Clean Tech Open Announces Semi-Finalists in Rocky Mountain Region

[Erik Keith]

Some of the Rocky Mountain region’s best and brightest clean tech concepts took a major step forward, as the Clean Tech Open (CTO) today announced the 12 regional semi-finalists in its clean tech business plan competition.

The semi-finalists were selected from a talented pool of 64 clean tech entrepreneurs from the Rocky Mountain region, as well as teams from other states, including Arizona and Michigan. The semi-finalists will go on to compete for three regional prizes of up to $50,000 in cash and in-kind services, and one national prize of up to $250,000 in cash and services.

All told, the 2009 Clean Tech Open competition includes more than a $1 million in total prizes and a “100K Jobs Challenge” to create 100,000 clean tech jobs in America over the next five years.
The 2009 Rocky Mountain semi-finalists include:

• All Optronics: Cost-effective solar power using a unique optical concentrator and optimized silicon solar cell, www.alloptronics.com, Tucson, Ariz.
• Clean Coal Briquette Inc.: Clean coal briquettes made from coal waste and biomass waste for use in coal power plants, Lakewood, Colo.
• CLEANtricity Power: Manufacturer of small wind turbines that can generate power in a variety of locations and wind conditions, Broomfield, Colo.
• Cool Energy: Developers of a clean energy generating system, www.coolenergyinc.com, Boulder, Colo.
• EE-Low Cost Energy and Carbon Reduction: Low-cost energy and carbon reduction through a Software-as-a-Service web application, Durango, Colo.
• Husk Insulation: High-performance insulation from agricultural waste, www.huskinsulation.com, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• ImagiPLAY: Earth-friendly, ethically made, child safe toys, www.imagiplay.com, Boulder, Colo.
• New Sky Energy: Captures carbon dioxide from the air or flue gas streams to manufacture consumer products and commodity chemicals that are normally made by CO2-polluting industries, www.newskyenergy.com, Boulder, Colo.
• Rivertop Renewables: Progressive chemistry, providing competitively priced, biodegradable alternatives to several widely-used chemicals, www.rivertop.com, Missoula, Mont.
• SEED - Small Engines for Economic Development: Develops fuel efficient and affordable irrigation pump sets for small landholder farmers in developing countries, Fort Collins, Colo.
• Sunflower: Designs and delivers active day-lighting and hybrid lighting solutions to commercial buildings, www.sunflowerdaylighting.com, Longmont, Colo.
• SunTrac Solar: High temperature solar panels for solar thermal systems, www.energisticsystems.us, Golden, Colo.

The semi-finalists will now go through a rigorous mentoring process with local and national business leaders to prepare for the regional finals in September, and the National Awards—the “Academy Awards of Clean Tech”—in November. In addition, they will be invited to participate in the Clean Tech Open Accelerator program, where they will be given hands-on training and experience in all aspects of starting and sustaining their businesses from national experts in venture capital, business, law, marketing and sustainability.

About the Clean Tech Open
Clean Tech Open is a catalyst for clean tech innovation, and the impetus behind the Clean Tech Open’s 100K Jobs Challenge. A non-profit organization founded in 2006, it provides today’s clean tech innovators with the tools, training and connections they need to become tomorrow's viable clean tech businesses. The core of the Clean Tech Open is an annual business competition, supported by expert volunteers and mentors, that provides entrepreneurs with the crucial business training, services and insights they need to go to market successfully. The Clean Tech Open has assisted over 120 companies to raise more than $125 million in external funding, and has spurred the creation of hundreds of jobs in California. Fueled by a network of over 400 volunteers and sponsors, the Clean Tech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America's clean tech sector a thriving economic engine. Past alumni successes include Adura Technologies, Cool Earth Solar and GreenVolts. To learn more, visit: www.cleantechopen.com.