ST. LOUIS, April 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- With the goal
of making the energy grid smarter, more reliable, resilient and
secure, Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) is accepting
applications for the Ameren Accelerator, an innovative
public-private partnership with the University
of Missouri System, UMSL Accelerate and Capital
Innovators.
This unique and forward-thinking partnership, which is entering
its third year, evaluates, mentors and invests in energy-technology
startup companies. Applications are being accepted through
May 24 at amerenaccelerator.com.
Ameren is seeking energy-focused startups to develop new energy
technologies related to clean energy, the energy grid and smart
communities – all of which impact how customers manage and use
energy to power their lives in the future.
"As technologies continue to advance in the energy sector, we
believe there is no better time to lean forward and focus on
innovation so that we can meet our customers' rising energy needs
and expectations for generations to come," said Warner Baxter, chairman, president and CEO,
Ameren. "The Ameren Accelerator is proving to be an excellent way
to leverage our company's expertise and resources with
entrepreneurs who are exploring innovative energy solutions to
produce cleaner energy and make the energy grid smarter and more
reliable. It's also further enhancing St.
Louis' leading position in innovation and entrepreneurship
as well as helping drive economic development."
Selected startups each will receive $100,000 in seed capital to participate in the
Ameren Accelerator program, which will be located in Cortex –
St. Louis' innovation and
technology district. As part of the 12-week program, the
companies will receive intensive mentoring, technical assistance,
facilities and networking connections from Ameren Accelerator
partners. Subject matter experts in the areas of energy, sales,
marketing, pricing, technical development, operations, talent
development and finance also will provide guidance. Based in the
CIC@4240 Building in Cortex, participants will be able to network
with like-minded individuals focused on innovative thinking and
collaboration. At the conclusion of the program, participants will
showcase their efforts to mentoring teams, potential third-party
investors, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, students and the
general public during Ameren Accelerator Demo Day in November.
Ameren may select the most promising projects for ongoing mentoring
and engagement beyond the accelerator program.
"Capital Innovators is excited to help fuel the third Ameren
Accelerator cohort and source innovations from around the globe to
contribute to the future of connected communities," said
Judy Sindecuse, CEO of Capital
Innovators. "It is our mission to help find cutting-edge solutions
for Ameren and provide entrepreneurs corporate engagement,
connections and growth tactics that are unparalleled to other
programs."
Since its inception in 2017, more than 500 companies have
applied for the program. The 2017 program drew more than 200
applicants from 23 states and 31 countries. The 2018 program drew
more than 300 applicants from 24 states and 49 countries. Overall,
13 companies have been selected to participate in the highly
selective program. Selected start-ups represent some of the world's
most promising, innovative technology companies in the energy
sector.
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. It aims to better position
Ameren to meet its customers' future energy needs and expectations,
attract job-creating startups to St.
Louis and provide university students with internships and
opportunities to be more involved and engaged in the energy
business. Likewise, the partnership is enhancing St. Louis' leading position in innovation and
entrepreneurship. Six of the startups that have participated in the
Ameren Accelerator now maintain a St.
Louis presence, and one company has hired additional
employees for its St. Louis-based
enterprise.
"As a University-led Accelerator, we bring brilliant scientists,
faculty and researchers to amplify the program, mentors and alums
to coach and connect, as well as eager students who work hard for
the selected companies," said Dan
Lauer, founding executive director, UMSL Accelerate. "What
energy entrepreneur would not want to participate?"
For more information about the Ameren Accelerator, visit
amerenaccelerator.com.
About Ameren Corporation
St.
Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life
for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural
gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren
Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries.
Ameren Illinois provides electric distribution and transmission
service, as well as natural gas distribution service, while Ameren
Missouri provides vertically integrated electric service, with
generating capacity of over 10,200 megawatts, and natural gas
distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois develops regional electric
transmission projects. Follow the company on Twitter @AmerenCorp.
For more information, visit Ameren.com.
About the University of Missouri
System
The University of
Missouri System is the State of
Missouri's largest public university, with four campuses
serving more than 76,000 students, a health care system, an
extension program, and more than 500,000 alumni worldwide. The UM
System was created in 1963 when the University
of Missouri (founded in 1839 in Columbia) and the Missouri School of Mines
(now the Missouri University of Science
and Technology, founded in 1870 in Rolla), were combined with the formerly
private University of Kansas City (now
University of Missouri–Kansas City, founded in 1933), and a newly
created campus in suburban St. Louis
(University of Missouri–St. Louis).
About the University of Missouri-St.
Louis and UMSL Accelerate
The University of
Missouri–St. Louis is the largest public research university in
eastern Missouri with the greatest
concentration of alumni in the region. Their UMSL Accelerate
initiative fosters entrepreneurism and innovative thinking in and
outside the classroom and helps bring concepts from mind to market.
For more information, visit http://umsl.edu/accelerate/.
About Capital Innovators
Capital Innovators is an
innovation engine that creates practical solutions across
industries that can shape the future of organizations. Capital
Innovators provides innovation consulting, entrepreneurial-based
programs, acts as a liaison between Corporations, Universities and
Startups and investment into attractive early-stage businesses.
Capital Innovators has in-depth knowledge into the most
cutting-edge solutions through the Accelerator division of its
business, which has been ranked as a Top Accelerator in the country
for five years in a row and has invested in and guided 111
companies to date. Capital Innovators model is simple and
effective: Innovation, Iteration, and Implementation.
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SOURCE Ameren Corporation