St. Louis: Ameren Accelerator applications open for emerging energy startups

The Ameren Accelerator is looking for the best and brightest entrepreneurs to develop game-changing technologies to solve tomorrow’s energy needs. Applications for the 12-week Ameren Accelerator close March 9 where five to seven startups will be chosen to participate in the program located in Cortex – St. Louis’ innovation and technology district. The Ameren Accelerator is one of the first of its kind in the United States and the first in the St. Louis region to focus solely on emerging energy technologies. The goals of the program are to better position Ameren to meet its customers’ future energy needs and expectations, attract job-creating startups to St. Louis and provide university students the opportunity to be more involved and engaged in the energy business. The program is looking for the best new energy technologies related to the energy grid, efficient electrification, renewable technologies, Internet-of-Things, power-electronics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, distributed generation, data analytics, and more. Selected startups will receive access to $100,000 in funding, perks, benefits, office space, mentorship, and direct engagement with a Fortune 500 utility serving 3.3 million electric and natural gas customers.

“As technologies continue to advance, and as the needs and expectations of our customers continue to rise, it is important that we work collaboratively with innovators and entrepreneurs throughout the world to deliver superior value to our customers, shareholders and the communities we serve,” said Warner Baxter, chairman, president and CEO, Ameren. “Through the Ameren Accelerator, we’ve been able to identify and support startups and innovations that have the potential to make a lasting, positive impact for our customers and our industry, while bringing new jobs to our region. We look forward to opening the next chapter of this unique public-private partnership and welcoming our second Ameren Accelerator class,” he added. At the conclusion of the program, participants will showcase their efforts to the mentoring teams, potential third-party investors, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, students and the general public during Ameren Accelerator Demo Day in September. Ameren may select the most promising projects for ongoing mentoring and engagement beyond the accelerator program. The call for applicants follows a successful 2017 Ameren Accelerator, which attracted seven startup companies from around the world to participate in the inaugural program. The 2017 program drew more than 200 applicants from 23 states and 31 countries. The Ameren Accelerator is an innovative public-private partnership with the University of Missouri System, UMSL Accelerate and Capital Innovators