CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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.
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Early Stage Finalists |
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| Mankato, MN | Building Efficiency | |||||
| Chicago, IL | Energy Efficiency | |||||
| Champaign, IL | Energy Efficiency | |||||
| St. Louis, MO | Waste to Energy | |||||
| Anderson, IN | Microgrids | |||||
| Detroit, MI | Renewable Energy | |||||
| Detroit, MI | Electric Vehicles | |||||
| Milwaukee, WI | Energy Efficiency | |||||
| Chicago, IL | Energy Storage | |||||
| Indianapolis, IN | Renewables | |||||
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Student Finalists |
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| University of Michigan | Geothermal | |||||
| University of Missouri | Thermoelectric Generation | |||||
| Northwestern University | Energy Efficiency | |||||
| Northwestern University | Energy Storage | |||||
| Purdue University | Biofuels | |||||
| 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.
Acknowledgement of Support
Clean Energy Trust gratefully acknowledges the following supporters of the Clean Energy Challenge:
Title Sponsors: U.S. Department of Energy and Wells Fargo
Platinum sponsors and prize contributors: Advanced Energy Economy; AGL Resources; The Boeing Company; ComEd; The Energy Foundation; GE; Honeywell UOP; Invenergy; The Joyce Foundation; McCaffery Interests; Northwestern University; Purdue University; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates; United Airlines.
Gold Sponsors: Abbott Laboratories; Agentis; American Electric Power; CBRE; Danfoss; EDP; Ernst & Young; Exelon; Indiana University; JP Morgan Chase; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; MEGTEK; Midwest Energy Research Consortium; Missouri Energy Initiative; Navigant Consulting; Nicor; Nortech; NRG; Pivotal LNG; S&C Electric; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; Solar Power International; SoCore Energy; True North Venture Partners; University Clean Energy Alliance of Ohio; University of Illinois at Chicago; University of Michigan; Wanxiang America Inc.
Visit our website to see the full list of Silver, Bronze, and In-Kind sponsors: http://www.cleanenergytrust.org/challenge/sponsors/
