Just for telling us your idea, you could win a prize package of services worth $100,000 to help you start a business to grow your idea!

Overview

The NZ Clean Tech Challenge (NZCTC) is an official activity promoted by Global Entrepreneurship Week – New Zealand (GEW-NZ) in 2011.This year the NZ winning idea will compete against the best in the world at the Clean Tech Open global  competition in San Francisco to an international audience of 2,500 clean technology experts, investors, and enthusiasts, and press from around the world. This global event happens on the 10^th of November, 2011.

The global winner will receive US$100,000 in marketing support, legal advising, conferencing services and more to help launch their business and will be in a prime position to attract venture capital and licensing agreements.

What is Clean Tech?

Cleantech has been described by Clean Edge, a clean-tech research firm, as “a diverse range of products, services, and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources, dramatically reduce the use of natural resources, and cut or eliminate emissions and wastes.”The terms “cleantech” and “green tech” are often used interchangeably to describe products, services and practices that are environmentally friendly.

Entry criteria

Anyone looking to turn their clean technology idea into a thriving business can apply to enter. Entrants can be sole proprietors, teams, early-stage companies, or enterprising participants from the tertiary sector, backyard garage, or farm. To be eligible, your entity must have received less than US$500,000 in external private financing at the time of competition entry. Grant funding and any money from friends and family are excluded from this US$500,000 limit.

What are the categories?

Cleantech New Zealand receives award for best practice at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Shanghai in April 2011. Pictured are (from left) Rex Northen, ED Cleantech Open; Dhakshinamoorthy Valakrishnan, Cleantech award winner- Malaysia; Rob Acton, Chair of GEW-New Zealand; Kevin Braithwaite, Chair of Global Ideas CompetitionThere are six categories …

• Air, Water & Waste
• Energy Efficiency
• Green Building
• Renewables
• Smart Power
• Transportation

How do I enter?

1.       Go to The international Cleantech Open Global Ideas Competition website and register for a new User account
2. Once you are registered you will be taken to the entry page for the NZ competition.
2.       Choose one category for your entry …

• Air, Water & Waste
• Energy Efficiency
• Green Building
• Renewables
• Smart Power
• Transportation

3.       Complete the entry form by explaining the following …

• My idea is…
• My idea is useful because…
• My idea is better than the alternatives because…
• The major pain or problem solved by my idea is…
• The market for my idea is…

4.       Submit your entry.

Judging criteria

Regional and national winners are judged on the following criteria …

• Idea Concept: Concisely and clearly explained
• Innovation: Breakthrough in thinking or design
• Business Viability: A significant and interesting market exists
• Sustainability: Positive impact on environment.

Competition

The NZCTC will run from 4 Sept until 10th November 2011.Regional hosts will provide a local face to the competition and help with PR and support to their regional champion. Local promotion for the competition is up to regional host.

GEW-NZ will judge the regional winners and decide on the national champion. The national winner’s idea will then be presented at the Global Clean Tech Open Ideas Competition in San Francisco on 10 November 2011.

New Zealand’s winning idea will be presented through a five-minute video pitch in front of a crowd of up to 2,500 investors, entrepreneurs, sponsoring companies, corporations, members of academia, press, and others interested in hearing ideas and getting involved.

The crowd will vote via text message for the “People’s Choice” and you could win $100,000 in marketing support, legal advising, conferencing services and more to help launch your business!

The New Zealand and global winners are judged on the following criteria…

• • Idea Concept: Concisely and clearly explained
• • Innovation: Breakthrough in thinking or design
• • Business Viability: A significant and interesting market exists
• • Sustainability: Positive impact on environment.

Key dates

• 4^thSept  NZ Clean Tech Challenge opens
• 4^th October NZ Clean Tech Challenge closes
• 5^th October Regional winners will be notified via Clean Tech regional hosts
• 6^th October  New Zealand’s three best regional entries will be named and required to produce a 5 minute video clip of the entry
• 13^th October  Last date for top three regional winners to submit their 5 minute videos
• 14^th October  National winner announced
• 17^th October   National winners video forwarded to San Francisco
• 10^th November  New Zealand winners video  presented at the Global Clean Tech Open Ideas Competition in San Francisco. ( Ideas category)

National Judging Panel

The National Judging Panel will include nominees from Chevron, venture capitalists, green technology professionals, and business professionals

Read a full recap of this event >>

Beginning with open pitches on Friday, attendees will hone in on the most promising concepts with teams focusing on customer development, idea validation and creating a viable product. By Sunday evening, teams demo their prototypes and receive valuable feedback from a panel of experts–competing for prizes that help speed them to launch.

