MIDWEST CLEAN
TECH 2009
November 23-24, 2009, Federal Reserve Bank
of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Technology Showcase
Global Marketplace
Innovation Competition
INNOVATION COMPETITION
The Innovation Competition was created to help very early stage emerging Clean Tech companies gain visibility and make connections. The Innovation Competition will provide a showcase for developers of new technologies that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges.
The entrants featured in the competition will include products, services, and processes which:
· Provide superior performance at lower costs, while
· Greatly reducing or eliminating negative ecological impact, at the same time as
· Improving the productive and responsible use of natural resources.
Competition entries may include, but are not limited to, the areas of energy generation and storage, agriculture, building sciences & materials, infrastructure & community, energy efficiency, recycling & waste management, air & water, and transportation.
Submissions to the competition will be judged by a panel of qualified experts representing regional universities, venture capitalists, trade investors, and ecological organizations. All finalists will receive recognition through conference print materials and the event website, and will be eligible to attend the Clean Tech 2009 conference at the reduced registration rate of $100.
The winning top three competition entrants will win a cash prize and will be invited to present their winning technology at the Midwest Clean Tech 2009 conference as a speaker (including complementary registration), gaining the opportunity to present their innovations before an international audience of early stage investors, researchers & entrepreneurs, clean tech-focused venture capitalists & financiers, and corporate R&D or business development executives.
All finalists will have the opportunity to feature information on their entry in a Business Opportunity Session area at the conference venue and will not be charged a registration fee.
COMPETITION JUDGESThe Competition judges include the following panel of experts:
Thomas Churchwell, Managing Director Midwest Ventures Partners
Caralynn Nowinski, Associate, Midwest Venture Partners
John Banta, CEO & Managing Director, Illinois Ventures LLC
Dennis Serio, Managing Director, Illinois Business & Investor Forum and Midwest Co-Investment Network
Allen Dines, Assistant Director, Office of Corporate Relations University of Wisconsin, Madison & President, Midwest Research University Network (MRUN)
CRITERIA
Companies do not have to be formally incorporated but must have
a well thought-out business value proposition
· Presenters on the agenda at Midwest Clean Tech 2009, other than those selected to present during the Innovation Competition, are not eligible to participate. Sponsors of Midwest Clean Tech 2009 are also not eligible to participate.
· Companies that have previously raised an institutional (i.e., venture capital) round of capital are not eligible to participate
· Presentation length of eight minutes will be strictly enforced. PowerPoint slides are allowed, with a 6 slide maximum – slides MUST be submitted before the event. Presenters will have the opportunity to respond to audience questions immediately following their presentation.
APPLICATION
· To apply, please send a 25-word (max) profile and an executive summary (two-page maximum length, including graphical content) to Cleantech@globalmidwestalliance.org. Applications should be in either PDF or MS Word format.
· Applications must be received no later than Monday, October 19, 2009.
· Presenters will be notified of acceptance by Tuesday, October 27, 2009.
· Executive summaries must be in Word or PDF format and must be organized under the following headings: Name and company contact information, 25 word profile, Product/technology, Market opportunity, Investment sought, Use of proceeds, and Management team/founders
· There is no cost to apply or present.
· The competition judging panel reserves the right to disqualify submissions not adhering to application requirements, or to request resubmission in the event that application criteria are not met.
To download the Competition Entrant Form, please click here
· Presenters on the agenda at Midwest Clean Tech 2009, other than those selected to present during the Innovation Competition, are not eligible to participate. Sponsors of Midwest Clean Tech 2009 are also not eligible to participate.
· Companies that have previously raised an institutional (i.e., venture capital) round of capital are not eligible to participate
· Presentation length of eight minutes will be strictly enforced. PowerPoint slides are allowed, with a 6 slide maximum – slides MUST be submitted before the event. Presenters will have the opportunity to respond to audience questions immediately following their presentation.
APPLICATION
· To apply, please send a 25-word (max) profile and an executive summary (two-page maximum length, including graphical content) to Cleantech@globalmidwestalliance.org. Applications should be in either PDF or MS Word format.
· Applications must be received no later than Monday, October 19, 2009.
· Presenters will be notified of acceptance by Tuesday, October 27, 2009.
· Executive summaries must be in Word or PDF format and must be organized under the following headings: Name and company contact information, 25 word profile, Product/technology, Market opportunity, Investment sought, Use of proceeds, and Management team/founders
· There is no cost to apply or present.
· The competition judging panel reserves the right to disqualify submissions not adhering to application requirements, or to request resubmission in the event that application criteria are not met.
To download the Competition Entrant Form, please click here