Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.

Grants

ARPA-E funding opportunities (OPEN and focused programs)

ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) funding opportunities

Status

Status not published

Rolling series of FOAs, each with its own concept-paper and full-application deadlines. Recurring OPEN calls (roughly every three years) accept proposals in any energy technology area; focused programs and SPARKS/exploratory topics are announced continuously on ARPA-E eXCHANGE.

Check with the funder

Amount

Not published

Award sizes are set individually in each Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA/NOFO) and vary widely by programme; ARPA-E does not publish a single standing ceiling. ARPA-E describes its model as 'non-dilutive funding' that lets 'awardees ... pursue groundbreaking ideas with reduced financial risk and the preservation of equity'. Cost share requirements are also set per FOA. Do not assume a figure - read the specific FOA on ARPA-E eXCHANGE.

Funder

Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

public · national

Deadline: annual_call — Rolling series of FOAs, each with its own concept-paper and full-application deadlines. Recurring OPEN calls (roughly every three years) accept proposals in any energy technology area; focused programs and SPARKS/exploratory topics are announced continuously on ARPA-E eXCHANGE.

Your odds

Not published

This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.

Effort

major

Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.

Who can apply

Sectors: climate, deeptech, manufacturing
Stage: pre_seed, seed, series_a
R&D activity required
Locally registered entity required

ARPA-E is open to a broad range of applicants - startups, established companies, universities, national labs and consortia - not restricted to small businesses, so startups compete against large institutions. Eligibility and cost-share rules are set in each FOA and in the standing FOA provisions incorporated by reference. SAM.gov entity registration with a Unique Entity ID is required before any award can be made, and an ARPA-E eXCHANGE account is required to submit. Note: DOE also runs a separate DOE SBIR/STTR programme with the standard SBIR ceilings.

How to apply

Register in SAM.gov to obtain a UEI and create an account on ARPA-E eXCHANGE. — link
Submit a Concept Paper by the FOA deadline.
If encouraged, submit a Full Application, then respond to reviewer comments.
Negotiate the award (cooperative agreement or other transaction) including any cost share. — link

What you will need

Concept Paper
Full Application including technical volume, budget and cost-share plan
SAM.gov registration with UEI

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://arpa-e.energy.gov/innovator-hub — checked 2026-08-14

"ARPA-E's non-dilutive funding model enables awardees to pursue groundbreaking ideas with reduced financial risk and the preservation of equity."