image: This is the ClimateLaunchpad banner. view more
Credit: Climate-KIC
Amsterdam, August 28, 2015 - All across Europe, a new generation of entrepreneurs is hard at work creating adaptation and mitigation solutions to climate change. More than 700 of these entrepreneurs entered this year's ClimateLaunchpad scheme - Europe's largest cleantech business idea competition - which is due to come to a close on Friday 4th September with 82 cleantech start-ups from 28 different countries competing.
This year, over 700 start-ups from 28 countries submitted their initial business ideas. Each country then selected the most promising innovations for the ClimateLaunchpad competition. Since spring, the selected participants have gone through a demanding programme to work on their business idea: a 2-day boot camp, intensive business coaching and competing in national finals. Next week, 82 cleantech start-ups from 28 European countries will pitch their business plans to a renowned international jury. The jury will judge these finalists on criteria including feasibility, scalability, job creation, climate impact and quality of their pitch. ClimateLaunchpad selects the ten best teams to join Climate-KIC's prestigious Accelerator Programme. The top three ClimateLaunchpad winners receive cash prizes.
Cleantech is the single biggest business opportunity of the 21st century
Politicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, bankers, journalists and others have been debating climate change for decades. Often highlighted by dramatic situations including hurricanes, melting glaciers, weakened polar bears or droughts. Frans Nauta, Deputy-Director of Entrepreneurship at Climate-KIC and also founding father of ClimateLaunchpad, says: "Unlike what most people think, climate change is a very solvable problem. We can have a planet with an abundance of cheap, clean energy within 20 years. Provided that we support startups that are developing disrupting clean technologies. That's what ClimateLaunchpad does. Cleantech is the single biggest business opportunity of the 21st century".
Meet Europe's Next Generation Cleantech Entrepreneurs
More detailed information on the finalists from across the energy, water, transportation and urban development space can be found here. You are warmly invited to the European Final to meet this new generation of Cleantech Entrepreneurs, investors, and the local, national and European communities of stakeholders actively working to mitigate climate change.
Date: Friday, September 4th, 2015
Location: B.Amsterdam, Johan Huizingalaan 763A, 1066 VH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Time: 8:30 am - 19:30 pm
Click here for the full programme, final changes and tickets
Press code: CLPMEDIATICKET2015
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Note to editors:
For more information about ClimateLaunchpad, the European Final, press and interview requests for Frans Nauta and/or finalists please contact:
Heleen Ririassa
t: (31/6) 462 464 26
ClimateLaunchpad videos:
General introductory film (two minutes)
Interview Timo Spijkerboer - MyFarm App
Interview Bart van Limpt - Delft IMP
Interview Erki Ani and Timea Marócsik - Prasinus Tech
About ClimateLaunchpad
ClimateLaunchpad is Europe's largest cleantech business idea competition, organised for the second time in 2015. It's mission is to unlock Europe's cleantech potential that addresses climate change. ClimateLaunchpad is a programme by Climate-KIC.
http://www.climatelaunchpad.org
About Climate-KIC
Climate-KIC is one of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) established in 2010 by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the EU body with the task of creating sustainable economic growth in Europe, where the global challenges of this time to be tackled.
Results Climate-KIC
Climate-KIC has booked impressive results since 2010. It participated in giving birth to over 400 new cleantech start-ups. These efforts have been producing an incredible multiplier effect. The start-ups raised over € 100 million in external funding and have strong records as job creators.
About the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
http://eit.europa.eu/eit-community/eit-glance
The EIT is an independent body of the European Union set up in 2008 to spur innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe to overcome some of its greatest challenges. It brings together leading higher education institutions, research labs and companies to form dynamic cross-border partnerships - Knowledge and Innovation Communities, KICs - that develop innovative products and services, start new companies, and train a new generation of entrepreneurs.