{"status":200,"message":"Success","data":{"id":"f4b8f23f-7b32-591f-ab6e-cab4684abe7b","title":"Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA)","description":"The Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA), operated by the Maryland Clean Energy Center, is a multi-phase program that accelerates the commercialization of advanced energy and climate technologies from Maryland's businesses, universities, labs, researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs. It connects climate tech startups with expert coaches, investors, and resources to bring innovations to market faster and help Maryland meet its sustainability benchmarks. MEIA has facilitated over $90 million in funding and supported 120+ participants, creating 175+ full and part-time jobs.\n\nPhase 0 (Pre-Accelerator – Maryland Climate Tech Pre-Accelerator): A training and commercialization readiness program for very early-stage climate-tech researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs at TRL 1–3 with no prior investment and minimal commercial engagement. Implemented in partnership with the NSF Mid-Atlantic Hub I-Corps team at the University of Maryland. Participants work through small workshops and mentor support on customer discovery, business model development, financing, and commercialization pathways over approximately 2 months. The Winter 2026 cohort runs January 13–March 24. Graduates may continue into MEIA's Launchpad or Accelerator programs.\n\nPhase 1 (Launchpad): Targets technologies at TRL 3–5, engaging founders and researchers over 4–6 months to conduct customer discovery, develop a business model canvas, and create a commercialization plan and investor-ready pitch deck. Provides $10,000 in funding with an opportunity to apply for an additional $5,000. MEIA recruits Energy Executives in Residence (EEIRs) per team to lead commercialization planning.\n\nPhase 2 (Manufacturing Accelerator – Prototyping & Manufacturing): Supports startups at TRL 4–6 that are ready to scale toward manufacturing, providing a $30,000 budget, hands-on MEIA staff support, and connections to ecosystem partners, funders, and Maryland state services to help startups build credibility, obtain seed or Series A funding, and develop a product roadmap.\n\nClimate Technology Founders Fund (CTFF / Phase 3): Established through Senate Bill 0960 and launched in early 2025, this special component focuses on empowering Minority, Women, and Veteran-Owned Business (MWVOB) entrepreneurs with critical equity investments to advance clean energy and decarbonization solutions. Funding is subject to availability and approval by a Fund Oversight Committee until allocated funds are expended.\n\nParticipants can join one or all phases and benefit from specialized guidance and industry connections at every stage.","status":{"value":"custom","customValue":"Recurring"},"source":"https://mdcleanenergy.org/meia/meia-approach","funding":{"details":"Pre-Accelerator (Phase 0): A 2-month, part-time program featuring weekly virtual mentor sessions and small workshops on the entrepreneurial journey, customer discovery, business model development, financing, and commercialization pathways, culminating in an in-person graduation ceremony. No direct cash funding is provided. The Winter 2026 cohort runs January 13–March 24, 2026.\n\nPhase 1 (Launchpad): $10,000 in funding with an opportunity to apply for an additional $5,000, plus hands-on MEIA support, Energy Executive in Residence (EEIR) engagement, and services over a 6-month timeline. Teams conduct customer discovery, develop a business model canvas, and create a commercialization plan and investor-ready pitch deck.\n\nPhase 2 (Manufacturing Accelerator / Prototyping & Manufacturing): $30,000 budget to advance prototyping and manufacturing, direct MEIA staff support, introductions to funders, assistance obtaining seed or Series A funding, connections to Maryland's innovation ecosystem, help building credibility with third-party investors, identification of strategic partners, and product roadmap development.\n\nClimate Technology Founders Fund (CTFF / Phase 3): Equity investments provided to Minority, Women, and Veteran-Owned Businesses working on clean energy and decarbonization solutions. Funding subject to availability and approval by a Fund Oversight Committee until allocated funds are expended.\n\nOverall, MEIA has facilitated over $90 million in funding and supported 120+ participants, creating 175+ full and part-time jobs."},"keyDates":{"closeDate":{"name":"Application deadline","eventType":"singleDate","date":"2026-03-24","details":"Winter 2026 Pre-Accelerator cohort: 1/13 – 3/24"}},"acceptedApplicantTypes":[{"value":"custom","customValue":"for-profit"},{"value":"custom","customValue":"higher education institution"},{"value":"individual"}],"customFields":{"agency":{"name":"agency","fieldType":"object","value":{"name":"Maryland Clean Energy Center"},"schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/agency"},"contactInfo":{"name":"contactInfo","fieldType":"object","value":{"name":"Mike Ducker","email":"info@mdcleanenergy.org"},"schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/contactInfo"},"additionalInfo":{"name":"additionalInfo","fieldType":"object","value":{"url":"https://compass.maryland.gov/incentives/#/incentive/maryland-energy-innovation-accelerator-meia","description":"Maryland Community Compass record"},"schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/additionalInfo"},"eligibilityCriteria":{"name":"eligibilityCriteria","fieldType":"object","value":{"beneficiaryTypes":[{"code":"for_profit","name":"for-profit"},{"code":"higher_education_institution","name":"higher education institution"},{"code":"individuals","name":"individuals"}],"details":"Climate technology and clean energy founders, inventors, early-stage startups, businesses, universities, and laboratories in Maryland working on advanced energy and climate technologies. The Pre-Accelerator (Phase 0) specifically targets very early-stage entrepreneurs and inventors at TRL 1–3 with no prior investment and minimal commercial engagement. Phase 1 targets founders at TRL 3–5 and Phase 2 targets clean energy startups at TRL 4–6 that are developing a prototype or preparing for manufacturing and seeking to scale. The Climate Technology Founders Fund specifically targets Minority, Women, and Veteran-Owned Business (MWVOB) entrepreneurs. Participants can join one or all phases.