
The third annual U.S. Department of Energy National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition will take place on June 11-12, 2014 in Washington, DC. This event is the culmination of six regional contests throughout the country. Regional finalists have been crowned after facing intense competition and judging panels of industry and financial experts. The six finalist student teams represent an array of technologies, including algae production from brewery CO2 waste, advanced turbomachinery systems, and inverters to improve the efficiency of solar panels. On June 12th, the regional finalists and runners-up will have the opportunity to participate in one-on-ones with investors and incubators and learn from several panels on federal resources for testing, demonstration, and finance programs.
The DOE National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition is designed to build regional networks of student-focused business creation contests across the country. Launched in 2011, the NCEBPC is part of the Obama Administration's Startup America Initiative, the White House campaign to inspire and promote entrepreneurship. Six regional organizations were funded under the competition to hold clean energy business plan competitions. In addition to the regional competitions, each June at the National Competition Event, the six finalists from the regional business plan competitions pitch their business plans to a panel of expert judges– competing for the National Grand Prize.