Opportunity Information: Apply for C NOFO 16 100
Apply for C NOFO 16 100
- The DOS-IND in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S.-South India Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 28, 2016 and posted on Apr 28, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 28, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $56,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S.-South India Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge was a discretionary U.S. government grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number C NOFO 16 100) issued by the U.S. Department of State mission in India (DOS-IND), through the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai. Its purpose was to support a renewable energy innovation contest designed specifically for young entrepreneurs and innovators in South India, with a strong emphasis on building connections between Indian talent and U.S. renewable energy innovators, mentors, and know-how. The overall aim was not simply to award a prize, but to increase awareness, spark interest, and encourage real, practical innovation activity in the renewable energy space among early-stage entrepreneurs.
The program concept centered on convening a mix of stakeholders: young South Indian entrepreneurs and innovators, U.S. renewable energy innovators (serving as mentors), and local South Indian renewable energy experts, business leaders, and investors. Geographically, the opportunity targeted participants from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, and the Andaman Islands. Structurally, the contest was planned in two stages. The first stage was a preliminary round run virtually, where applicants would submit videos describing their renewable energy ideas. Those submissions would be reviewed by a local panel, which would select finalists to advance. The second stage was an in-person final round in Chennai, organized as a Demo Day-style competition.
A defining feature of the challenge was the mentorship component. Finalists chosen from the virtual round would be paired with U.S. mentors, who would work with them remotely over a set period to help develop and sharpen the renewable energy concept. This development phase was meant to take ideas beyond a rough pitch and toward something more investment- and implementation-ready, such as improving technical feasibility, clarifying the value proposition, thinking through deployment pathways, and strengthening presentation strategy. The design also included travel to Chennai for both finalists and their U.S. mentors about one week before Demo Day, allowing time for intensive final collaboration, refinement of demonstrations, and rehearsal before the public pitch event.
The project would culminate in a full-day Demo Day competition in Chennai. During this final showcase, each finalist would pitch and demonstrate their idea to a judging panel composed of South Indian renewable energy experts, business leaders, and investors, in front of a live audience. In practice, this format is meant to do two things at once: create a high-visibility platform that legitimizes and spotlights young innovators, and create a realistic gateway to next steps by placing entrepreneurs directly in front of domain experts and potential backers who can provide feedback, partnerships, or funding interest.
From an administrative standpoint, the grant was categorized under the Energy funding activity area, with CFDA number 19.040, and used a grant as the funding instrument. Only one award was expected, with an award ceiling of $56,000. Eligibility was limited to certain organizational types rather than individuals: public or state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions). The opportunity was posted on April 28, 2016, and had a closing date of June 28, 2016. Overall, the funding supported an organizing entity capable of designing and running the full contest pipeline (outreach, virtual submissions, judging, mentor matching, travel coordination, and the Chennai Demo Day), with the broader public-diplomacy and innovation goal of strengthening U.S.-India collaboration in renewable energy entrepreneurship.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the U.S.-South India Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge?
The U.S.-South India Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge was a discretionary U.S. government grant opportunity that supported the design and delivery of a renewable energy innovation contest for young entrepreneurs and innovators in South India. The contest was built to increase awareness, spark interest, and encourage practical early-stage innovation activity in renewable energy, while also strengthening connections between Indian talent and U.S. renewable energy innovators, mentors, and know-how.
Which U.S. government entity issued this grant opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of State mission in India (DOS-IND), through the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number was C NOFO 16 100.
What was the main purpose of the funded project?
The funded project was intended to run a renewable energy innovation contest designed specifically for young entrepreneurs and innovators in South India. The goal was not just to award a prize, but to build awareness and momentum for real innovation, and to connect participants to U.S. mentors and renewable energy expertise.
Was this opportunity focused on prizes or broader innovation outcomes?
It emphasized broader outcomes. While a contest format was used, the overall aim was to increase awareness, spark interest, and encourage practical innovation activity among early-stage entrepreneurs, alongside building U.S.-India connections in renewable energy innovation.
Which stakeholders were intended to be involved in the challenge?
The concept centered on convening (1) young South Indian entrepreneurs and innovators, (2) U.S. renewable energy innovators serving as mentors, and (3) local South Indian renewable energy experts, business leaders, and investors.
Which geographies in South India were targeted for participants?
The opportunity targeted participants from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Puducherry, and the Andaman Islands.
How was the contest structured?
The contest was planned in two stages: a virtual preliminary round and an in-person final round in Chennai. In the first stage, applicants submitted videos describing their renewable energy ideas and a local panel reviewed submissions to select finalists. The second stage was an in-person Demo Day-style final competition in Chennai.
What happened during the virtual preliminary round?
During the preliminary stage, applicants would submit videos describing their renewable energy ideas. A local panel reviewed those submissions and selected finalists to advance to the final round.
Where was the in-person final round held?
The final round was planned as an in-person event in Chennai, India, organized as a Demo Day-style competition.
What is meant by a "Demo Day-style" final?
The final was described as a full-day showcase where each finalist would pitch and demonstrate their renewable energy idea to a judging panel (including experts, business leaders, and investors) in front of a live audience.
What role did U.S. mentors play in the program?
Mentorship was a defining feature. Finalists selected from the virtual round would be paired with U.S. renewable energy innovators serving as mentors. The mentors would work with finalists remotely over a set period to help develop and sharpen the concept.
What kinds of improvements were mentors expected to help with?
The mentorship phase was meant to move ideas beyond a rough pitch and toward being more investment- and implementation-ready. The description highlights improvements such as technical feasibility, clarifying the value proposition, thinking through deployment pathways, and strengthening presentation strategy.
Was there planned travel associated with the mentorship and final event?
Yes. The design included travel to Chennai for both finalists and their U.S. mentors about one week before Demo Day to allow time for intensive collaboration, demonstration refinement, and rehearsal before the public pitch event.
Who judged the final pitches at Demo Day?
The judging panel was to be composed of South Indian renewable energy experts, business leaders, and investors.
What was the intended impact of putting finalists in front of experts and investors?
The format was meant to provide a high-visibility platform that spotlights young innovators while also serving as a realistic gateway to next steps, by placing entrepreneurs directly in front of people who can provide feedback, partnerships, or funding interest.
What funding activity area was this grant categorized under?
The funding activity area was Energy.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity used CFDA number 19.040.
What type of funding instrument was used?
A grant was the funding instrument.
How many awards were expected to be made?
Only one award was expected.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $56,000.
Who was eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility was limited to organizations (not individuals), specifically: public or state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and U.S. nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions).
Could individuals apply directly?
No. Eligibility was limited to certain organizational types, and individuals were not listed as eligible applicants.
What kinds of organizations were the funds intended to support?
The funding supported an organizing entity capable of designing and running the full contest pipeline, including outreach, virtual submissions, judging, mentor matching, travel coordination, and the Chennai Demo Day.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on April 28, 2016, and the closing date was June 28, 2016.
What was the broader public-diplomacy or collaboration goal behind the program?
A core goal was strengthening U.S.-India collaboration in renewable energy entrepreneurship by connecting South Indian innovators with U.S. mentors and renewable energy know-how, alongside local South Indian experts, business leaders, and investors.
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