Cleantech Open Announces 2009 Competition Winners at Annual Expo & Gala

Thousands rallied for the Cleantech Open’s daylong festival of cleantech innovation, entrepreneurship and policy, which culminated in the award of the grand prize of $250K for the national winner. For the first time, international cleantech ideas were featured, with attendees selecting a winner from countries worldwide.

SAN FRANCISCO, November 18, 2009 — The Cleantech Open, the world’s largest business competition created to find, fund and foster startup clean technology companies, announced the winners of this year’s competition at the annual Cleantech Open Expo and Awards Gala at the Masonic Center in San Francisco. Dubbed the “Academy Awards of Clean Technology,” the event marks the grand finale of the Cleantech Open’s yearlong business competition. This year, at its biggest ever, thousands of people representing the nascent cleantech industry —contestants, alumni teams from previous years, mentors, venture capitalists and budding cleantech entrepreneurs — convened to showcase the best in cleantech innovation from national and international teams.

Cleantech Open announces keynote speakers

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — November 04, 2009, The Cleantech Open today released the line-up of keynote speakers and presenters for its November 17th Grand Expo & Awards Gala at the Masonic Center in San Francisco. Dubbed the “Academy Awards of Clean Technology”, the event marks the grand finale of The Cleantech Open’s year-long business competition. The event is designed to showcase the boldest in clean technology, the most nation’s most ambitious entrepreneurs and the brightest, most engaged investors, venture capitalists and prospective technology customers.

Pioneering venture capitalist to deliver keynote at Cleantech Open National Awards Gala

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (October 30, 2009) — The Cleantech Open announced Steve Westly, a cleantech venture capitalist, will present a keynote address during the “Academy Awards of Clean Technology” Gala at The Masonic Center in San Francisco on November 17, 2009.

Prior to founding The Westly Group, Westly served as the Controller and Chief Fiscal Officer of the state of California. During his four-year term, he led an effort to commit more than $1 billion to clean technology investments. Before running for office, Westly helped guide the online auction company eBay through a period of rapid growth, serving as the senior vice president of marketing, business development, M&A and international. He also served as the California Co-Chair for the Obama for President Campaign in 2008.

Google’s Green Energy Czar to deliver keynote at Cleantech Open National Awards Gala

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (October 28, 2009) — The Cleantech Open announced William Weihl, Green Energy Czar at Google, will present the keynote address during the “Academy Awards of Cleantech” Awards Gala at The Masonic Center in San Francisco on November 17, 2009.

As the Green Energy Czar at Google, Weihl leads efforts in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and manages the company’s greenhouse gas footprint. “We see a chance to make a difference in the field of renewable energy and energy information that can help bring the world to a lower carbon and more efficient economy,” said Weihl of Google’s initiative to become carbon-neutral.”

San Francisco to host ‘Academy Awards of Clean Technology’

Cleantech Open’s Third Annual Grand Expo and Awards Gala will be held at Nob Hill’s Masonic Center

SAN FRANCISCO — On November 17, 2009 the Nob Hill Masonic Center will open its doors to thousands of cleantech industry professionals for the Third Annual Cleantech Open Grand Expo & Awards Gala. The event will commence with an exposition floor filled with over 120 cleantech companies, followed by a series of demonstrations and business plan pitches from Cleantech Open finalists. The afternoon will continue with the national awards ceremony, during which the 2009 National Cleantech Open winner will be announced and presented with a $250,000 prize package. Afterward, a private champagne reception will provide an opportunity for attendees to mingle, network and explore business development opportunities alongside speakers and Cleantech Open winners.

Cleantech Open Announces Finalists in California Regional Competition

Six teams represent the best of California cleantech. Each team has won a prize worth $100K, and is entered into the national competition, Grand Prize winner to be announced November 17.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—October 21, 2009: The Cleantech Open (www.cleantechopen.com) has announced the winning teams in the California region of the world’s biggest cleantech business plan competition. In March of this year, 278 teams submitted entries — the most ever in the four-year history of the competition. 158 of those teams made it through to the California competition, of which 49 were selected as semifinalists. Last week, those teams presented to the Cleantech Open judges, who selected six finalist teams (one for each category) to compete in the national competition next month.

MEDIA EVENT: Media Invited to Attend Announcement of California Regional Winners

The six finalists from the California competition of the Cleantech Open will be announced at a media event to be held on Oct. 20 in Palo Alto; finalists and other teams will attend; RSVP is required.

October 5, 2009: On Tuesday, October 20, the Cleantech Open (www.cleantechopen.com) will announce the six finalist teams that will represent the California region at the national awards next month. At this press event, all 45 teams from the California competition will be introduced and the finalist from each of the six categories will be chosen. Teams will be available for interviews, along with the volunteer mentors who have been helping each team hone its business plan, and representatives from sponsors of the Cleantech Open.

Cleantech Open Joins Forces with Kauffman Foundation to Promote Cleantech Ideas

Entrepreneurs from around the world can now compete for recognition and prizes. Held as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the Global Cleantech Open aims to encourage young people to pursue their dreams by entering a cleantech ideas competition.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—Sept. 29, 2009: With three successful annual business competitions under its belt, and the 2009 program well underway, the Cleantech Open (www.cleantechopen.com) is now setting its sights on the global stage by launching the Global Cleantech Open Ideas Competition. Through a partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the largest U.S. foundation devoted to advancing entrepreneurship and innovation, the Global Cleantech Open Ideas Competition is now a featured activity of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Clean Tech Open Helps Startups Secure Valuable Government Funding

With $150M up for grabs, and individual awards of $500K to $20M available, expert volunteers burn the midnight oil to write compelling grant applications for CTO alumni companies.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—July 28, 2009: With a deadline for government funding looming, expert volunteers with the Clean Tech Open (www.cleantechopen.com ) have been working long hours to assist previous competition winners submit applications for government funds made available by the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Clean Tech Open is the world’s biggest clean tech business competition, and aims to create 100,000 clean tech jobs in America over the next five years.

“Summer of Learning” Now Underway for 2009 Clean Tech Open Semifinalists

73 teams of clean tech entrepreneurs from around the country embark on rigorous program of mentoring and honing of their business plans as they compete for more than $1 million in prizes

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—July 13, 2009: With regional judging of the 262 entrants that submitted entries for the 2009 Clean Tech Open (www.cleantechopen.com) completed, 73 teams that made it through to the semifinals now begin a comprehensive and rigorous educational curriculum that spans all aspects of their nascent businesses. Each team is assigned a business mentor from the Clean Tech Open’s pool of expert volunteers, who will guide and coach his or her team through a series of educational programs that start now and take them through to final judging in November. The complete list of 2009 semifinalists is available here.