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ICE Finals Video! Video and editing courtesy of John Wilson of Newfangler.
RSI SILICON WINS THE 2007 IGNITE CLEAN ENERGY BUSINESS PRESENTATION COMPETITION
$200,000 in Cash, Products, and Services Divided Among the Winners of the Competition
The judging committee for the Ignite Clean Energy (ICE) Competition announced that RSI Silicon of Westborough, Mass. was selected as the winner of the Ignite Clean Energy Presentation Business Competition which was held yesterday at the Hyatt Regency Boston. The first place team won $25,000 cash, three months worth of public relations services from Bell Pottinger USA, $15,000 in legal services provided by Mintz Levin and a choice of one year of office space from Cummings Properties valued at $25,000 or incubator space at the UMass Dartmouth Applied Technology and Manufacturing Center, valued at $15,000.
The two second place teams:
Fox 2 Technologies of Hampton, N.H. and Bagazo of Cambridge, Mass. each received $7,500 cash, $7,500 in legal services from Foley Hoag, and one year of office space provided by Cummings Properties valued at $17,500. Bagazo, as the student team, also received a $6,000 scholarship for up to three team members for the Advanced Invention 2 Venture to be held by the NCIIA August 1-4.
The two third place teams:
GreenRay of Lincoln and C3Bio Energy of Cambridge, each received $5,000 cash and one year of office space from Cummings Properties valued at $10,000. C3Bio Energy, as a student team, also received a $6,000 scholarship for up to three team members for the Advanced Invention 2 Venture to be held by the NCIIA August 1-4. Other competition sponsors include Corning Incorporated, the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
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Special Guest Speakers Included:
William A. Swope, Vice President, Director, Corporate Affairs Group, INTEL CORPORATION
Intel is focused on reducing its environmental footprint and improving performance. Swope is responsible for leading Intel's efforts in enhancing its position as the world's premier technology brand in business, in part through the design of products consistent with a sustainable environment and a safe and healthful workplace for its employees, contractors, and communities.
Senator Robert O'Leary
Senator Robert O'Leary recently filed legislation entitled "Senate Bill No. 1971" that enables the Commonwealth to utilize powerful tools such as energy efficiency and combined heat and power to lower energy bills and mitigate environmental impacts. This legislation creates an energy planning and procurement process for electricity and natural gas that minimizes total consumer costs and maximizes environmental benefits by requiring companies to practice least cost procurement. This will lead to incresed investments in local energy resources such as energy efficiency and renewables.
Important ICE Program Links
April 5 Semifinal ICE Competition at Olin College
Ten Rooms, One Hundred People
Twenty-nine teams of competitors gave their 15-minute pitches at Thursday's Semifinals held at the beautiful Olin College Campus. This was the ICE Competition's first time holding the Semifinals at Olin and it was an unqualified success!
Forty-one judges were divided among ten panels running simultaneously in separate conference rooms, each equipped with a laptop, projector, and video camera. Each room had a volunteer room monitor, videographer and escort to guide the teams to the appropriate room on time. Olin provided many volunteers, electronics and all the facilities and catering, including the Judges' Dinner that followed the competition. We would like to thank Joanne Kossuth, Olin CIO, for her support and generosity in providing facilities for us, Bennett Chabot, for organizing the student volunteers, as well as the many volunteers (student and otherwise) for their time and effort. We could not have done it without you!
Each team gave their pitch and received 25 minutes of critical feedback from the excellent judging panels over the course of two and a quarter hours. The judges then retired to caucus and determine the ten finalists and two waitlisted teams for the May 1 Finals at the Boston Hyatt Hotel. This task is very difficult as the ICE Competition enjoys an enormous diversity of contestants: companies that are so early stage that their inventions have barely been tested to those with prototypes that will be turned into products within the year. The latest in high tech materials to service models to novel uses of existing technology. Undergraduate student teams through teams of experienced professionals.
We accept - and encourage - all types of teams to apply because all types of companies and universities make up a clean energy cluster. All these teams have now had the benefit of working with two mentors (if they so chose) and getting feedback from experienced investors, attorneys, entrepreneurs, and others who have seen many startups during the course of their careers. Just as important, the contestants now know about half a dozen new, well-connected contacts in the cluster that they might never have met otherwise... and all it cost them was the work to generate their Executive Summaries and Semifinal Presentations.
In the end, of course, the judges had to apply the same criteria to all the teams and, after much debate, review of presentations, the Judging Committee is pleased to announce the Finalists for ICE 2007 (in alphabetical order below). Just because a team did not qualify, of course, does not mean that the business is not viable, so we encourage all entrants who did not qualify for the Finals - or the Semifinals, for that matter - to use the judges' comments and your own progress to continue to build your company and enter ICE 2008.
