Safire’s Major Win at DOE EPIC Startup Pitch Competition

DOE Blog Announcing Winners

The University of Tennessee Research Park is excited to announce that Safire, a member of the Spark Innovation Center Incubator, has secured first place at the Fall 2024 EPIC Startup Pitch Competition at RE+. Safire’s success is a testament to the company’s hard work, determination, and cutting-edge clean energy technology, which has captured national attention and secured critical funding to propel its growth.

The EPIC Pitch Competition, hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, awarded more than $100,000 in prizes to cleantech innovators. Safire’s achievement reflects years of dedication to refining its impact resistant electrolyte technology for safer batteries, originally licensed from Oak Ridge National Lab. Competing against some of the nation’s brightest innovators, Safire distinguished itself through its innovative technology and a compelling pitch highlighting the company’s vision for a more sustainable energy future.

Andrew Hanna, Chief Product Officer of Safire Technology Group, Inc., delivered the winning pitch.

Andrew Hanna, Chief Product Officer of Safire Technology Group, Inc., pitching to the reviewers and audience.

Safire’s Journey with the Spark Innovation Center

Safire was nominated to participate in the competition by the Spark Innovation Center, which has provided startups with essential resources and support since its early stages. To date, Safire has benefited from the following programs: 

  • Spark Incubator: This program provides top quality lab space, as well as access to shared facilities, equipment, and mentorship. 
  • Spark Scholars: Through a partnership with the University of Tennessee Center for Materials Processing, Spark startups are able access talented UT interns at subsidized rates.

Safire’s use of both Spark Innovation Center programs demonstrates the strength of Knoxville’s innovation infrastructure, which supports startups at every stage of their development. 

Clean Energy in Knoxville

Winning the EPIC Startup Pitch Competition is a a testament to Safire, marking a pivotal moment in their journey to bring clean energy solutions to market. The funds they have been awarded will be instrumental in furthering their technology development, allowing them to expand their capabilities and accelerate their path toward commercialization.

UT Research Park hosting Welcoming Press Conference of Safire in 2023.
Major of Knoxville Indya Kincannon speaking at the podium.

With the support of partners across the region, Knoxville is becoming a thriving hub for tech entrepreneurs and innovators.

The city’s infrastructure—encompassing advanced lab spaces, university resources, and a collaborative community—creates the ideal environment for startups like Safire to flourish. This momentum of growth is drawing more attention to Knoxville as a destination for cleantech innovation, helping to attract investment, talent, and opportunities for future entrepreneurs.