\n\nAvailable statewide in Maryland; focused on Maryland-based businesses, universities, labs, climate technology startups, and founders. Pre-Accelerator is primarily virtual with an in-person graduation component, implemented in partnership with the University of Maryland NSF Mid-Atlantic Hub I-Corps team. Phase 2 is available to startups in Maryland through the Maryland innovation ecosystem."},"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"fundingSource":{"name":"fundingSource","fieldType":"string","value":"Public","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"fundingInstrument":{"name":"fundingInstrument","fieldType":"string","value":"grant; training; equity-investment; other-technical-assistance","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"lastSyncedAt":{"name":"lastSyncedAt","fieldType":"string","value":"2026-10-17T08:01:10.429Z","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdCompassId":{"name":"mdCompassId","fieldType":"number","value":966,"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdSlug":{"name":"mdSlug","fieldType":"string","value":"maryland-energy-innovation-accelerator-meia","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdDataQuality":{"name":"mdDataQuality","fieldType":"string","value":"high","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdGeographicScope":{"name":"mdGeographicScope","fieldType":"string","value":"statewide","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdAcceptingApplications":{"name":"mdAcceptingApplications","fieldType":"boolean","value":false,"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdRecurring":{"name":"mdRecurring","fieldType":"boolean","value":true,"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdAssistanceTypes":{"name":"mdAssistanceTypes","fieldType":"array","value":["grant","training","equity-investment","other-technical-assistance"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdEligibleIndustries":{"name":"mdEligibleIndustries","fieldType":"array","value":["Utilities","Manufacturing","Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services","Information","Other Services (except Public Administration)","Any"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdEligibleCounties":{"name":"mdEligibleCounties","fieldType":"array","value":["All"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdEligibleOrganizationTypes":{"name":"mdEligibleOrganizationTypes","fieldType":"array","value":["for-profit","higher education institution","individuals"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdBusinessStage":{"name":"mdBusinessStage","fieldType":"string","value":"startup","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdApplicationDeadlineRaw":{"name":"mdApplicationDeadlineRaw","fieldType":"string","value":"Winter 2026 Pre-Accelerator cohort: 1/13 – 3/24","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdApplicationProcess":{"name":"mdApplicationProcess","fieldType":"string","value":"Inventors and founders can express interest and apply through the MEIA website at https://mdcleanenergy.org/meia or at mdeia.org/inventors. For the Pre-Accelerator (Phase 0), apply via the Winter 2026 Pre-Accelerator link on the MEIA website at https://mdcleanenergy.org/meia/meia-phase-0; the Winter 2026 cohort runs January 13 through March 24, 2026. For Phase 1 (Launchpad), apply via the online Airtable form at https://mdcleanenergy.org/meia/meia-phase-1. For Phase 2 (Prototyping & Manufacturing), apply via the online Airtable form at https://mdcleanenergy.org/meia/meia-phase-2. Participants can join one or all phases. Contact MEIA at info@mdcleanenergy.org to learn which program phase is the right fit. Additional information for inventors and founders is available at https://mdcleanenergy.org/meia/meia-inventors. Visit the general MEIA program page at https://mdcleanenergy.org/programs/md-energy-innovation-accelerator/ for full details. Program participation and financial support are subject to fund availability and approval by the Fund Oversight Committee.","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdProgramAudience":{"name":"mdProgramAudience","fieldType":"string","value":"Climate technology and clean energy founders, inventors, early-stage startups, businesses, universities, and laboratories in Maryland working on advanced energy and climate technologies. The Pre-Accelerator (Phase 0) specifically targets very early-stage entrepreneurs and inventors at TRL 1–3 with no prior investment and minimal commercial engagement. Phase 1 targets founders at TRL 3–5 and Phase 2 targets clean energy startups at TRL 4–6 that are developing a prototype or preparing for manufacturing and seeking to scale. The Climate Technology Founders Fund specifically targets Minority, Women, and Veteran-Owned Business (MWVOB) entrepreneurs. 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Overall: Business development, access to advisors and industry connections, ecosystem navigation, capital access, and development and commercialization of emission-reducing and climate technology projects.","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdGeographicEligibility":{"name":"mdGeographicEligibility","fieldType":"string","value":"Available statewide in Maryland; focused on Maryland-based businesses, universities, labs, climate technology startups, and founders. Pre-Accelerator is primarily virtual with an in-person graduation component, implemented in partnership with the University of Maryland NSF Mid-Atlantic Hub I-Corps team. 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