CHICAGO – The deadline for students to submit applications to the nation’s largest clean energy single-day pitch competition is just weeks away, January 13, 2016. Student-led teams developing innovative business plans for their MBA, researchers working on promising research and early stage startups in the beginning stages of raising funds and generating revenue should submit applications.
The deadline for non-student applications is January 6, 2016. Entrepreneurs, researchers, and students with the best clean energy ideas and business plans must be based in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
The Clean Energy Trust Challenge began in 2011 with a small grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to award $50,000 to the best student business plans. Though the program has grown to include further developed non-student companies, the focus on commercializing student research remains.
This year, student-led companies are eligible for the $50,000 U.S. Department of Energy prize – as well as other prizes totaling $1 million of available funding. In addition to funding, the DoE award includes the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. in June to compete in the national Cleantech UP competition against students from other regional centers at MIT, University of California-Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, and others.
The Clean Energy Trust Challenge brings together venture capitalists, industry executives, civic leaders, the media and the public to watch startups pitch their businesses and learn from keynote addresses by prominent thought leaders. By combining access to capital with premier mentorship and national exposure, Clean Energy Trust Challenge finalists receive value beyond funding. Through CET’s direct investment, finalists gain commercialization assistance, mentorship, access to an elite partner network and the promotion of a supportive clean energy community and business climate.
Since 2011, CET has invested $3 million in 29 startups across the Midwest states. Clean Energy Trust Challenge companies have gone on to raise an additional $71 million in follow-on funding and have created more than 300 new jobs.
Since the first Clean Energy Trust Challenge, CET has awarded more than $2 million to deserving companies. This year, prize sponsors for the 6th Annual Clean Energy Trust Challenge include the Department of Energy, Wells Fargo, The Pritzker Foundation, United Airlines, the Hanley Family Foundation, and Shirley Weese Young, People’s Gas, AGL Resources/Nicor Gas, Wanxiang America, Northwestern University, AEP, Invenergy, and SoCore Energy.
The full day competition will take place on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Venue Six 10 at the Spertus Institute, 610 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605.
To apply, click on www.cleanenergytrust.org/challenge.
