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.
About Our Grants
The Fund offers $25,000 - $100,000 in non-equity grants for cleantech and sustainability startups. Program applicants that pass an initial screening round go on to compete for grants. The competition process provides opportunities to work with utilities and access further funding. Applicants meet experts in product development, scale up and manufacturing, and are provided access to legal advice covering corporate structure and IP. Applicants may leverage relationships with IN2 Wells Fargo, Shell GameChanger and the Electric Power Research Institute and double or triple the value of the awards as well as secure voucher funding covering lab testing facilities and technical expertise.
Partnering Opportunites
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 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 from the cleantech industry, academia and the investment community to join an exclusive group of like-minded experts on the TAC. The role of TAC is to:
Assess the business potential and technical viability of applications
Recommend semi-final and 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. For those wishing to become more involved, the Rocket Fund offers a tiered Rocket Fund Membership Program. For more information see this package and contact Stephanie Yanchinski, Director of Entrepreneurial Programs, 626-395-1968.
