure and software platforms)
Marty Turock, Program Manager, martyt@cleantechsandiego.org
Zac Dobbin, Project Manager, zacd@cleantechsandiego.org
Michael Ford, Inland Empire Program Manager, michaelf@cleantechsandiego.org