WE HAVE A CHALLENGE FOR YOU.
If you have a passion for cleantech, the smarts to play in the emerging green economy, and the desire to leverage your background to make an impact, the UW Environmental Innovation Challenge can provide just the platform (and the funding!) you've been looking for.
HOW IT WORKS
For the UW EIC, interdisciplinary student teams define a cleantech problem, design and develop a solution, and work together to produce both a prototype (proof of concept or computer simulation) and a 5 to 7-page business summary that outlines the market opportunity.
We have $25,000 available for prototype funding. At the Challenge on March 29, 2012, students will pitch their concepts and demonstrate their product/idea to a group of judges that includes technologists, entrepreneurs, and investors. Teams are judged on their prototypes, business summaries, and potential for impact. The grand prize is $10,000.
You can use this funding for purchasing materials to build your prototype, renting equipment, purchasing safety equipment, and hiring short-term work beyond your team's capacity.
We prefer to see requests between $500 and $1,000 but will consider both smaller and larger amounts. Funding will be announced by January 6, 2012 and is to be used by March 29, 2012.
Please note: teams that receive funding agree to participate in the Challenge on March 29, 2012. If you receive funding and then drop out, all funds must be returned to CIE.
Key Dates
- Prototype funding Application deadline is December 16. Check with Pam Tufts ptufts@uw.edu for the availability of funds past that date.
- Resource Nights, Winter Quarter, every Thurs, 6-7:30. Suggested for EIC teams. Available for 2-credit/nc, or audit only. Open to students from other schools - drop in!
- Networking Night at Resource Nights, Thurs Jan 13, 6-7:30 - an excellent place to find a team and/or teammates. Open to all!
- February 10, Intent to Submit - online preliminary team information.
- February 28, Official Team Entry. 5 to 7-page Business Summary. Describe the problem, the solution, the team, market opportunity, and prototype or computer simulation. Feedback to each team will be provided by a panel of judges to each team.
- March 8, Pitch Workshop 6-7:30 Mandatory for all EIC teams within the Seattle area. At least 1 member from each team needs to attend. More are recommended.
- March 25, Deliverable. 1-page Business Summary: describe the problem, solution, team, market opportunity, and potential for impact and describe the prototype, computer simulation or proof of concept.
- March 29, Thursday Challenge Day! Team set-up in the morning, judging begins at noon and is followed immediately by the reception and awards ceremony from 5-7:00.
Connect with EIC on Facebook by liking our page. You'll stay current on what's happening with the competition and can connect with fellow competitors.
Questions?
Pam Tufts, UW Environmental Innovation Challenge (EIC)
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE)
ptufts@uw.edu - 206.685.3813
