2nd Annual Clean Energy Student Challenge
All students at the University of Notre Dame are invited to participate in the 2nd Annual Clean Energy Challenge! Sponsored by Clean Energy Trust, the grand prize is $100,000, which is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Details about the competition are provided below. We hope you will consider participating in this exciting opportunity to share your innovative ideas to create a more sustainable energy future!
Announcement:
The Clean Energy Trust (CET) is expanding the 2012 Clean Energy Challenge to include student business concepts from across the Midwest region. The $100,000 Student Challenge grand prize is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. CET and its anchor partners, Cleantech Open, Nortech, University of Michigan, Purdue University, and Washington University St. Louis, will select 18 semi-finalists for the Student Challege Semifinalists from each state will be matched with sector experts and experienced entrepreneurs to prepare for the $100,000 Student Challenge. The final event will be held March 1 in Chicago. The Student Challenge winners will match up against winning teams from five other regional competitions at the U.S. Department of Energy’s national student competition in Washington.
Interested applicants can learn more at the Clean Energy Challenge Roadshow. Events are scheduled to be held at the following locations:
· October 7th at the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus
· October 17th at Purdue University
· October 18th at Washington University St. Louis
· October 19th at Illinois Institute of Technology
Complete rules and criteria are available here.
Plans may be submitted beginning November 1, 2011 online here.The application deadline is December 5, 2011.
By December 16, 2011, the three (3) highest scoring applicants from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Missouri will be selected to move on to the semi-finals.
Timeline:
- December-Early January: Semi-finalists meet with the Clean Energy Trust team to discuss their needs and develop a strategy for the mentorship process. Mentors will be assigned by mid-January.
- February: Semi-finalists will be required to participate in a weekly pitch competition to determine which teams will have a chance to present at the final competition on March 1. Only the top performing teams during the mentorship process will be eligible to compete for the $100,000 Grand Prize.
All semi-finalists:
- Submit a final executive summary (3-page maximum)
- Present to an audience of investors, business leaders and industry experts on the night of February 29, 2012 in Chicago
- Receive exhibition space at the March 1st Showcase
Top performers will move on to present in a fast-pitch format to a distinguished panel of industry leading venture capitalists, strategic investors and technical experts at the all-day event on March 1 at the Spertus Institute in Chicago.