Grundfos Partners With Cleantech Open to Develop Energy-Efficient Solutions to Global Water Challenges

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. and FRESNO, Calif., July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cleantech Open (www.cleantechopen.org), the world's largest clean-technology business competition, is pleased to announce that Grundfos, one of the world's leading pump manufacturers, is providing expertise and, potentially, capital resources to participants in the 2011 edition of the Cleantech Open. Grundfos executives will serve as subject-matter experts, mentors, and judges to early-stage cleantech startups in the Cleantech Open, providing these entrepreneurs the knowledge and business relationships that will increase their ability to make a tangible impact on economic growth and environmental change.

Grundfos is a global leader in advanced pump solutions and a trendsetter in water technology. By supporting the Cleantech Open, Grundfos is committing the resources necessary to forge connections between startups, academia, NGOs, VCs, and corporate entities — key stakeholders that can collaborate in the search for innovative ways of solving strategic issues surrounding water availability and energy usage throughout the world. More than 10 percent of the world's energy is used to move water, an increasingly scarce resource in certain areas of the world.

"This cooperation gives us a unique opportunity to identify new business and expand our network. It allows us to have a dialogue and potentially partner up with cutting-edge companies at a very early stage. This is extremely important if you want to be part of radical innovation. Our Innovation Intent clearly states that Grundfos has a goal to create additional product strategies and business streams alongside our core pump business. This partnership is an important part of that vision," said Henrik Skov Laursen, head of the Grundfos Water Technology Center located in Fresno, California.

On Thursday of this week, Mr. Laursen is participating in a panel, titled "Closing the Cleantech Adoption Gap," at the Cleantech Open National Investor Conference. (http://www.cleantechopenconference.com). Grundfos is actively involved in the Blue Tech Valley initiative, which aims to strategically leverage the Central San Joaquin Valley's unique natural resources and physical assets for inventors, entrepreneurs and start-ups, creating a rich context for testing, development, and commercializing innovative water and energy technology.

A non-profit organization, the Cleantech Open helps connect entrepreneurs with the expertise, talent, and funding needed to create successful, sustainable businesses. Since its inception in 2006, more than 470 promising entrepreneurs have availed themselves of the Cleantech Open's unique, hands-on workforce development, nurturing, and funding programs. And with impressive results: Cleantech Open alumni companies have raised over $300 million in private capital while creating thousands of clean-technology jobs.

"We believe that startups don't necessarily fail due to the lack of a good idea, or even funding," said Rex Northen, executive director of the Cleantech Open. "More often than not, entrepreneurs can lack the business expertise and relationships necessary to transition successfully from an innovative idea to a thriving business. This partnership with Grundfos will help deliver the expertise and connections needed to execute and achieve water-technology innovations — and success at scale."

About Grundfos

With an annual production of more than 16 million pump units, Grundfos is one of the world's leading pump manufacturers, specializing in circulator pumps for heating and air conditioning as well as other centrifugal pumps for industrial applications, water supply, sewage and dosing. In addition to pumps, Grundfos produces standard and submersible motors as well as state-of-the-art electronics for monitoring and controlling pumps. Additional products are produced in the BioBooster and Lifelink divisions, which are part of the company's new business activities. Grundfos has also introduced blueflux, which certifies technology that meets stringent energy-efficiency metrics. High on Grundfos' corporate agenda is an aim to be active in improving the environment, both in terms of the changing world around us, but also the company's own footprint. www.grundfos.com

About The Cleantech Open

The Cleantech Open runs the world's largest cleantech business competition. Its mission is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today's most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the Cleantech Open provides the infrastructure, expertise and strategic relationships that turn clever ideas into successful global cleantech companies. Since 2006, through its one-of-a-kind annual business competition and mentorship program, the Cleantech Open has enabled hundreds of clean-technology startups to bring their breakthrough ideas to fruition, helped alumni contestants raise over $300M, and created an estimated 2,500 green-collar jobs. Fueled by a global network of more than 1,000 volunteers and sponsors, the Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America's cleantech sector a thriving economic engine. For more information, visit www.cleantechopen.org, or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE The Cleantech Open