Startup Weekend will be hosted in over 20 cities internationally with participants representing over 100 cities in over 25 countries. The event will see over 15,000 entrepreneurs receive priceless insights into business and over 560 new startup ventures will be launched.

Thanks to Jason Armishaw, Startup Weekend has come to New Zealand.

How do you get involved?

All attendees will be provided with 7 meals and all the coffee they can handle. We will do our best to cater to all your needs so you can do what you do best – making things happen!

Friday:

• 6pm: Everyone gets together; figures out who else is there; what would be interesting to build.
• 7pm: Pitches start (if you have an idea for a product you pitch it to the group).
• 8pm: Teams start breaking off (generally about nine teams will form during the weekend, creating nine products or companies).
• 9pm: Hopefully teams have solidified their concept and created an elevator pitch (even a simple one) by now.
• 10pm: Break off into groups (in the Dojo) and continue discussions and attempt to paper prototype out their application.

Saturday:

• 8:30am: Breakfast!
• 9am: Crowds pour in; work starts on development.
• Noon: Lunch.
• 3pm: More coding, business plan development, and a special guest (music, vc, sponsor etc).
• 6pm: Special guest drop-ins and pitches from the teams.
• 9pm: Gut check on the product; basic prototype building; group get-together for drinks and to talk about the products everyone is working on.

Sunday:

• 8:30am: Breakfast!
• 9am: The day’s work starts again.
• Noon: Projects are being developed; live website with signup is possibly set up; more special guests drop in.
• 4pm: Sink or swim time for those looking for a weekend launch.
• 6pm: Presentations from each company; what worked, what didn’t, what could go better and contacts are exchange for those continuing in the future.

Top reasons for becoming involved:

There are plenty of them but we’ve narrowed it down to the top eight.

1. Education
   Startup Weekends are all about learning through the act of creating. Don’t just listen to theory, build your own strategy and test it as you go.

1. Build your network
   This isn’t just a happy-hour. Startup Weekend attracts your community’s best makers and do-ers. By spending a weekend working to build scalable companies that solve real-world problems, you will build long-lasting relationships and possibly walk away with a job or a even an investor.

1. Co-Founder dating
   We all know it’s not just about the idea – it’s about the team. Startup Weekend is hands down the best way to to find someone you can actually launch a startup with.

1. Learn a new skill
   Step outside of your comfort zone. With a whole weekend dedicated to letting your creative juices flow, Startup Weekends are prefect opportunities to work on a new platform, learn a new programming language, or just try something different.

1. Actually launch a business
   Over 36% of Startup Weekend startups are still going strong after 3 months. Roughly 80% of participants plan on continuing working with their team or startup after the weekend.

1. Get face time with thought leaders
   Local tech and startup leaders participate in Startup Weekends as mentors and judges. Get some one-on-one time with the movers and shakers in your community.

1. Save money & get stuff
   Startup Weekends cost between $75 and $99 (less for students). Your ticket covers seven meals, snack, access to exclusive resources from our global sponsors, a book from O’Reilly Media and all the coffee you can drink.

1. Join a global community
   Join over 30,000 Startup Weekend alumni, all on a mission to change the world.

Photos

Video

Speakers

Geff Ross – 42 Below

Geoff was the founder and CEO of 42 Below Limited which was a listed company for three years prior to its sale to Bacardi in late 2006. Following the sale of 42 Below Ltd in 2006, Geoff Ross joined forces with Grant Baker and Stephen Sinclair, as investment partners in a venture capital business – The Business Bakery.
The Bakery has invested in Australian based home fragrance company, Ecoya Ltd. Ecoya manufactures premium home fragrance and body products, selling in NZ, Australia, USA, Asia and the Middle East. The Hyperfactory, Moa Beer and also Dorchester Pacific.
Geoff is Executive chairmen of Ecoya and Moa.
Geoff is a trustee of the Melanoma Foundation. And advisor to Air New Zealand ‘Grab a seat’.
Geoff has a B.com in Agriculture and spent 12 years in the advertising Industry prior to 42 Below.

