FAQ

1. Who organizes the global ideas competition Cleantech Open?
2. What is Cleantech Open’s mission?
3. How does the ideas competition work in Spain?
4. Who can participate?
5. What is the competition calendar?
6. In which language should materials be submitted?
7. How will ideas and projects be assessed?
8. What are the prizes and what do they include?
9. What’s an elevator pitch? How do I prepare it ?
10. Does participating in the competition entail any expenses?
11. What are clean technologies?
12. What is sustainability?

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1. Who organizes the global ideas competition Cleantech Open ?

The Global Ideas Competition is organized by Cleantech Open. Opinno, Open Innovation, is the Spanish partner for the United States organization Cleantech Open and organizes the Spanish edition for the competition.

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2. What is Cleantech Open’s mission ?

Cleantech Open’s mission is identifying, funding and promoting the development of businesses with great ideas for answering today’s energy, environmental and economic challenges. Through this mission, Cleantech Open supports the development of clean technology companies promoting environmental benefits in the field of renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution reduction and conservation and sustainability of resources. The Global Ideas Competition is a first step in helping entrepreneurs develop clean technology companies.

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3. How does the ideas competition work in Spain?

In order to participate in the competition, candidates are asked to briefly describe their idea and the reasons why they believe it’s innovative. Jury members will evaluate all projects and ideas presented in order to select the 10 finalists for the national competition. Finalist startups will present their projects at the award ceremony that takes place in their country.

In November, during Global Entrepreneurship Week, the winner of each national competition will present its project at the Global Award Ceremony Cleantech Open in front of an audience of over 1,000 investors, entrepreneurs, big companies, academics from the most important American universities, technological parks, media etc.

The winner of the global edition will receive a package of services valued over 100,000 USD and will gain access to high-level professionals that can advise them on different areas (business plan development, intellectual property rights, marketing, fundraising, etc.) in order to develop a specific plan that allows the company to achieve its business idea.

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4. Who can participate?

The competition is aimed towards startups and entrepreneurs with a project in the field of clean technologies.

The eligibility requirements established by Cleantech Open are:

1. Companies or entrepreneurs developing projects with growth potential.
2. The company or entrepreneur must not have received over 1,00,000 USD in private external funding.
3. The legal representative for the company must be over 21 years of age.

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5. What is the competition calendar?

• July: Deadline for entries.
• July – September: jury members will evaluate the projects. The names of the 10 finalist will be made known in September.
• September: Period for the elaboration of finalists’ elevator pitches.
• September: award ceremony and announcing the winning company in Pamplona.
• October: European investor Connect in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
• November: Global Cleantech Forum in San Francisco.

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6. In which language should materials be submitted?

All information must be submitted in English, including, amongst others, all the documents sent for the competition and each finalist’s elevator pitch.

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7. How will ideas and projects be assessed?

The jury will assess each project on a 1 to 5 point scale taking the following concepts into consideration:

• The idea/concept : concision and clarity of the explanation.
• Innovation : Innovative presentation and design.
• Business viability : existence of real demand.
• Sustainability: positive impact on the environment.

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8. What are the prizes and what do they include?

The national winner for each country will receive media recognition and the opportunity of participating in the global edition in San Francisco on november, presenting his or her idea in front of an audience of over 1,000 investors, entrepreneurs, big companies, academics from the most important American universities, technological parks, media etc.

The winner of the global edition will receive a package of services valued over 100,000 USD and will gain access to high-level professionals that can advise them on different areas (business plan development, intellectual property rights, marketing, fundraising, etc.) in order to develop a specific plan that allows the company to achieve their business idea.

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9. What’s an “elevator pitch”? How do I prepare it?

The elevator pitch represents the way an entrepreneur exposes his or her product or idea be it to an investor, a potential customer or a commercial partner, highlighting its values and what makes it stand out. During the competition the organization will help you elaborate a three minute elevator pitch. Elevator pitches can be more or less formal and can be presented using different methods, from a PowerPoint presentation to a spontaneous conversation. The most important thing is having a clear idea of the message you wish to convey and the audience you’re speaking to.

The following steps will help you create a good introduction for presenting your idea and convincing your listener that he or she needs more information on your product or idea.

To participate in the competition and do a good presentation, follow these five steps:

1. My idea is: (describe it in 200 words)
2. The problem my idea solves is: (describe the value of your idea or product)
3. The potential market for my idea is : (describe the potential client for your product or service)
4. My idea will have a positive impact on the environment because: (describe its environmental impact)
5. My idea can win because: (describe your competitive advantage)

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10. Does participating in the competition entail any expenses ?

No, entering the competition doesn’t entail any expenses.

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11. What are clean technologies?

CleanEdge (a research company in the clean technology sector) describes Clean Technologies as “the diversity of products, services and processes that use renewable materials and energy sources to significantly reduce the consumption of natural resources or eliminate emissions and waste”. The terms “clean technologies” or “green technologies” are sometimes used indistinctly to describe the products, services and procedures that are safe for the environment.

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12. What is sustainability?

Sustainability is defined as “growth that fulfills present needs without endangering future generations’ possibilities of satisfying their own needs”. (Source: Brundtland Commission, 1987). The goal of Cleantech Open’s Sustainability Program is highlighting the importance of sustainability and promoting its philosophy in everything the Cleantech Open organization does. We ask participants that their projects have a positive impact on the environment and society as a whole. Your idea must generate products and services with positive environmental effect.