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2014 Clean Energy Challenge: $500,000 Business Plan Competition Takes Place April 3 in Chicago

2014 Clean Energy Challenge: $500,000 Business Plan Competition Takes Place April 3 in Chicago

CHICAGO, Mar 04, 2014 — Clean Energy Trust today named the 16 startup companies that will compete in the fourth annual Clean Energy Challenge, a $500,000 business plan competition that takes place April 3 in Chicago. Independent evaluators with expertise in clean energy selected 10 early-stage companies, representing six states, to vie for the $100,000 Clean Energy Trust Prize for Early-stage Entrepreneurship. Six student finalists, chosen through state-wide competitions, will compete for the $100,000 U.S. Department of Energy Prize for Student Entrepreneurship.

All finalists are eligible for additional prizes that will be awarded on April 3, including the $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prize for Clean Energy Entrepreneurship; the $50,000 United, Boeing and Honeywell UOP Aviation Energy Prize; the $25,000 McCaffery Interests Prize for Building Efficiency; and the $20,000 ComEd Prize for Female Entrepreneurship. In total, the 2014 Clean Energy Challenge award $500,000 to Midwestern startup companies.

Clean Energy Challenge finalists receive mentoring and training from the Clean Energy Trust in preparation for the Challenge.

  • 75F Mankato, MN Building Efficiency
  • Beacon Power Services Chicago, IL Energy Efficiency
  • EP Purification Champaign, IL Energy Efficiency
  • Equares Energy St. Louis, MO Waste to Energy
  • Go Electric, Inc. Anderson, IN Microgrids
  • Greenlancer Detroit, MI Renewable Energy
  • Inventev Detroit, MI Electric Vehicles
  • Meter Hero Milwaukee, WI Energy Efficiency
  • Netenergy Chicago, IL Energy Storage
  • Single Switch Systems Indianapolis, IN Renewables

Student Finalists

  • Black Pine Engineering University of Michigan Geothermal
  • Imagine Labs University of Missouri Thermoelectric Generation
  • Meter Genius Northwestern University Energy Efficiency
  • MyPower Northwestern University Energy Storage
  • Spero Energy Purdue University Biofuels
  • Sprav Water Case Western University Energy Efficiency

“We congratulate the 2014 Challenge finalists for joining an impressive list of innovators who have made the Midwest a leader in clean energy technology,” said Amy Francetic, Clean Energy Trust CEO.

These companies have the potential to transform our energy future by bringing critical breakthroughs to market. Finalists from our three previous competitions have already raised more than $40 million in outside investment, created 280 jobs and registered 40 patents and disclosures.

The Clean Energy Challenge will feature keynote addresses from two of the leading voices in clean energy innovation: activist and philanthropist Tom Steyer and NRG Energy’s CEO David Crane . A prestigious panel of clean energy business experts, venture capitalists and scientists will select the Clean Energy Challenge winners on April 3rd at Venue SIX10 in Chicago.

Tickets for the 2014 Clean Energy Challenge are now available.

About Clean Energy Trust

Clean Energy Trust was founded by prominent business and civic leaders to fuel clean energy innovation in the Midwest. The trust is supported by grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Small Business Administration and donations from more than 70 investors, corporations, universities, foundations and trade groups. For more information, visit www.cleanenergytrust.org .

2014 Clean Energy Challenge: $500,000 Business Plan Competition Takes Place April 3 in Chicago Tags: Clean Energy

ST Staff Writers
ST Staff Writers
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