ICE 2007 Semifinals Results
The Ten Finalists
Bagazo |
Alternative Fuels: Biomass |
|
| Bagazo is a for-benefit organization dedicated to solving the energy needs of the poorest people in the world. Bagazo seeks to facilitate socially-responsible investments in developing countries by creating sustainable businesses that will distribute superior and more environmentally-friendly cooking fuels produced from agricultural waste. | ||
Blue Sky Green Planet |
Service |
|
| Blue Sky Green Planet makes it easy for consumers to address global warming, through our Carbon Free Credit Card, our Green Rewards retail loyalty program, and online sales of carbon offsets, renewable energy and energy efficiency products. Every time consumers use our Carbon Free Credit Card, or shop with merchants in our Green Rewards program, a portion of every sale goes towards carbon offsets. Through our website, customers will learn how to best reduce their own carbon footprints, and invest in products and services to realize their own environmental ambitions. | ||
C3 BioEnergy |
Alternative Fuels: BioPropane |
|
| Through commercially feasible, patent-pending technology, C3 BioEnergy will manufacture renewable propane and a hydrogen by-product from biomass feedstocks. Propane is already a 21-billion-gallon-per-year market in the US and is one of the cleanest burning fuels. C3 will be the first to market with a renewable propane fuel, using the only known economically viable route to bio-propane. | ||
Fiat Lux |
Generation: Microbial Fuel Cells |
|
| To meet the increasing worldwide demand for electricity, we have developed a small, robust and inexpensive electricity generator that harnesses energy from natural fuels. Our patent pending design produces enough energy to power lights, recharge cell phones, and operate telecommunications devices (e.g. radios and wireless routers). Because our technology uses carbon from plant and animal matter, there is no net production of greenhouses gasses. Our technology is very robust, and requires no maintenance for up to five years, and offers consistent performance in a wide variety of environments. | ||
Fox2 Technologies, Inc. |
Efficiency/ Transportation: Fuel Efficiency |
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| Fox2 Technologies is developing new sensor technology for airplane and trucking operators that improves fuel efficiency by more than 5%, improves profitability, and significantly reduces carbon emissions. We project that the potential annual sales revenue for these technologies exceeds $1 Billion. | ||
GreenRay |
Generation: Solar Cell Installation |
|
| GreenRay is developing a revolutionary product that will transform solar electric systems into a broadly accepted household appliance and help reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Our plug-and-play, solar-electric system will dramatically simplify the design and installation of photovoltaic systems and provide lower cost solar electricity. The $16 billion solar industry is poised for exponential growth with historic growth rates of over 40% during the last 5 years. The potential is tremendous given that solar only provides 0.1% of our electricity today and is a clean, renewable resource. | ||
LightFace |
Green Buildings & Systems: Efficient Lighting |
|
| LightFace is a technology firm that will manufacture customizable luminescent panels for high-end architectural lighting applications. These panels will use a new technology called organic light emitting devices, or OLEDs, that allow almost any surface to become light-emitting. As a result, LightFace's products will represent a paradigm shift in how spaces are lit. | ||
RSI Silicon |
Generation: Solar Cell Materials |
|
| RSI Silicon is a new energy materials company that has developed a unique ultra-low cost process for making Solar Grade Silicon. They are seeking $7.5M to build a pilot line and R&D facility, followed by a large Silicon plant to produce up to 15,000 tons per year of Si; with over $350M revenue in Year 5, and $200M Net Profit. This is an ultra-disruptive process which provides Solar grade Silicon at a fraction of the cost of current Siemens process plants, with only 10% of the capital cost. | ||
StarSolar |
Generation: Solar Cell Materials |
|
| StarSolar is a provider of breakthrough technology that can substantially decrease the cost of producing solar cells made from thin layers of crystalline silicon. We will either sell our manufacturing technology directly to manufacturers, along the lines of Applied Materials’ thin-film deposition machines, or lease the technology to partners in pay for use arrangements. | ||
Wakonda Technologies, Inc. |
Generation: Solar Cell Materials |
|
| Wakonda Technologies, Inc. of Fairport, NY produces cost-effective solar photovoltaic (PV) products by combining the highest efficiency solar technology with low cost, roll-to-roll manufacturing processes. These products produce more power per unit area at lower costs than state of the art commercial cells. The flexibility and low weight of Wakonda’s cell technology enables the aesthetic integration of PV into buildings and structures and numerous government applications. | ||
Waitlisted Teams
Bluestem Energy |
Alternative Fuels |
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| By providing On-site Biopower fueled by commercial Waste Vegetable Oil (WVO), Bluestem Energy is developing a better system for disposing of WVO. Bluestem will reinvent WVO disposal with the Bluestem WVO Generator system. Our business will operate WVO Generators at numerous locations which draw on the WVO produced in their local community of restaurants. On-site Biopower will provide supplementary heat and electricity for malls, colleges, and office buildings. Better than biodiesel or rendering, the Bluestem WVO Generator will use proprietary methods to cut our customer’s electricity costs by 15% as they cut emissions, combining smart economics with environmental responsibility. | ||
Earth Rise Solar |
Service |
|
| Earth Rise is a financing service that will allow mass adoption of solar energy. Solar energy is effectively cheaper than existing grid electricity in the long term, but requires an upfront investment of > $10,000. This is prohibitive for most homeowners. Earth Rise converts this upfront investment into a convenient monthly payment or “solar bill”. Most importantly, our customers’ overall monthly cost of electricity will be reduced by 10% – 30% and will be fixed over the long-term, allowing for a hedge against rising electricity prices. | ||
The Thirty Semi-Finalists
- Arugula
- Bagazo
- Blue Sky Green Planet
- Bluestem Energy
- Bodega Algae, Inc.
