Shell GameChanger Program – Funding for Innovative Energy Transition Solutions

Secure Seed Funding and Expert Support for Your Energy Technology Startup Ideas

Donor: Shell

About: The Shell GameChanger Program offers a unique opportunity for startups and innovators with early-stage, unproven technologies that could revolutionize the energy industry‘s transition to net-zero emissions. Unlike conventional grant programs that simply provide funding, GameChanger delivers a comprehensive support ecosystem designed to transform promising concepts into commercially viable solutions.

Established in 1996, this pioneering program has evolved to align with Shell’s Powering Progress strategy, which aims to accelerate Shell’s transition to becoming a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050. The GameChanger initiative specifically targets technologies and solutions that address critical challenges in the energy transition, offering seed funding, expert mentorship, and access to Shell’s vast technical resources.

What truly distinguishes the Shell GameChanger Program is its collaborative approach. Rather than just evaluating applications from afar, the program creates genuine partnerships between Shell experts and innovators. This means startups receive not only financial support but also invaluable industry insights, technical validation, and potential pathways to commercialization that would otherwise be difficult to access. The program follows a structured yet flexible methodology, with projects typically spanning 12-18 months across 2-3 phases, each with dedicated evaluation milestones.

The evaluation criteria focus on four key aspects: novelty (technologies must be fundamentally different and unproven), value (potential to create substantial impact if successful), relevance to Shell and the energy future, and feasibility for quick and affordable testing. This balanced assessment ensures that selected projects are both innovative and practical, with real potential for market impact.

For entrepreneurs navigating the complex energy technology landscape, the GameChanger Program offers significant advantages beyond funding. Participants gain access to Shell’s global network, industry expertise, and the opportunity to validate their technologies with a leading energy company. This accelerates development timelines and opens doors to potential scaling opportunities that might otherwise take years to achieve independently.

The application process is straightforward but thorough, beginning with a submission that outlines your technology solution, followed by screening to validate potential fit, collaborative maturation workshops to develop a phased project plan, and finally a panel presentation that determines funding decisions. This step-by-step approach ensures that promising innovations receive the tailored support needed for success.

At Grantaura, we specialize in helping innovators navigate opportunities like the Shell GameChanger Program. Our team of grant experts can assist with everything from identifying your project’s ideal fit with the program criteria to developing compelling application materials that highlight your technology’s unique value proposition. We can also support you with business planning, financial projections, and application submission to maximize your chances of accessing this transformative funding opportunity.

Focus: Energy transition technologies, Low-carbon solutions, Renewable energy, Decarbonization, Climate technology, Clean energy innovation, Sustainable energy systems

Region: Global

Eligibility:
-Early-stage startups with unproven technology solutions related to energy transition
-Innovators with novel concepts that are fundamentally different from existing approaches
-Projects that can create substantial new value if successful
-Technologies relevant to Shell’s business and the future energy landscape
-Concepts that can be proven quickly and affordably
-Teams with appropriate expertise to deliver on proposed solutions
-Solutions addressing challenges in renewable energy, decarbonization, or clean energy systems
-Companies at pre-commercial stages looking to validate technology concepts
-Innovators from both academic and commercial backgrounds

Benefits:
-Seed funding for proof-of-concept development
-Access to Shell’s technical expertise and industry knowledge
-Structured project development over 12-18 months
-Professional coaching and mentorship
-Potential pathway to commercialization through Shell’s network
-Opportunities to validate technology with a global energy leader
-Participation in Shell’s open innovation ecosystem
-Visibility within the clean energy innovation community
-Connections to other strategic partners in Shell’s network including NREL, YES!Delft, Rockstart, and Unknown Group

Deadline: Rolling submissions accepted year-round

Terms:
-GameChanger: Shell’s innovation program that works with startups and businesses on unproven early-stage ideas with potential to impact the energy future
-Powering Progress: Shell’s business strategy launched in February 2021 that sets out how the company will accelerate its transition to net-zero emissions
-Net-zero emissions: A state where greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere are balanced by removing an equivalent amount, resulting in no net increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases
-Energy transition: The global shift from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable and low-carbon energy sources
-Decarbonization: The process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions across various sectors, particularly in energy production and industrial processes
-Proof of concept: A realization of a certain method or idea to demonstrate its feasibility and verify that it has practical potential
-Tollgate panels: Review meetings at the end of each project phase where results are discussed to determine whether to proceed to the next phase
-Open innovation ecosystem: A collaborative network of partners including startups, research institutions, and established companies working together to advance innovation