Today, Evergreen Climate Innovations, a nonprofit cleantech accelerator, announced a new round of early-stage investments totaling $950,000 at the 7th annual Evergreen Climate Innovations Challenge. Entrepreneurs, investors, executives, and students gathered in Chicago for a day that celebrated a shared belief in the power of entrepreneurs to take on the hardest challenges to sustainable life on the planet.
“The funding, support, and market validation that we can provide an early stage cleantech company is enormously valuable,” reflected Evergreen Climate Innovations’ CEO, Erik Birkerts. “Today, these energy and resource technology companies are nearly starved for capital and support. The Evergreen Climate Innovations Challenge is designed to provide high-potential startups invaluable seed capital and unparalleled coaching and mentorship to help them commercialize their innovations to the benefit of their bottom lines and the planet.”
Evergreen Climate Innovations’ Challenge program has served as a launching pad for Midwestern cleantech startups since 2011. For the participating eight finalist companies, today’s event was the culmination of a three-month accelerator program which included hands-on work with Evergreen Climate Innovations’ network of expert mentors and advisors like MATH Venture Partners’ Troy Henikoff and Northwestern University’s Craig Wortmann. Past Evergreen Climate Innovations Challenge finalist and current portfolio company CEO, Felipe Gomez del Campo adds, “the support I received as a Evergreen Climate Innovations Challenge finalist, and especially now as an investee, makes me feel like I have a real ally in driving to make FGC Plasma a success. “
Today, Evergreen Climate Innovations announced awards for five new companies who will join the organization’s investment portfolio.
- Aker (Chicago, IL) – $400,000
Aker is a crop monitoring and analytics platform for large farms. Aker enables more efficient use of crop and land resources while reducing negative environmental impact. Aker was awarded the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) award.
- IdleSmart (Kansas City, KS) – $150,000
IdleSmart provides fleet-efficiency and real-time remote management solutions to trucking fleets. They reduce vehicle idle time by half, reducing fuel costs and saving emissions. IdleSmart was awarded the Wells Fargo award ($130,000 ) and the United Airlines award ($20,000).
- Lotic Labs (Chicago, IL) – $100,000
Lotic Labs develops financial products and risk management solutions for natural resource – intensive businesses. The first product set is focused on helping water and wastewater utilities manage financial stresses due to volatile conditions. Lotic Labs was awarded $100,000 from the Illinois DCEO.
- PowerTech Water (Lexington, KY) – $200,000
PowerTech Water has developed disruptive water filtration technology aimed at reducing treatment costs for water-intensive industries. PowerTech Water was awarded $200,000 from Evergreen Climate Innovation’s discretionary fund.
- Sun Buckets (Champaign, IL) $100,000
Sun Buckets are portable, stored solar energy cookstoves that allow users to cook without fire, fuel, or emissions. Sun Buckets was awarded the ComEd Female Founder award ($20,000), the Hanley Family Family Foundation award ($20,000), the Power Clean Cities award ($20,000), and $40,000 from Evergreen Climate Innovations’ discretionary fund.
The cleantech sector and the Midwest region both continue to lag behind their category counterparts. Evergreen Climate Innovations believes that investment in cleantech entrepreneurs is crucial and necessary to reduce the effects of climate change and revitalize the regional economy. Since the first Evergreen Climate Innovations Challenge in 2011, Evergreen Climate Innovations has invested $3.7 million in startups that have gone on to raise an additional $112 million and create over 300 jobs. With today’s awards, the total investment amount is now $4.65 million.
Today’s event brought the best and brightest thinkers and doers in clean energy to Chicago including keynote speakers Henk Rogers, President of Hawaii’s Blue Planet Foundation, Stephen Lacey, Editor-In-Chief Greentech Media, Mary Powell, CEO and President of Green Mountain Power, and Dr. Sarah Richardson, of Microbyre and Berkeley National Labs.
The startup pitches, keynote speakers, and attendee discussion all reflected the importance of entrepreneurship in combating the effects of climate change, revitalizing economic opportunity, and enabling double bottom line returns to enrich people and the planet.
About Evergreen Climate Innovations:
Evergreen Climate Innovations funds and grows early stage clean energy startups in the Midwest through direct investment and venture development. Since 2011, Evergreen Climate Innovations has invested in 34 startups across the Midwest states. Evergreen Climate Innovations Challenge companies have gone on to raise an additional $112 million in follow-on funding and have created more than 300 new jobs. To learn more, visit evergreeninno.org.