Enter the Cleantech University Prize (UP) competition for a chance to win $50,000. Cleantech UP, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy in conjunction with regional partner Clean Energy Trust, is a premier opportunity for university students to tap into entrepreneurial ambition and passion for change. Students are asked to submit a business plan for a clean energy startup idea. Eight to 10 finalists will be chosen, and one team will win a $50,000 grant to further develop their idea.
But the clock is ticking, students must enter by Thursday, December 1 to qualify.
A few notes:
- Application is free and only requires creating a login through the YouNoodle application platform. To access and submit a Cleantech UP application, click here
- There is no minimum or maximum team size, however teams must consist of at least half actively enrolled undergraduate, graduate, or Ph.D. students
- Relevant team/company sectors include, but are not limited to: Advanced Transportation, Bioenergy, Efficiency Technologies, Energy Storage, Internet of Things/Smart Cities, Microgrids/Smart Grid, Renewable Energy, and Water-Energy Nexus
- Team/company product stages include, but are not limited to: Idea/Concept, Prototype, Pilot, and Commercialization
Important dates:
- December 1 – Application due
- Monday, December 12 – Finalists announced
- December 12 through Wednesday, February 8 – Mini-Accelerator (do not need to be onsite in Chicago)
- Thursday, February 9 – Final Cleantech UP Showcase Event in Chicago
If you have questions, contact Margaret Murphy at murphym@iit.edu, Donna Rockin at drockin@iit.edu, or George Alagiah Johnson at george@cleanenergytrust.org.