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Clean Tech Open Announces $125M+ Raised for Clean Tech Startups; Takes 2009 Competition National

Posted on: Tuesday, 10 February 2009, 08:00 CST

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Clean Tech Open, the non- profit that connects entrepreneurs with the expertise, network, and funding to make clean tech possible and profitable, kicks off its fourth annual competition season today. At its first monthly Breakfast Briefing, the Clean Tech Open unveiled plans for the 2009 competition, its largest yet, and shared milestones reached by its alumni start-ups. The event was keynoted by Kevin Chen, who directs Green Energy Strategy at Google.

In the last three years, the Clean Tech Open has helped more than one hundred start-ups raise more than $125 million in funding. Today these companies employ approximately 500 people and represent some of the leading players in various key clean tech sectors, including: Adura Technologies http://www.aduratech.com, Aurora Biofuels http://www.aurorabiofuels.com, Cool Earth Solar http://www.coolearthsolar.com, GreenVolts http://www.greenvolts.com, Lucid Design Systems http://www.luciddesign.net, NiLA http://www.nila.tv, and Syncromatics http://www.syncromatics.com.

This year, the 2009 Clean Tech Open season will extend its competition beyond California, inviting entrepreneurs and inventors from all parts of the country, with regional competitions in California and the Rocky Mountains. Entrants are invited to compete in six categories: Air/Water/Waste, Energy Efficiency, Green Building, Renewable Energy, Smart Power, and Transportation.

New to this year's national competition will be a Grand Prize for one clean tech start-up that will receive the largest prize award to date. Details on the competition and prizes will be shared at the Clean Tech Open Launch Event on March 19th, at San Jose's City Hall. Before then, contestants can learn more about the compression and begin registering now at http://www.cleantechopen.com, and all entries must be received by May 30, 2009.

"When we created the Clean Tech Open, we were focused on creating an ecosystem in which the next generation of innovation and talent could connect with the funding, experience and can-do attitude of Silicon Valley," said Marc Gottschalk, co-founder, Clean Tech Open. "Having achieved tremendous results, we're now eager to see what's next as the competition expands its reach to other parts of the U.S. This is just the beginning."

About the Clean Tech Open

The Clean Tech Open is a catalyst for clean tech innovation. A non-profit organization founded in 2006, it provides today's clean tech innovators with the tools, training and connections they need to become tomorrow's viable clean tech businesses. The core of the Clean Tech Open is an annual regional business competition, supported by expert volunteers and mentors, that provides entrepreneurs with the crucial business training, services and insights they need to go to market successfully. The Clean Tech Open has assisted dozens of companies in raising nearly $125M in funding, and has spurred the creation of hundreds of jobs in California. Fueled by a network of over 400 volunteers and sponsors, the Clean Tech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America's clean tech sector a thriving economic engine. Past alumni successes include Adura Technologies, Cool Earth Solar and GreenVolts. To learn more, visit: www.cleantechopen.com. To learn more, visit: http://www.cleantechopen.com; Twitter: cleantechopen

Contact:

Tim Cox, CTO PR Chair, tcox@cleantechopen.com, 650-369-7784

SOURCE Clean Tech Open

Source: PR Newswire

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