Early-stage energy companies need patient, informed capital to bring promising technologies to market. A new federal initiative aims to help bridge that gap by bringing together private investment, federal financing resources, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) commercialization expertise.
On Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET, BRITE Energy Innovators will host The Energy Investor Briefing: SBIC-E with DOE’s Chief Commercialization Officer Anthony Pugliese, a live, virtual conversation featuring Anthony Pugliese, Chief Commercialization Officer and Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization at the U.S. Department of Energy.
The discussion will provide an opportunity to hear directly from DOE leadership about the Small Business Investment Company–Energy (SBIC-E) Initiative, its investment priorities, and its potential role in connecting emerging energy technologies with private capital.
Understanding the SBIC-E Initiative
Launched in August 2026 by DOE and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the SBIC-E Initiative builds on the SBA’s established Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program, which provides SBA-backed financing to licensed private investment funds.
Through the initiative, DOE brings scientific, technical, and commercialization expertise to help attract private investment into technologies critical to American energy production, advanced manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and national and economic security.
The briefing will explore how the initiative is structured, how DOE and SBA work together, and how companies emerging from DOE’s commercialization ecosystem—including SBIR/STTR, ARPA-E, and the national laboratories—may connect with private investment.
What to Expect
Designed as an interactive, Q&A-focused conversation, the briefing will cover:
- How SBIC-E works: An overview of the initiative and the respective roles of DOE and SBA.
- DOE investment priorities: Insights into the technologies and sectors DOE is prioritizing and what those priorities may signal for investors.
- Commercialization pathways: How companies emerging from DOE programs and national laboratories may connect with private capital.
- The investor perspective: An opportunity to ask questions about investing in early-stage energy ventures and hear directly from DOE leadership.
Who Should Attend?
The briefing is intended for institutional investors, corporate venture capital teams, corporate innovation leaders, and others investing in or exploring opportunities in the energy sector.
Founders and energy entrepreneurs are also encouraged to attend to better understand DOE’s approach to technology readiness, commercialization, and how SBIC-E relates to existing DOE award programs.
About the Hosts
BRITE Energy Innovators is an Ohio-based nonprofit supporting energy technology startups and advancing the energy innovation ecosystem. As Ohio’s only energy technology entrepreneur program, BRITE has served more than 600 companies.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Commercialization works to accelerate the commercialization of energy technologies, strengthen public-private partnerships, and move innovations from DOE’s National Laboratories toward market deployment.
Webinar Details
The Energy Investor Briefing: SBIC-E with DOE’s Chief Commercialization Officer Anthony Pugliese
- Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
- Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Virtual via Zoom
- Featured Guest: Anthony Pugliese, DOE Chief Commercialization Officer