The Clean Energy Trust administers an annual business competition for early stage cleantech companies in the Midwest region. Last year the Challenge awarded $140,000 to four promising Midwestern clean energy start-ups. This year, CET is excited to announce a new program: the Clean Energy Student Challenge. The Student Challenge is part of a new national program led by the US Department of Energy. CET will be the Midwest Regional Administrator of the Department of Energy’s National Clean Energy Business Creation Competition for University Students. This provides an additional $100,000 grand prize for a student-run company.
CET is looking for promising early stage and student-run start-ups to apply for the Challenge. The application deadline is December 5, 2011 in order to participate in the competition on March 1, 2012 in Chicago. A total of 28 teams will be selected to compete for $250,000 in prizes. Eligible technologies include renewables, water, energy conservation and efficiency, building materials, energy storage, smart grid, energy IT, energy, next generation transportation, and renewable fuels.
For eligibility criteria for both the early stage start-ups and student-run start-ups, as well as to submit an application, please visit http://www.cleanenergytrust.org/events/about-the-challenge/.