- C3 BioEnergy
- Citiwind: Rooftop Energy
- Clean Catalyst
- Earth Rise Solar
- Energetica
- EnerStorage
- Fettfuel
- FIAT LUX
- Flaxfuel
- FOG Furnace/AC FOX, Inc.
- Fox2 Technologies, Inc.
- G-Quanta
- GreenRay
- LightFace
- Lightshed
- Ocean Wave Energy Company, Inc.
- PlugNPlay Solar
- Promethean Power
- ReVolt
- RSI Silicon
- SOMS Technologies LLC
- SRT Group, Inc.
- StarSolar
- Surya
- Wakonda Technologies, Inc.
Wait-Listed Teams (alphabetical order)
- Bandgap Engineering
- SMIT (Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology)
- SweetWater Ethanol
Volunteers at the Semifinals
Event Committee
- Chair: Matthew Richards, Dane Partners
- Marty Bauman, Classic Communications
- Sally Berkowitz, Classic Communications
- Ann Chaney, MIT Enterprise Forum
- Trish Fleming, MIT Enterprise Forum
- Cristina Vieira, Boston Search Group
- Chair: Jon Klavens
- Brit Hutchins
- John Jaddou, Veraxia
- Jeff Lissack
May 1 Final ICE 2007 Competition at the Hyatt Hotel Boston
ICE 2007 Prizes
One Grand Prize
For the student or professional team with the best investor pitch:
- $25,000 cash;
- 3 months PR services from Bell Pottinger (value: $40,000);
- $15,000 legal services from Mintz Levin;
- one year Cummings Properties office space (value: $25,000) or incubator space and support at the Applied Technology and Manufacturing Center; and
- scholarship for up to three team members for the Advanced Invention 2 Venture to be held by the NCIIA August 1 -4 (value: $6,000)
Two Second Prizes - Student and Professional Teams
Each second-place team will receive the following:
- $7,500 cash;
- $7,500 legal services from Foley Hoag;
- one year Cummings Properties office space (value: $17,500); and
- student team only: scholarship for up to three team members for the Advanced Invention 2 Venture to be held by the NCIIA August 1 -4 (value: $6,000)
Two Third Prizes - Student and Professional Teams
Each third-place team will receive the following:
- $5,000 cash;
- one year Cummings Properties office space (value: $10,000); and
- student team only: scholarship for up to three team members for the Advanced Invention 2 Venture to be held by the NCIIA August 1 -4 (value: $6,000)
Finals Information
The Finals for ICE 2007 will be held on Tuesday, May 1, from 2:00 - 7:00PM (2:00 - 2:30 registration 2:30 - 7:00PM Program) at the Hyatt Regency Boston. The program will include ten-minute pitches by the ten finalists, exhibits featuring the finalists and many of the semifinalists, and other highlights. Finalists and other exhibitors must arrive by 1:00 PM for orientation and exhibit setup. Please check back for additional information.
Agenda
2:00 - 2:30 Registration & Networking
2:30 - 7:00 Program
Directions
http://regencyboston.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/services/maps/index.jsp
Resources for Competitors
The key to success at the Finals is to frame your great technology or service in terms that appeal to potential investors in the ten minutes you have available. Take advantage of the many resources listed in the Contestant Kit. In addition, here are four files that take you through all the critical components of an Investor Pitch:
- the original ICE 2005 Gold Standard for investor pitches,
- the MITEF's Hallmarks of a Good Investor Pitch, and
- the MTTC's Investor Pitch Template.
