Judging Criteria

The path to becoming a participant in the accelerator and going on to be a finalist then hopefully a prize winner is based on 3 rounds of judging. Each round is a source of feedback, training, and foundation for creating a successful and sustainable business.

Round 1 | Judging the Applications

This Judging Round occurs right after the Application deadline in May. Applications are reviewed by a team of judges in the region in which the teams applied. The applications are reviewed by a panel of five or more judges from the academic, research, business and venture communities, including experienced professors, engineers, entrepreneurs, angel and venture investors, environmental experts and legal professionals. A phone interview may also be included to answer any questions the judges may have.

In Round 1 all applicants are judged on:

• Concept and Product (is it a valid technology)
• Product Feasibility (is it a good promising technology)
• Protectable IP
• Is the team US-Based
• Does the team have a clear understanding of fees and process and the entire program
• Complete Team (2 team members, including the team leader, minimum)

If you make it through Round 1 you will become a Cleantech Open Participant in the region in which you applied, for the rest of the program during the accelerator year.

Round 2 | Participant Judging

During the second round all the participating teams will be required to complete a set of worksheets and provide requested supporting documentation which the judges will review prior to live judging of each team. Judges on the panel come from the academic, research, business and venture communities, including experienced professors, engineers, entrepreneurs, angel and venture investors, environmental experts and legal professionals.

Final judging for regional participants will be done in front of a judging panel for each category. Round 2 judging occurs during the first two weeks of October. Each region may have their judging on a different day during those 2 weeks. Each Participant team will present for a maximum 10 minutes and have 10 minutes to answer judges’ questions. Judges then deliberate in private for five minutes after each presentation.

Judging in Round 2 is based on the following:

• Concept and Product
• Feasibility
• Market
• Financials and Profitability
• Sustainability
• Team

In this round the judges will be choosing:

• Regional Finalists in each of the categories

As Cleantech Open Regional Finalists you will represent your region during the national finalist judging at the Global Forum in November.

Round 3 | Finalist Judging

The third round of judging (for the national winner) takes place in November at the Global Forum. The same criteria and presentation used during the second round will apply to the third round. Judges represent all regions and categories of cleantech areas.

In this final Round the judges will be choosing:

• National Category Winners
• A National Sustainability Winner
• The Grand Prize Winner

Sustainability Criteria

Sustainability and cleantech are not synonymous. We see cleantech as the end product or service, but sustainability as the key driver in determining the process by which you get to that end point. Our goal is to have every team positively impact the environment and the broader community in every phase of development as they fulfill their incredible potential.

Our teaching methodology emphasizes systems thinking by providing frameworks, metrics for success, and awareness of external regulatory and policy issues. The Cleantech Open’s Sustainability team focuses on the three P’s:

Product

The team must deliver products or services that have a net positive environmental and social impact and be able to articulate the impact of their solution.

Process

The method by which the team’s product or service is produced must have a net positive environmental and social impact. Teams must be able to address problematic environmental issues in operations and proposed mitigations.

Pitch

Gaining stakeholder approval and building sustainable teams in small business environments is crucial for social sustainability. Teams must effectively communicate the value proposition for sustainability to its different stakeholders.