2025 Grid Innovation Pitch Competition

Enter your innovative start-up now for the Grid Innovation Pitch Competition at GridFWD 2025, October 6-8 in Monterey, CA.

Enter the Grid Innovation Pitch Competition

Compete to win in front of leaders active in the intersection of AI and the electric grid.
  • Location: GridFWD 2025, Monterey Conference Center, Monterey, CA
  • Competition dates: October 7-8, 2025
  • Enter to participate by August 1, 2025, using the form below

Why Participate?

  • Exposure: Present your AI-driven solutions to a diverse audience of utilities, regulators, technology providers, and investors.
  • Coaching: Benefit from pre-event mentoring to refine your pitch and strategy.
  • Networking: Engage with industry leaders and potential partners during the conference.
  • Prizes: Compete for awards, including potential equity investments and business advisory services.

Want to compete? Use the form below by August 1, 2025. We will be notifying our pitch contestants soon afterwards.

2024 Grid Innovation Pitch Contest Winner Edo with the pitch contest team in Banff, Canada.

2023 Grid Innovation Pitch winner Delphire

2023 Grid Innovation Pitch Contest Winners Delphire and the judges at GridFWD 2023 in Skamania, Washington.

Looking for new AI-based technologies that will advance the grid

We are seeking early-stage companies that apply AI to address challenges in the following areas:

  • Demand-Side Management: AI-driven solutions for EV/battery management, smart loads, DERMS, virtual power plants (VPPs), and dynamic pricing.
  • Grid Optimization: Technologies that enhance system capacity through AI-based forecasting, digital twin simulations, and grid-enhancing tools.
  • Asset Management: Predictive analytics and visualization tools that revolutionize maintenance and operations.
  • Data Management: Innovations in accessing and managing data to drive grid innovation.

Judges and Coaches for the 2025 Grid Innovation Pitch Contest

  • Luis D’Acosta, Uplight
  • Carolin Funk, Blue Bear Capital
  • Hanna Grene, Microsoft
  • Mark Gustafson, Avista Development
  • Mark Hormann, Accurant International
  • Quinn Nakayama, PG&E

Receive coaching, guidance and wider exposure at GridFWD 2025

You must be present at GridFWD 2025 to make your pitch and attend the announcement. For selected participants, Grid Forward will assist with event registration and provide pre-event couching and guidance, as well as  invitations to special activities during the event.

Best of all, the companies get the chance to pitch in front of our audience of utilities, AI innovators, solution providers, and other stakeholders.

Piper Foster Wilder CEO of 60 Hertz Energy

Grid Innovation Pitch Contest Winner Piper Wilder of 60Hertz Energy at GridFWD Seattle.

Complete this form by August 1, 2025 to enter

To properly evaluate your company and technology, please provide a link where we can download a recent pitch deck. We will not consider you without that (eg. your website URL is not sufficient). Selected participants will be notified shortly after the deadline.

By providing this information, you give Grid Forward permission to use this information for this contest, as well as contacting you about contest results and Grid Forward events and activities.

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We look forward to seeing your presentation at GridFWD 2025, October 6-8 in Monterey.

Click here to learn more about GridFWD 2025.