About Us

Caltech's Rocket Fund is a member supported granting pool that helps academic and garage innovators turn their technologies into commercial realities through financial support and entrepreneurial mentoring and education. The fund operates as an exclusive program of the Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech, which advances global sustainability through transformational science, engineering, and education. In September 2019 philanthropists and entrepreneurs Stewart and Lynda Resnick, owners of The Wonderful Company, announced a $750 million pledge to Caltech to support cutting-edge research into the most pressing challenges in environmental sustainability. Translating innovation into real world impact is a major part of RSI's mission.

The Fund offers $25,000 - $100,000 in non-equity grants for cleantech and sustainability startups and welcomes applications from across the country. The competition process provides opportunities to work with utilities and access further funding. Applicants meet experts in product development, scale up and manufacturing and early stage investors. Applicants may leverage relationships with IN2 Wells Fargo, Shell GameChanger, the Electric Power Research Institute, Aditya Birla and Halliburton Labs and increase the value of the awards through these relationships, as well as secure voucher funding covering lab testing facilities and technical expertise.

The Fund is a Membership organization, governed by a Membership Board, consisting of representatives from its members. The Fund's Review Panel, consisting of Members and invited guests and observers, oversees the awards process with advice from the Rocket Fund's Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) and under the guidance of Neil A. Fromer, Executive Director of Programs, Rocket Fund Board Member and Chief Scientific Advisor and Stephanie C. Yanchinski, Director of Entrepreneurial Programs.

We are seeking partners to join an exclusive group of 40+ experts from the cleantech industry, academia and the investment community on the TAC. The committee's role is to:

• Assess the business potential and technical viability of applications
• Recommend semi-final awards
• Provide in-kind support where mutually beneficial

In return, TAC members gain early access to exciting technologies and fast-moving companies that can provide business leads and connections to award-winning innovators.

or those wishing to explore the full range of Rocket Fund's opportunities, including the tiered Membership Program that ranges from $5k Observer to $100k Platinum level, contact Stephanie Yanchinski, RSI Director of Entrepreneurial Programs, 626-395-1968.