The Cleantech Open Global Forum 2014's Celebration Day was certainly a celebration of innovation and clean technology from all corners of the globe. Twenty-one startup teams from across the US were finalists in our National Cleantech Open competition. Another eleven international teams were competing for the Global Ideas prize… and eight more winners from our new Global Cleantech Innovation Program also joined us to celebrate their success.
But it doesn't stop there! Many of the semi-finalists from our 2014 accelerator program joined us at the expo to showcase their new ideas in cleantech. In all, around 90 teams presented their prototypes and business cases to potential investors and members of the cleantech community. Each team also gave a short Tech Demo on one of our four stages around the expo arena.
The Treasure Island Admin Building was the stunning Art Deco location for our 2014 Global Forum. With a backdrop of the San Francisco skyline, our very own treasures of cleantech were waiting to be discovered by the world and its dog. Yes, one of the visitors was a very cute and remarkably well-behaved mutt!
The main stage was the focus for our award ceremonies along with an articulate and passionate group of keynote speakers. Amongst them, Steve Westly stood out as an advocate for the economics of sustainability, sharing and doing the right thing, rather than looking to the bottom line. Our Western Region friend, Mike Biddle also gave the cleantech entrepreneurs hope for the future, as he talked of his 20-year struggle to turn his cleantech idea into a successful business.
Hal Sparks brought some light relief to the intensity of the day, as the MC for the Academy Awards of Cleantech. Apparently, Rex Northen, our CEO, will hug anyone but not a tree!
Here are the full results you have all been waiting for.
GCIP Winners:
Armenia: Eco Technology
India: GYATK, Neogi Technologies and Research, HyCa
Malaysia: Free the Seed
Pakistan: Eco-fuelants
South Africa: Clear Sky Energy
Turkey: CleanWave
People's Choice Award:
75F
Peoples' Choice Global Ideas Award:
Ynsect
Venture Capitalists Choice Award:
Axiom Exergy (congrats to Amrit and Anthony, our first Western Region winners)
National Alumnus Award:
Dragonfly Systems (Western Region 2013 semi-finalists)
National Sustainability Award:
Drinkwell
Global Ideas Competition:
The top five: Raygen, Waynergy, Gasliner, AutoAgronom and Ynsect.
The winner: AutoAgronom from Israel.
National Cleantech Open Grand Prize:
The top five: 75F, Bitgrid, Drinkwell, NG1 Tech, Max Out Renewables (another Western Region team!).
The winner of 200K: NG1 Tech.
All the winners, VIPs, sponsors and main partners were invited along to our Gala Dinner held in The Winery, just behind the Admin building. Many of the hard-working Cleantech Open volunteers also joined the merriment. Some special mentions for the Western Division team members who made a big contribution to this event: Sebastian Steinbach, Show Captain; Adrienne Pierce, Expo/TechDemos; Kim Van Keymeulen, Registration and Jane Richards, Social Media.
So the Cleantech Open's year is over. Roll on 2015 – we'll be ready with an improved accelerator program, more great entrepreneurs and some fabulous events. Don't forget to check the website for the latest events, sign up for our newsletter, follow us on twitter and Facebook or join our LinkedIn group. And keep us posted on any of your future successes. Go teams!
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