Cleantech Open Announces South Central Competition Semifinalists
Clean and green entrepreneurs compete in a regional competition and then move on to compete for $1 million in prizes and the prestigious national cleantech title
AUSTIN, Texas, June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --The South Central region of the Cleantech Open (www.cleantechopen.org) business competition announced that 11 semifinalist teams have been selected to represent the region in the world's biggest cleantech business competition. The semifinalists were selected from a talented pool of cleantech entrepreneurs from across Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas who submitted entries this year.
The 11 regional semifinalist teams will compete for regional prizes including combined cash and in-kind services worth up to $80,000, with the winners advancing to represent the region and compete at the national level for a grand prize of up to $250,000 in cash and services, and an overall prize chest of nearly $1 million.
Over the next few months, the semifinalist teams will receive coaching from the Cleantech Open network of talented business mentors, one-on-one consulting with specialists, an intensive business boot camp at the Cleantech Open National Academy, and extensive local supporting events, training and materials. This support helps each team develop a comprehensive business plan and investor pitch that will be presented to professional investors and experts to determine which teams will advance to the finals.
"The quality of our applicants, as well as their diversity, indicates a positive growth opportunity in the South Central region," said Laura Benold, regional coordinator of the Cleantech Open and manager at CTSI. "We look forward to developing these new relationships over the coming months and experiencing the launch of their ideas alongside the entrepreneurs."
The semifinalists for the 2011 Cleantech Open South Central regional competition are:
Community Cars Austin, Texas |
A low speed electric vehicle that people with disabilities can drive from their wheelchair. |
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Cyclewood Solutions Fayetteville, Arkansas |
A compostable, lignin-based plastic provides a cost-effective viable alternative to conventional plastics. |
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EarthCo Megablock Ranger, Texas |
A manufacturing/construction process designed to produce energy efficient, storm resistant, environmentally friendly housing at twice as fast as conventional construction and at half the cost. |
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Energy Xtreme Austin, Texas |
An efficient power management and idle-reduction technology that with save fuel, money, and reduce pollution |
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GR Cooling Austin, Texas |
A new fluid submersion cooling technology, which reduces total power by nearly 50%, drastically cuts data center build-out costs, and drives cooling performance. |
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GreenCoat Austin, Texas |
Empowers consumers to help take control of their home energy consumption with green paint. |
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GS Development Louisville, Kentucky |
Combines solar energy and earth buffering at the building envelope to deliver interior comfort in heating and cooling. |
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InnerGeo Corpus Christi, Texas |
A patent pending process that provides geothermal electrical power without fuel or by-products. |
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NanoThermo Austin, Texas |
A new nano material for increasing the efficiency, reducing the cost and extending the life cycle of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and solar panels. |
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Silicon Solar Solutions Fayetteville, Arkansas |
Crystallizes amorphous silicon into large grain polysilicon and is used to create wafer-based or thin-film solar cells. |
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Smart Office Energy Solutions Houston, Texas |
A wireless mesh network of smart meters and power sockets that are managed over the web. |
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To learn more, visit www.cleantechopen.com. To get involved in the South Central region as a judge or sponsor, contact Laura Benold, [email protected].
Cleantech Open Sponsors
The Cleantech Open is made possible by the generous support provided by our Global Partner, Chevron; Global Foundation Partner, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; Global Commercialization Partner, CTSI; National Premier Sponsor, University of Phoenix; and National Sponsors, Autodesk and Wells Fargo. Regional competitions are additionally sponsored by the following corporate partners: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati (multi-region), Deloitte (multi-region), Jones Lang Lasalle (multi-region), CTSI, CalCEF, Commercial Energy, Faegre & Benson, Google, Grundfos, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Mintz Levin, Patton Boggs, PG&E, and Reed Smith.
About CTSI:
The Clean Technology & Sustainable Industries Organization (CTSI), a 501c6 non-profit industry association, represents the organizations developing, commercializing, and implementing energy, water, and environmental technologies. Clean technologies offer much needed solutions to growing resource security and sustainability concerns and are critical to maintaining economic competitiveness. CTSI brings together global leaders for advocacy, community development, networking, and information sharing to help bring these needed technologies to market more rapidly. Visit www.ct-si.org for more information.
About The Cleantech Open:
The Cleantech Open runs the world's largest cleantech business competition. Its 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. Since 2006, through its one-of-a-kind annual business competition and mentorship program, the Cleantech Open has enabled hundreds of clean-technology startups to bring their breakthrough ideas to fruition, helped alumni contestants raise over $300M, and created an estimated 2,500 green-collar jobs. Fueled by a global network of more than 1,000 volunteers and sponsors, the Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America's cleantech sector a thriving economic engine. For more information, visit www.cleantechopen.org, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
Media contact:
Laura Benold
[email protected]
512-800-9798
SOURCE CTSI
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