Do not forget to take advantage of your best resource: your mentors! Many of you have not contacted your mentors at this stage - this is a big mistake. Your mentors are there to help. They are experienced and capable. They also know you are not likely to have a complete story about your business. Talk to them sooner rather than later so you have time to incorporate their suggestions prior to the semifinals. They have volunteered to spend at least an hour a week with you up until then, so do not delay!
The Accelerate Event
Most of our semifinalists participated in the invitation-only Accelerate Event for our Leading, Gold and Silver Sponsors held at the MIT Museum on Thursday, March 29, as did representatives from all sponsors at these levels. Networking was the theme of the evening, which was achieved by the semifinalists providing a one-minute pitch of their concepts to the crowd and then providing plenty of food and drink during the breaks.
Most of the semifinalists who pitched their companies also attended the MIT Enterprise Forum "Pitch and Polish" event earlier that day, in which the teams gave a 3-minute pitch to a panel of experts who then gave feedback. The improvement resulting from that feedback was apparent from the many excellent one-minute pitches given that evening!
The Accelerate Event and Pitch and Polish are new events for the ICE Competition this year. As usual, many people helped to make the event a success, but special thanks to the main organizers, Cristina Vieira and Ann Chaney.
Record Entries for ICE 2007
The ICE 2007 Steering Committee is proud to announce that we have received 61 entries into this year's Competition. This represents a 50% increase in entries over last year. The diversity of ideas is - as usual - amazing! Scroll down for a listing of the companies by technology category.
Questions? Go to the message boards or email us at sally@classic-communications.com.
All ICE 2007 Teams
Biofuels
- Bluestem Energy
- Bodega Algae, Inc.
- C3 BioEnergy
- Caribbean Ethanol, Inc.
- Fettfuel
- FOG Furnace / AC FOX, Inc.
- Gorilla Energy LLC
- Mighty Algae Biofuels
- Northeastern Biofuel Solutions
- SweetWater Ethanol
Alternative Fuels: Hydrogen & Other
- SRT Group, Inc.
- SulfurEaters
- Cerion Energy, Inc.
Enabling Technologies
- EarthGuard, LLC
- RSI Silicon
Energy Efficiency
- Blue Sky Green Planet
- Clean Catalyst
- Energy Conservation Computing
- Energy Egghead
- intelligreen
- Ohmji, Inc.
- Secure Energy
- U-tility
- Wormser Development Company
Energy Storage
- EnerStorage
- ReVolt
Green Buildings & Systems
- Helios Climate Systems
- Labrador Services
- LightFace
Renewable Energy: Biomass
- Arugula
- Bagazo
- Flaxfuel
- Texas Clean Fuels
Renewable Energy: Hybrid Systems
- 24-7PowerAfrica
- Dual-Eff Inc.
- Sustainably Minded Interactive Technology (SMIT)
Renewable Energy: Hydropower
- Millponds
- Ocean Wave Energy Company, Inc.
- Riv-Art Inc.
Renewable Energy: Other
- Energetica
- FIAT LUX
Renewable Energy: Solar (PV and Thermal)
- API Services Inc, Organic Solar Cell Technology
- Bandgap Engineering
- Earth Rise Solar
- GreenRay
- PaceControls/Gardner
- PlugNPlay Solar
- Promethean Power
- StarSolar
- Strategic Energy Systems
- Wakonda Technologies, Inc.
- Surya
- Lightshed
Renewable Energy: Wind
- Alpha Energy
- Citiwind: Rooftop Energy
- North Shore Solar & Windpower
- Oceanwind Technology, LLC
Transportation
- Fox2 Technologies, Inc
- SOMS Technologies LLC
- Tryk Innovations
About Qualification for the Semifinal
Qualifying teams will have entered an Executive Summary that not only described a viable business concept based on clean energy but presented it as a compelling investment opportunity. Those that do not qualify may well have a viable business but did not present it in a way that communicated it well enough. All entrants will receive feedback on their Executive Summaries. We encourage those who do not qualify this year to integrate the judges' comments into their executive summary and enter again next year.
For more information on the qualification process, please see the Contestant Kit.
Calendar
| March 19 | Notification of Qualification for Semifinal |
| April 4 | Semi-Final PowerPoint Presentation due by 9 AM |
| April 5 | Semifinal at Olin College |
| April 12 | Notification of Qualification for Finals |
| April 30 | Final PowerPoint Presentation due by 9 AM |
| May 1 | ICE 2007 Finals |
More Links
Technology & IP Resources and Opportunities
