The Department of Defense Office of Naval Research (ONR) recognizes the paramount importance of scientific research to future naval power and the preservation of national security. ONR is interested in the rapid commercialization of clean energy technologies that the Navy can procure to improve reliability and resiliency.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is dedicated to ensuring America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. The DOE’s goals include transforming the nation’s energy system, securing U.S. leadership in clean energy technologies, maintaining science and engineering as a cornerstone of our economic prosperity, and enhancing nuclear security. DOE sponsors more research in the physical sciences that any other U.S. federal agency.

In 2018, Elemental Excelerator was a selected as one of DOE’s Power Connectors for its American Made Solar Prize.

The Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) is a division of the State’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. HSEO is committed to developing and deploying high-impact solutions that will maximize Hawaii’s renewable energy resources, and improve efficiency and transportation standards. In partnership with Elemental Excelerator, HSEO has brought one of the most exciting conferences, VERGE Hawaii, to the islands, showcasing Hawaii’s energy leadership and convening some of the most important voices in clean energy.

Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) is the parent of the three largest utilities in the Hawaiian Islands – Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc., Hawaii Electric Light Company, Inc. and Maui Electric Company, Ltd. – and one of Hawaii’s largest financial institutions, American Savings Bank.

Vector owns and manages a unique portfolio of businesses, which consists of electricity distribution, data and communications provider, gas transmission and distribution, smart metering and data management, natural gas and LPG, fiber-optic networks, and solar and energy storage solutions. Vector sees Hawaii as the Silicon Valley of energy and is most interested in technologies that bring different types of innovation together into one platform and technologies that increase engagement with their end clients.

After the market was deregulated in Japan, TEPCO faced a rapidly changing market and significant disruption to their business model. In response, TEPCO formed an Innovation Task Force to evaluate technology solutions for their grid and explore new business ventures. They are collaborating with Elemental Excelerator and its portfolio companies to assist them in their transformation, learn more about energy innovation in Hawaii, and build a pipeline of promising startups.

GE Ventures is a global leader in energy innovation and investments, with dozens of active energy venture investments. They are committed to identifying, scaling, and accelerating ideas that will make the world work better and provide entrepreneurs and startups access to GE’s technical expertise, capital, and opportunities for commercialization through GE’s global network of businesses, customers, and partners.

SK Gas is part of SK Group, the third largest conglomerate in Korea. SK Gas also owns and manages a portfolio of businesses, including power generation, renewable energy development, and property development. SK Gas is looking for technologies that bring innovation to the energy sector and has high interest in service solutions (e.g., energy storage systems, energy efficiency, etc.) that are built around enhancing engagement with end customers.

Founded in 1887 by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable Native Hawaiian trust committed to improving the capability and wellbeing of native Hawaiians through education. Income generated from its endowment portfolio of commercial real estate and other diverse investments funds more than 96 percent of its educational mission. From this partnership, Kamehameha Schools hopes to continue extending its community engagement and educational efforts to startups and innovation in local and global industries, becoming part of the high-value economic solutions that impact our islands.

The Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) partners with and convenes experts, donors, and nonprofits to raise the level and effectiveness of philanthropy in Hawaii. HCF creates partnerships by bringing funders together with nonprofit, community, and government leaders, and shares knowledge gained through its work investments. Fresh water has always been a concern for an island in the middle of the Pacific with finite water resources.

PTT, a Fortune 500 and a member of World DJSI, is a fully integrated energy and petrochemical company in Thailand. Aside from traditional energy, petrochemical, and trading businesses, PTT invests in New S-Curve businesses under the ‘Design Now’ strategy. PTT’s Innovation Team and Corporate Venture Capital identifies, partners, and invests globally in technologies for energy and sustainability, which can solve developing countries’ challenges.

National Grid is an international energy company headquartered in the United Kingdom, with U.S. operations in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. They operate both regulated and competitive businesses, and are working to embed the culture of innovation into everything they do. Their goals for new technology are aligned with energy and transportation sector trends of decarbonization, decentralization and digitization.

Separate from their core regulated businesses, National Grid has a ventures team active in competitive markets across the US and UK. They are working to build the energy systems of tomorrow – from bringing innovative technology to market that changes the way homes and businesses use energy, to competing for new, large-scale, climate-friendly energy projects. Whether it’s the long-distance transport of renewable energy, storage, or supporting the roll-out of smart meters, National Grid Ventures is investing in new technologies to make energy reliable, clean, and affordable.