Q: Who is behind the Global Cleantech Open Ideas Competition?
A: The competition sponsor is the Cleantech Open (www.cleantechopen.com). Through its annual business competition and mentorship program, the Cleantech Open has helped hundreds of clean technology startups bring their breakthrough ideas to fruition since 2006, helping its alumni raise over $125m and making thousands of green collar jobs possible.
In 2009, the Cleantech Open is introducing the Ideas Competition in conjunction with Global Entrepreneur Week.  This competition, part of the “Unleashing Ideas” program, is in addition to its business competition, and is intended to hasten the development of more groundbreaking clean technology solutions at the grassroots level. More informal than its business competition, the Ideas Competition is open to entrants across the globe who are just getting started on groundbreaking concepts for technologies, products, marketing campaigns or systems that will solve large-scale energy and environmental issues.

Q: What is the mission of the Cleantech Open?
A: The mission of the Cleantech Open is to serve as an innovation catalyst, providing the infrastructure and processes to develop and motivate entrepreneurs and early-stage companies creating clean, environmentally sustainable technologies.  Through this mission, the Cleantech Open encourages the development of clean technology companies that foster a healthy natural environment - companies that provide environmental benefits in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution reduction and resource protection and conservation. The Ideas Competition is the first step to help entrepreneurs to build a successful business.

Q: How does the Ideas Competition work?
A: To enter the competition, entrants are asked to briefly describe their ideas, and why it's groundbreaking. The idea submissions will be reviewed to select finalists to compete in a National competition. Selected finalists will present a five minute pitch in their country. In November, during Global Entrepreneur Week, one National Winner from each country will be flown to San Francisco, California to attend a VIP reception and present their five minute pitch to a live audience of 2,500 clean technology experts, investors, and enthusiasts, and press from around the world. The Global Cleantech Open Ideas winner will receive at least $100,000 worth of startup services from startup experts in Silicon Valley and elsewhere.

Q: What is the schedule?
A: Our 2009 Ideas Competition Schedule is:

September - October   
Contestants register and gain access to tools to develop their Idea
    
Last Day to Register your Idea is TBD

Coaches help contestant teams to develop a 5 minute pitch

October    
Judges select a National Winner on TBD

November   
National Winners compete for Global Awards Gala in San Francisco (17 Nov)

In order to compete, you should be available for the National and Global Award event dates.

Q: Who can enter the competition?
A: Anyone looking to turn their clean technology idea into a thriving business can apply. Entrants can be sole proprietors, teams or early stage companies. To be eligible, your entity must have received less than $500,000US in outside financing. You will also be asked to indicate which Clean Technology category that you are competing in.

Q: What Exactly Is A Pitch? How Do I Get Started?
A: The pitch, whether to an investor, a potential customer, or a business partner, is the way in which way an entrepreneur conveys their product or service idea, and the value of it, in a meaningful and authentic way. During the competition, we will help you to develop a full 5-minute pitch.

Pitches may be either formal or informal, and might be delivered by different methods, from a PowerPoint presentation to a casual, impromptu conversation.  Most important is to know what message you want to convey, and the audience to whom you will present this information.   Those two pieces of information will help create a “success paragraph” to convey your idea, and convince your audience to say, “Tell me more!”

Get Started on Your Pitch by Building a “Success Paragraph”

To register for the competition, follow the 5 concepts below to build your “success paragraph.” 

1. My idea is:  (describe in 200 words)
2. The problem my idea solves is: (describe the value proposition)
3. The market for my idea is: (describe who will buy the product/service)
4. My idea will have a positive effect on the environment because: (describe the environmental impact)
5. My idea is a winning one because: (describe  the unique competitive advantage)

Here’s an example for a company that makes eco-friendly ceiling tiles out of recycled materials.

“My idea is for a new building material that uses recycled content to create a state of the art acoustical ceiling tile.   In order to meet carbon emission standards, builders need new, low-emitting materials for both new buildings and those that are being refurbished or remodeled. This new product will help building contractors increase their use of utilize recycled materials in any building, while delivering an attractive, sound-absorbing ceiling tile that has no harmful emissions.   The market for this product is through existing building distribution channels and is cost competitive with existing ceiling products.   It is made from recycled materials, has a long life, and is fully recyclable.  There are no companies currently manufacturing this type of material in the US.”

Q: How will my pitch be judged?
A: A team of professionals will serve as competition judges and will evaluate your pitch using this scorecard.

Q: What is Sustainability?
A: Sustainability is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Source: Brundtland Commission, 1987).  Cleantech Open's Sustainability Program strives to highlight the relevance and promote the philosophy of sustainability throughout all that the Cleantech Open does.  We ask you to have a positive impact on the environment and the broader community, and to make this part of every phase of development - not just for the end use application. Your idea should deliver products or services that have a net positive environmental impact.

Q: How many prizes are there and what is included?
A: There is one National Winner for each country who will receive press recognition for their award and go on to compete at the Global pitch competition in San Francisco in November. The Global Winner will receive at least $100,000 worth of startup services and have access to seasoned advisors in the essential areas that will ensure their Ideas can be translated into a business. The Cleantech Open advisor community includes specialists in business plan development, intellectual property, marketing, PR, sustainability, and fundraising. Starting with a plan to fully leverage their Global Cleantech Open award, the advisor team will develop a plan specific to the Global Winner's needs.

Q: What does it cost to enter the competition?
A: There are no fees associated with competing in the Global Cleantech Open.

Q: What is cleantech?
A: Cleantech has been described by Clean Edge, a clean-tech research firm, as "a diverse range of products, services, and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources, dramatically reduce the use of natural resources, and cut or eliminate emissions and wastes."  The terms “cleantech” and “green tech” are often used interchangably to describe products, services and practices that are environmentally friendly.