Read below to understand the full rules and regulations for Startup Prize: Energy 2026. It includes details that may answer some of your burning questions about what’s required to compete and what Prize Foundation commits to on our end.
If you have questions, contact Melissa Brannan: melissa@startupprize.com
Startup Prize (sometimes referred to herein as “Startup Prize”) is a competition and business development incubator organized and owned by the Prize Foundation, Inc., a Louisiana non-profit organization (“Prize”). Prize sometimes does business as “Startup Prize.” Prize Foundation reserves the right to amend these rules at any time, in its own discretion. Further, the interpretation of these rules shall be made solely by Gregory Kallenberg, who is the Executive Director of Prize Foundation and founder of Startup Prize, in his sole discretion. Competitors in Startup Prize must abide by the following rules in order to participate in Startup Prize and to compete for the prizes and honors that may be offered by Startup Prize.
Startup Prize is a startup business competition open to energy-focused entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world. We define an early-stage business as one that:
We typically see companies that are pre-seed, seed or early into their Series A raise. Special consideration will be given to businesses that are considered “scalable.” All qualified entries must be independently owned companies. Companies owned, financed or developed by a parent company that does not meet the “early-stage” requirements, are ineligible for competition.
Eligible business concepts for Startup Prize: Energy include startups that are involved in the production, storage, transportation, or management of electricity or fuel molecules. There will be two tracks to compete within:
The ELECTRICITY track is for any concept which involves the production, storage, transmission, or management of electricity. Categories of startup eligible for this track include but are not limited to:
Electricity Generation
Electricity Storage & Conversion
Grid Infrastructure & Transmission
Distributed Energy Resources (DER)
Demand-Side Management & Electrification
The HYDROCARBONS/FUELS track is for any business concept which involves the
production, storage, transportation, or management of a fuel molecule. Categories of startup eligible for this track include but are not limited to:
Oil & Gas Fuel Production
Fuel Midstream & Infrastructure
Low-Carbon Liquid Fuels
Gaseous Fuels
Hydrogen as Fuel
Ammonia as Fuel
Emerging Fuel Concepts
If you have questions or concerns about the eligibility of your business, please contact Startup Prize team directly. Startup Prize reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any project.
All competitors must register to attend qualifying events by the deadline. Registration is free for both events. Each startup may register no more than 2 attendees per qualifying event. If a company is disbanded or fails to participate in any required events, a new registration form and fee must accompany the new business.
Qualifying events offered for Startup Prize: Energy 2026:
The completed Entrepreneur Portal application must be fully completed and submitted by 11:59pm CT on Monday, July 6, 2026. Each competitor grants to Startup Prize a limited license of use for the purpose of the competition for all materials submitted to Startup Prize upon submission (explained in the “Limited Licenses for Promotion and Review” section below).
There will be two qualifying events (one online and one in person in Shreveport, LA). To be eligible to advance to the finals, at least one team member from the registered startup must fully attend and participate in at least one Startup Prize Qualifier in its entirety.
There will be one final event, referred to as the “FINAL FINAL,” limited to the finalists selected by Startup Prize judges. If a startup is selected as a finalist, they must have at least one founder or co-founder attend the event in person and participate in the final round in order to be eligible for the grand prize or any other prize, award or honor granted by Startup Prize.
The FINAL FINAL will be held in person in Shreveport, LA on August 28-30, 2026. Companies invited to the Startup Prize FINAL FINAL will receive a reimbursable travel stipend to help offset costs as well as one hotel room per company for the weekend.
Prizes must be accepted as awarded. All taxes associated with Startup Prize awards are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. Prizes are non-transferable.
Prize money should be used towards furthering the awarded business. None of the prize money awarded may be used for repayment of personal investment in the business or repayment of other debt. Winning teams understand and agree that, if any material misrepresentations are discovered or if a winning team is not able to satisfy the above requirements, the team may be disqualified and/or the company may be required to repay any cash and prizes that have been received plus 8% annual interest.
By submitting an application through the Portal, each competitor is agreeing to grant a limited license to Startup Prize to use the competitor’s image, name and logo for purposes of marketing and making press announcements concerning Startup Prize.
Prize Foundation/Startup Prize officers, staff and judges does not provide or enforce confidentiality agreements and DO NOT agree, expressly or implicitly, to hold any materials submitted by a competitor in confidence. If any competitor separately seeks funding or advice from a judge or other person associated with Startup Prize, it is up to that competitor to obtain any confidentiality agreements the competitor feels may be necessary to protect their interests.
It is the primary applicant’s responsibility to obtain any licenses, release forms, liability or other insurance, and other customary permits, permissions and protections as is customary to the industry in which your business is operating. Teams are responsible for complying with all federal, state, and city regulations, including any necessary permitting. Startup Prize does not require any of these items by default, but we do expect that you comply with those who do for the safety and legality of your business. Startup Prize is not legally responsible for any aspect of the development of your business.
Over the course of the competition, contact with your business’s primary team member and other people involved may be made at any time by Startup Prize representatives. The primary applicant should be the main point of contact each team has with the offices of Startup Prize. All decisions, questions, or issues will be communicated to the primary contact only. From there, the primary contact may disseminate any pertinent information.
All work and submissions of competitors must be original to the applying entrant/team. If there is a question about the rights to your work, you will be asked to provide evidence of original production or to produce the rights to materials and elements used in conjunction with your project. This extends to logos, plans, presentations, products, prototypes, and marketing items.
Startup Prize reserves the right, at its discretion, to revoke passes and access to the events from any competitor or other person who is acting in opposition to the spirit of Startup Prize, as determined in the sole discretion of the Executive Director of Startup Prize. Competitors who engage in immoral activities, including lying and cheating, or any activity that may adversely affect the image of Startup Prize or other participants, shall become ineligible for the competition. Competitors in Startup Prize and the business which they submit are subject to ALL applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Startup Prize takes no part in and has no liability for the domestic or international intellectual property rights of competition participants. Competitors are responsible for their own intellectual property. Participants must keep confidential information confidential.
By submitting its application, each participant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Prize Foundation and Startup Prize from and against all claims and liabilities resulting from the participant’s activities, including, without limitation, intellectual property violations.
During Startup Prize, its competitors, and other participants may attend presentations by, or engage in individual conversations with, volunteer attorneys, accountants, and other professionals. These professionals may also distribute materials related to their areas of expertise in connection with Startup Prize activities or related events.
Any information or opinions conveyed are based on general principles and may be provided with limited or no knowledge of the facts or circumstances of a specific enterprise. Such information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as professional advice. Participants should consult their own legal, accounting, financial, or other professional advisors before making business decisions.
Participation in Startup Prize activities or interactions with volunteer professionals does not create an attorney-client, accountant-client, or any other professional services relationship. No warranties, representations, or guarantees are made regarding any information or opinions provided by volunteer professionals.
To establish a professional relationship with any volunteer professional or their firm, participants must independently and expressly engage those services through a separate written engagement agreement.
Startup Prize requests that all participating teams give significant consideration to the following requests:
BY PARTICIPATING IN Startup Prize, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE TO THE CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN THE ABOVE PARAGRAPHS. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE RULES WILL DISQUALIFY A competitor FROM THE COMPETITION AND RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF ANY PRIZES AWARDED TO THE competitor.