The Triangle is home to a growing number of new business accelerators, hubs, incubators – and as of tonight there will be one for the cleantech sector.
The Cleantech Open, an eight-year program launched in Silicon Valley, is expanding to the Triangle.
An introductory program is set for Thursday evening. Applications from startups for $10,000 in seed capital are due by May 1.
The first program is set at the N.C. Biotechnology Center beginni9ng at 5:30 p.m. and will feature an introductory overview about the program as well as a discussion of next steps for startups to take in the application process.
Dragan Mendel (dmendel@cleantechopen.org) os the “ambassador” for the organization in the southeast.
Ambassador-at-large for the southeast is Rochelle Blaustein (rblaustein@cleantechopen.org).
Cleantech Open already operates across the country and has supported more than 700 startups. Of those, nearly half have receivied funding totalling more than $800 million, the organization says.
Startups accepted into the program receive mentoring, access to capital connections, and can participate in a “National Grand Prize” competition for $200,000 in funding.
Applications are accepted in eight areas:
- Energy Generation
- Energy Distribution and Storage
- Energy Efficiency
- Chemicals and Advanced Materials
- Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)
- Green Building
- Transportation
- Agriculture, Water & Waste
According to the group’s website, the Cleantech Open is “designed specifically for cleantech entrepreneurs” who:
- Have an innovative cleantech idea and need help getting it funded
- Have a prototype but need to take the next steps to commercialization
- Need help developing an effective investor pitch and introductions to the right investors