About our Challenges

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is focused on advancing cleantech and clean energy technology innovation and commercialization. DOE is leveraging prizes to get more funding into the hands of successful entrepreneurs and innovators, especially those who have never worked with the government before. DOE is also interested in partnering with other industry sponsors to scale the prizes to reach more communities, advance more technologies, and build more businesses and jobs. If you are interested in sponsoring prizes, teams, or technologies contact the American-Made Program Manager.

HeroX is our prize platform. This is the website where prize participants can view the rules, the timelines, and important prize documents. There is a forum where you can communicate with the prize community and the prize administrators. And, most importantly, this is where you follow the prize challenge and submit your official prize submission package. Go to the American-Made HeroX page to see all prizes

The American-Made Network is here to help you succeed. prize challenges even offer additional prizes to network members who help our teams, so it is in their best interest (and yours) to connect with them. The network is filled with impressive organizations that may assist you with reviewing your submission, helping with a presentation, connecting you to technical assistance, and other business support for your company. company. Proving that you are reaching out for help and working to build a diverse team of experts can strengthen strengthen your submissions as well. Connect with the Network by using the Matchmaking Tool.

You will never know if you don't try – and we are here to help! Try connecting to one of our Power Connectors for advice. They have seen many successful ideas, they can help you pivot if needed, and they can help improve your submission as well. Remember, that these prize challenges are meant to be a low-barrier to entry, and we are looking for new, out-of-the-box ideas and novel approaches. We are also interested in working with people from all types of backgrounds, so even if you aren't an expert today you may become an expert through the course of the prize challenge.

First, find the prize challenge that is right for you. New prizes are launched on a regular basis and cover all types of technologies including, solar, water, buildings, geothermal, advanced manufacturing, and more. Once you are interested in a specific prize, read the rules, build a strong team with diverse skills, and reach out to the American-Made Network for assistance. Focus on defining a solution that meets the goals of the prize challenge and start working on efforts that will strengthen your final submission.

Great, we encourage you to join the American-Made Network and become a Connector. We ask that you are willing and able to potentially help any competitor, not just select teams. Start by signing up to join the Network through the Network Matchmaking Tool. We will then provide an orientation and ask that you begin connecting with teams and other connectors. There are many opportunities to get involved across many technology areas and prize competitions. And some prizes even offer prize recognition rewards for Connectors!

Winners of the prize challenges can use the prize money however they would like. There are “no strings attached” to prize funding. Prizes are awarded for work that has already been completed during the prize challenge. Therefore, the teams can use the prize money however they would like and there are no reporting requirements.

We encourage you to consult a tax expert. But the bottom line is, yes you will very likely pay taxes on the prize money you receive. When building your team and completing your formal submission, think about which entity you want to receive the funds in case you win. The prize administrator will only pay one (1) entity the prize money. Whatever name that is put on the submission will be the person or organization that the prize administrator will pay if you win. And consider that the person or organization name must eventually match the W9 form that we will need to issue payment in the event you win, so please use full legal names when submitting.

We encourage you to consult a legal expert. But the bottomline is, you are responsible for ensuring the protection of your intellectual property (IP). Prize challenges can vary, but most submission packages ask for information that can be publicly shared so that the public can learn about them solutions or ideas submitted. Reviewers sign an NDA before reviewing any submission and we also ask reviewers to inform us about any potential conflicts of interest immediately. When working with the Network or a national laboratory via a voucher additional agreements or contracts may be needed.