World's Largest Cleantech Accelerator picks 13 Rocky Mountain Winners

The Cleantech Open announced teams from the Rocky Mountain region that are selected to participate in the world’s largest cleantech accelerator. In its ten-year history, Cleantech Open has helped 1,036 startups accelerate their businesses, raising $1.135 billion in funding and creating 3,067 cleantech jobs. The organization runs a six-month program to connect startups with people, resources, and visibility to help them succeed.

“Once again, cleantech entrepreneurs in the Rocky Mountain region are developing some of the most creative and compelling solutions to our most pressing energy, environmental and economic challenges,” said Korri Stainbrook, Cleantech Open regional co-director for the Rocky Mountain Region. “We look forward to helping them move to the next phase of their business development with our proven accelerator program.”

Participants from the 2016 Cleantech Open Rocky Mountain region are included at right:

“Our goal with Cleantech Open is to offer these entrepreneurs the right combination of resources, advice and know-how to turn their exciting ideas into sustainable, innovative and productive businesses,” said Josh Hottenstein, Cleantech Open regional co-director for the Rocky Mountain Region.

Over the next few months, the teams will receive coaching from Cleantech Open’s network of talented business mentors, one-on-one consulting with specialists, an intensive business boot camp at the Cleantech Open National Academy, and extensive local supporting events, training and materials. This support helps each team develop a comprehensive business plan and investor pitch that will be presented to professional investors and experts to determine which teams will advance to the finals.

CLEANTECH OPEN SPONSORS
Cleantech Open is sponsored nationally by several corporations, including Wells Fargo, Coca-Cola, and Ford. Rocky Mountain Region sponsors include Marsh Fischmann Breyfogle, and Polsinelli,  Dorsey, EKS&H, Daikin and Siemens. Organizational partners include Colorado Cleantech Industries Association, National Renewable Energy Lab, Colorado Small Business Development Center, Innosphere, Rockies Venture Club and Sustainable Startups.

ABOUT CLEANTECH OPEN

Cleantech Open is the world’s largest cleantech accelerator. Its mission is to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental and economic challenges. A 501©(3) not-for-profit organization, Cleantech Open provides the infrastructure, expertise and strategic relationships that turn innovative technologies and ideas into successful cleantech companies. Since 2005, upwards of 1,000 startups have participated in its annual accelerator and mentorship program in the United States alone. Of these, roughly 70 percent are still active today: these cleantech startups have collectively raised a total of more than $1.2 billion and created thousands of jobs. In 2014, Cleantech Open expanded the reach of its acceleration program beyond the United States through the Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP): a joint program of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Cleantech Open. In addition, Cleantech Open runs the annual Global Ideas competition in collaboration with Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). This program showcases the most promising clean-technology ideas across the planet and has included entrepreneurs from 43 countries. Fueled by an expanding global network of more than 2,000 volunteers and sponsors, the Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making the cleantech sectors a thriving economic engine around the world.  For more information, visit www.cleantechopen.org, or follow us on Twitter@cleantechopen.

Mo Shafroth

720-470-3653

mo.shafroth@shafroth.com