Imagine H2O Announces Third Annual Business Plan Prize for Water Startups
2011 Prize to Focus on Wastewater as a Resource
Imagine H2O, an organization that aims to inspire and empower people to turn water challenges into opportunities, announced its 2011 Prize for businesses using wastewater as a resource. This year’s business plan prize will feature $150,000 in cash and in-kind services to be distributed amongst the winners and runners-up. Imagine H2O’s 2011 Prize will highlight wastewater innovations and extend the organization’s Accelerator Program to the most promising new businesses.
Imagine H2O’s Prize, now in its third year, will highlight startup businesses across the spectrum of wastewater solutions. The 2011 Prize expects to attract wastewater innovations related to reuse, treatment, resource recovery, energy production, smart management, and other methods to generate revenue from wastewater opportunities.
The competition, which will be open to entrepreneurs from around the world, is divided into two tracks: pre-revenue and early revenue (≤$5MM) companies. Finalists from both tracks will enter the Imagine H2O Accelerator Program – a recognized path-to-market platform featuring an advanced network of business service providers, industry mentors, investors, beta-customers and other strategic partners. Once again, Imagine H2O’s Prize will feature a judging panel comprised of industry leaders, academic experts and seasoned investors.
”Wastewater is all about perception,” said Imagine H2O’s Prize Manager Kate Gasner, “and the industry’s strategy is evolving from risk management to asset recovery. Our 2011 Prize is an initiative to position wastewater as a business opportunity while supporting a new wave of entrepreneurship within the sector.”
The Wastewater Opportunity
The wastewater market is valued at $200 billion per year across the industrial, commercial and residential sectors worldwide. These sectors each produce a substantial amount of water that requires treatment before being reused or returned to nature. This treatment inevitably requires multiple steps, myriad chemical and biological treatments and a significant amount of energy.
“This is one of the fastest growing segments of the water market,” said the Cleantech Group’s Mia Javier. “It’s unique because there is a willingness to pay amongst utilities, corporations and other sectors.”
Competition Key Dates
The competition will be open to entries from September 1 to November 15. On September 28, Imagine H2O will convene a Water Entrepreneurship Workshop. The workshop will be hosted by the newest Imagine H2O partner – Claude Laval Water & Energy Technology (WET) Incubator. Workshop participants will explore the wastewater opportunity through an interactive lineup of discussions with leading market experts. Imagine H2O invites all interested entrepreneurs and startups to attend the September 28 workshop. The 2011 Prize’s official terms will be posted to the Imagine H2O website prior to the official open date on September 1.
To RSVP for the September 28 workshop, email emily@cvbi.org.
For more information about the competition, please visit www.imagineh2o.org.
The Water, Energy & Technology (WET) Center, a key element of the BlueTechValley, recently hosted a presentation at the Center for Advanced Research and Technology that featured three talented attorneys from Duane Morris LLP. Thomas Berliner presented an overview of the firm’s capacity and the audience also learned about intellectual property protection and trademark/copyright issues.
If you are a entrepreneur, economic development professional, funder or a fan of innovation, you should attend this forum.
