Clean Tech Entrepreneurs Chosen to Compete in National Business Development Contest
Northeast Region Selects 39 Start-Ups to Receive Mentoring and Training in 2012 "Cleantech Open"
Boston, MA, June 21, 2012 --(PR.com)-- More than three dozen start-ups in the Northeast vying to be crowned the “American Idol” of emerging environmental and energy technology firms have survived the first round of competition and will move into the regional “accelerator” phase of the annual national contest, the Cleantech Open.
The Cleantech Open showcases the latest solutions devised by entrepreneurial companies to address the world’s energy and environmental issues. The program supports clean tech start-ups by helping all participants hone and present their business strategies: participating companies are matched to experienced mentors, connected with prospective financiers, trained in special business clinics and workshops, and compete for regional and national prize monies.
In a year that attracted a record-breaking 350 applicants across the program’s seven regions nationally, a total of 39 companies were named Northeast semi-finalists – up from 30 semi-finalists in 2011. These firms were drawn from 77 applications submitted across the region, covering the six New England states, northern New Jersey and New York.
“This is our largest and most diverse group of semi-finalists ever,” said Northeast Regional Director Alexandra Adler. “In the coming months we look forward to delivering tremendous value to these young companies through our mentor program, workshops and networking, and hope to see all of these teams succeed, just as many of our alumni have before them.”
This year’s Northeast semi-finalists represent a strong mix in terms of both their geographic base and their industry focus. Among the firms, 19 are from Massachusetts, 10 from New York, four from Maine, plus six others filling out the region’s complement. The teams also reach across the Cleantech Open’s six major clean tech categories: Air, Water & Waste (8), Energy Efficiency (13), Green Building (2), Renewable Energy (11), Smart Power (2) and Transportation (3).
Each year Cleantech Open semi-finalists participate in a comprehensive regional accelerator program that includes an entrepreneurship training academy, weekly entrepreneurship education workshops, online webinars and pitching practice. The program culminates in naming three to six finalists in each of the seven regions, all of whom receive $20,000 prizes in the form of cash and in-kind services. National finalists then compete for category prizes, and a national grand prize of up to $250,000.
The Northeast regional finals will be held in Boston on Oct. 9, and national finals will take place in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 14 and 15.
About the Cleantech Open
The Cleantech Open is the world’s largest cleantech accelerator and is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and technologists the resources needed to launch a successful cleantech company. Our mission is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental, and economic challenges. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the Cleantech Open provides the infrastructure, expertise and strategic relationships that turn clever ideas into successful global cleantech companies. Over the past seven years, the Cleantech Open has awarded over $5 million in cash and services. During that time, our 581 alumni companies have raised more than $660 million in external funding. Fueled by a network of more than 2,000 volunteers, the Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America’s cleantech sector a thriving economic engine.
The Cleantech Open showcases the latest solutions devised by entrepreneurial companies to address the world’s energy and environmental issues. The program supports clean tech start-ups by helping all participants hone and present their business strategies: participating companies are matched to experienced mentors, connected with prospective financiers, trained in special business clinics and workshops, and compete for regional and national prize monies.
In a year that attracted a record-breaking 350 applicants across the program’s seven regions nationally, a total of 39 companies were named Northeast semi-finalists – up from 30 semi-finalists in 2011. These firms were drawn from 77 applications submitted across the region, covering the six New England states, northern New Jersey and New York.
“This is our largest and most diverse group of semi-finalists ever,” said Northeast Regional Director Alexandra Adler. “In the coming months we look forward to delivering tremendous value to these young companies through our mentor program, workshops and networking, and hope to see all of these teams succeed, just as many of our alumni have before them.”
This year’s Northeast semi-finalists represent a strong mix in terms of both their geographic base and their industry focus. Among the firms, 19 are from Massachusetts, 10 from New York, four from Maine, plus six others filling out the region’s complement. The teams also reach across the Cleantech Open’s six major clean tech categories: Air, Water & Waste (8), Energy Efficiency (13), Green Building (2), Renewable Energy (11), Smart Power (2) and Transportation (3).
Each year Cleantech Open semi-finalists participate in a comprehensive regional accelerator program that includes an entrepreneurship training academy, weekly entrepreneurship education workshops, online webinars and pitching practice. The program culminates in naming three to six finalists in each of the seven regions, all of whom receive $20,000 prizes in the form of cash and in-kind services. National finalists then compete for category prizes, and a national grand prize of up to $250,000.
The Northeast regional finals will be held in Boston on Oct. 9, and national finals will take place in San Jose, Calif., on Nov. 14 and 15.
About the Cleantech Open
The Cleantech Open is the world’s largest cleantech accelerator and is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and technologists the resources needed to launch a successful cleantech company. Our mission is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental, and economic challenges. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the Cleantech Open provides the infrastructure, expertise and strategic relationships that turn clever ideas into successful global cleantech companies. Over the past seven years, the Cleantech Open has awarded over $5 million in cash and services. During that time, our 581 alumni companies have raised more than $660 million in external funding. Fueled by a network of more than 2,000 volunteers, the Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America’s cleantech sector a thriving economic engine.
Contact
Cleantech Open Northeast Region
Alexandra Adler
617-340-9521
http://northeast.cleantechopen.com/
Alexandra Adler
617-340-9521
http://northeast.cleantechopen.com/
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