Katie Petersen

Katie Petersen is a manager in Advancing Innovation for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. She joined the Foundation in 2007, and currently directs one of the Foundation’s newest projects, iStart, a community for business plan competitions. She has been involved with iStart since its inception in early 2010, helping to develop and execute the community’s business model, implement an overall marketing campaign, and handle day-to-day operations to ensure the site’s success. In addition, Petersen is the manager for the iBridge Network, a program of the Kauffman Innovation Network.

Prof Claire Massey – Massey University

Prof Claire Massey is the Head of School at the School of Management, part of the College of Business at Massey University. For the last decade my research focus has been on the economic and social contributions that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make, with particular attention to New Zealand. I have a particular interest in government policy as it impacts on SMEs and the way in which firms (and the individuals who run them) respond to the political, social and economic environment they operate within. This interest comes from my own background (I was brought up on a dairy farm and have operated my own firms, as well as being an adviser to firms owned by others) and is the basis for my research and publications, some of which are listed below. Formerly the Director of the New Zealand Centre for SME Research, I am a Past President of the Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand (SEAANZ) and formerly Senior Vice President of the International Council for Small Business (ICSB).

Sir Paul Callaghan

A special video message from Sir Paul Callaghan, New Zealander of the Year will be shown at the event. Sir Paul Terence Callaghan, GNZM, FRS, FRSNZ (born 1947) is a New Zealand physicist. Callaghan is past president of the Academy Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand and has published over 240 articles in scientific journals as well as the books. He is also a founding director and shareholder of Magritek, a technology company based in Wellington, which sells nuclear magnetic resonance and MRI instruments. A 2009 book, “Wool to Weta: Transforming New Zealand’s Culture and Economy”, deals with the potential for science and technology entrepreneurialism to diversify New Zealand’s economy. He is also the presenter of a concurrent documentary, “Beyond the Farm and the Themepark”, which deals with the same issues. In 2001 Callaghan became the 36th New Zealander to be made a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. He was awarded the Ampere Prize in 2004 and the Rutherford Medal in 2005. He was appointed a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006 and in 2007 was recognised by a KEA/NZTE World Class New Zealander Award and the Sir Peter Blake Medal. He was awarded a 2 year James Cook Research Fellowship by the Royal Society for New Zealand in 2008. He was knighted on 14 August 2009. In 2010 he was awarded the Günther Laukien Prize for Magnetic Resonance and shared the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Science Prize. In 2011 he was named Kiwibank “New Zealander of the Year” and later that year elected an Honorary Fellow of Corpus Christi College Cambridge.

Come along in November and hear the thoughts of Steve Maharey (Vice-Chancellor of Massey), Dr Peter Gray (Technical Manager 3M), Felicity Lawrence (Deputy Director General Department of Conservation), Eric Hertz (CEO 2Degrees), Sarah Gibbs (CEO Trilogy) and Paul Adams (CEO EveredgeIP).

The Summit is organised by Unleash It, the business initiative of GEWNZ, and Success Formula

Media

• Massey helps entrepreneurs ‘bungee jump
• Vision Manawatu – Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011

NEW ZEALAND Prime Minister John Key:

“Entrepreneurship is extremely important, if New Zealand is going to do well and be successful, in the end we’re going to create good ideas and the brainpower and the enthusiasm of entrepreneurs in New Zealand to building a much stronger country.

It’s good that this is a global challenge and a global Week,” he added. “I can’t tell you what the business model of the future looks like, but it will almost certainly involve the cooperation of New Zealand entrepreneurs with companies overseas.”

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) and Global Entrepreneurship Week New Zealand bring together millions of people across the globe through online and local activities run throughout the year designed to encourage us to think innovatively and unleash our ideas through entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurial thinking has been shown to bring jobs, social improvements, societal change, prosperity and advancement for individuals and communities as a whole. Through a coordinated effort with over 100 different countries, from The United States to New Zealand, the year’s activities culminate in one week in November, known as ‘Global Entrepreneurship Week’, which is celebrated simultaneously around the globe by school age entrepreneurs and Presidents alike. For one week, the world comes together to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit in hopes of improving lives and inspiring a new batch of entrepreneurs.