Cleantech Open Announces South Central Competition Winners

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cleantech Open (www.cleantechopen.org), in partnership with the Clean Technology and Sustainable Industries Organization (CTSI), has announced the three finalist teams that will represent the South Central region at the national competition in November. cycleWood Solutions, Silicon Solar Solutions and Smart Office Energy Solutions were selected from an elite group semifinalist cleantech entrepreneur teams that competed in the regional competition.

The South Central regional competition took place in conjunction with the Clean Energy Venture Summit (www.cleanenergyventuresummit.com) hosted by Cleantech Open partner, the Austin Technology Incubator, on September 28 and 29.  This two-day event combined the Cleantech Open regional finals in addition to two educational panels, a keynote by Kevin Skillern of GE Capital, and a later-stage cleantech competition between ten semifinalists.

Each of the winning teams receives a "Start-up in a Box" prize package that includes combined cash and in-kind services worth up to $23,000. Finalists from all six regions (California, North Central, Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountain and South Central) will convene for a final showdown in November at the Cleantech Open 2011 Global Forum in San Jose, California.

"Making it through to the finals is a huge step for these teams, who are already winners among the many teams that entered the South Central competition," said Rex Northen, executive director of the Cleantech Open. "These South Central finalists will convene next month with teams from the five other regions at the Global Cleantech Forum, our annual showcase of the best in global cleantech."

Regional semifinalists "bubble up" to compete for the national cleantech title

In June 2011, 163 semifinalists were selected from a pool of more than talented 285 cleantech entrepreneurs from across the country that submitted entries in the seven regional competitions run by the Cleantech Open. From these teams, one team will be selected to advance and represent each region, competing at the national level for a grand prize of up to $250,000 in cash and in-kind services, and an overall prize chest of nearly $1 million. National judging of regional finalists will take place November 15 & 16, 2011 at the Global Cleantech Forum in San Jose, California, with national winners to be announced at the Gala event.

About the Cleantech Open:

The Cleantech Open runs the world's largest cleantech accelerator. 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.

For more information:
Laura Benold
Membership & Marketing Manager, CTSI
South Central Regional Coordinator, Cleantech Open
[email protected]

SOURCE Cleantech Open