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A new tech accelerator wants to power up the next generation of battery startups. New Energy New York, a coalition of government, academic, and nonprofit institutions working to advance battery technology innovation, just opened applications to its new six-month accelerator.

The Binghamton University-based program, called ChargeUp, will accept four early-stage battery innovation startups and give each one $25,000, along with the opportunity for up to $100,000 more, according to a press release. Participants also get more than 200 hours of education on business due diligence, design for manufacturing, complex supply chains, product pricing, and other topics.

Upstate New York and the Binghamton area, a hotspot for the battery industry, was designated as a battery innovation tech hub by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. ChargeUp will connect companies to resources within the region to help make the selected startups investment-ready, according to the release.

To qualify for the accelerator, startups must be incorporated, have at least two full-time employees, and should have proven their core technology, preferably with a working prototype.

If you're not in upstate New York, don't worry. Participation in the accelerator is mostly remote, with some in-person weeks for hands-on workshops and pitches to investor groups, the company said. The application deadline is February 23, and the accelerator begins April 14, according to NENY. If you think the program may be right for your business, ChargeUp is hosting virtual info sessions January 25 and February 8.

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