ICE 2006
ICE 2006 Archives
ICE 2006 Testimonials and Blogs
ICE 2006 in the News and on the Web
ICE 2006 Winners
First Place: Stellaris Corporation
$15,000 cash, plus $25,000 in office/incubator space, and $7,500 in legal services for a total prize of $47,500.
Stellaris Corporation''s solar technology can reduce traditional solar module manufacturing cost at least 40% by (1) eliminating two-thirds of the costly photovoltaic material and (2) reducing optical inefficiencies. Stellaris'' technology uses passive concentrating optics (eliminating the need for tracking mechanisms and direct sunlight) and greatly improves upon the current "packaging" design. This technology also allows transparent product opportunities such as windows and skylights, which are installed via conventional construction techniques.
Team: Jim Paull - President/co-founder; Lee Johnson - COO/co-founder; Tom Ward - VP, Sales and Marketing
Second Place
Two 2nd place teams each took home $5,000 cash awards, plus $25,000 in office/incubator space, and $5,000 in legal services totaling $35,000 to each team.
- Second place (professional) prize went to Solasta (The Eagle Axis), a Boston College faculty team developing ultra high efficiency solar cells using nanoscale elements. Team includes: Kris Kempa, Mike Naughton, Zhifeng Ren, and Jakub Rybczynski. The team Mentor was Chris Hobson, SVP Operations, eCredit, and assistance was provided by Elaine White, Technology Licensing Director, Boston College.
- Feed Resource Recovery won the 2nd place (student) prize for their renewable energy company that uses food and other organic wastes to produce biomethane and a highly effective organic fertilizer. Feed Resource Recovery is a Babson College student team with Shane Eten and John Gingrich and advised by Mentor Jeff Behrens, former CEO, Telluride Group.
Third Place
The two 3rd place winners won $2,500 cash awards, plus $12,500 in office/incubator space for a total prize worth $15,000 to each team.
- NatEl won 3rd place (professional), converting underutilized low-head dams for hydropower generation with its Linear HydroEngine TM technology, making existing small dams cost-effective power sources. NatEl includes Abe Schneider, Libby Wayman, and Chris Rivest. Lucinda Seigel, Communications Solutions and attorney Jeff Seul mentored the team.
- Synergetic Power Systems, an MIT-student team, took home 3rd prize (student) for their parabolic concentrating solar collector systems business. The Team includes: Amy Mueller, Matthew Orosz, Sorin Grama, Ignacio Aquirre, Perry Hung, Elizabeth Wayman and Mentor Mark Wolf.
ICE 2006 Testimonials and Blogs
Contestant Testimonials and Blogs
Sorin Grama, Synergetic Power Systems
SUNDAY, MAY 07, 2006
Ignite Clean Energy
I''ve spent most of the weekend working on our presentation for Ignite Clean Energy business plan competition. The final competition is on Tuesday night. We''re competing with nine other teams for a grand prize of... who knows how much. It doesn''t really matter. I''ve already learned so much through this process that even if we don''t win anything on Tuesday, we''ll all be better off after going through this entire process. I have to say, we''ve developed a nice little business plan (considering that it all started with a few half-baked ideas just 3 months ago). Our team has put on a tremendous effort including in-depth market research, meetings with potential business partners, marathon brainstorming sessions, financial analysis, practice pitches, etc. Along the way we''ve done a lot of organizational soul searching and got to know each other pretty well. If we win anything, we may even incorporate and attempt to start a new business. If we don''t win anything, well..., the fond memories will remain. I found this picture of our team on the Ignite web site.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2006
And the Winners Are...
... third place: Synergetic Power Systems!
Not bad considering we put all this together in just 3 months. I''m psyched! The grand prize winner was a company called Stellaris that has patents, customers and is well on its way to being a real start-up (we''re not even incorporated, but that may change now). Winning a prize in this competition is a great validation for us: we have something here and we should continue to develop our technology.
However, this was not the biggest news that we received last night. We now have a customer for our product. A customer that has big, deep pockets and offices in every country of the world: it''s called the World Bank. Yup, we received a $130K grant from the World Bank to develop this technology and make it available to emerging marktes around the world, starting in South Africa. The World Bank grant was not connected at all with the Ignite Clean Energy competition (in fact, the application for this grant was done before I even joined the team), but it should help us tremendously with our US-based business plan. Here''s a huge pot of money (with some strings attached) which will help us develop prototypes and validate the concept. And better yet, we don''t have to sell our souls to the (VC) devil...
POSTED BY SORINESCU AT 3:11 PM
Volunteer Testimonials and Blogs
MIT Entrepreneurs Blog
Saturday, March 18, 2006
MITEF : Ignite Clean Energy Winners
I''ve been selected as one of the Mentors for the Ignite Clean Energy Business Plan Competition. The teams range from water distillation, solar cells, biofuels, to hydropower and hydrogen production.
MITEF : Ignite Clean Energy Winners: "To spur entrepreneurial activities, the Energy SIG of the MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge and its event sponsors the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, The University of Massachusetts/Lowell''s Commercial Venture Development, Cummings Properties, Foley Hoag, Maniv Energy Capital, Rich May Law, Mintz Levin and Constellation NewEnergy are offering a $125K business presentation competition. The three goals of the competition are to:
- Help new business leaders create a compelling story for raising funds from government, angel, and venture capital investors.
- Teach entrepreneurs superior presentation skills, and
- Encourage networking among participants and industry leaders,"
ICE 2006 in the News
News Reports
Trash''s treasure: Organic waste viable as fuel, Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology - November 3, 2006
SOLAR, HYDRO AND WASTE PROCESSING START-UPS WIN AWARDS, inBusiness, The Magazine for Sustainable Enterprises and Communities, July-August, 2006
Stellaris Corp. wins MIT clean energy competition, Boston Business Journal, May 12, 2006
Clean Energy Competition, Alternative Energy News: May 11th - 20th, 2006
Social-impact teams vie with biz ventures in MIT $100K, Boston Business Journal - May 5, 2006
Ten Start-Ups Vie for $125K Clean Tech Energy Prizes, Clean Edge News, April 21, 2006
MIT''s Ignite Clean Energy finalists announcedMass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology - April 21, 2006
Ten Start-ups Vie for Clean Tech Energy Prizes, RenewableEnergyAccess.com, April 20, 2006
$125,000 Ignite Clean Energy Business Presentation Competition under Way; Invention To Venture Workshop to Train Entrepreneurs February 24, Business Wire, Feb 20, 2006
Learn about the Ignite Clean Energy competition on Feb. 10, Harvard Extension School, February 10, 2006
MIT''s Clean Energy Competition Links Young Green-Tech Entrepreneurs With Investors, Green-Power Zone Special Report, February, 2006
MIT Kicks Off Clean Energy Competition, Renewable Energy Access, December 19, 2005
Pipe Dream: Harvard Team Wins First Prize in $125,000 MIT Clean Energy Business Plan Competition, The HarBus Online, May 9, 2005
Grad student entrepreneurs win green business prize, Harvard University Gazette, May 5, 2005
Press Releases
Competition ''ignites'' clean-energy startups, MIT Press Release, May 17, 2006
MBA Biz Takes Second Place In 2006 Ignite Clean Energy Business Presentation Competition, Babson College Press Release, May 12, 2006
Eric Krathwohl Leads Rich May Sponsorship of MITÕs Ignite Clean Energy Competition. Rich May Law Press Release, May 12, 2006
Stellaris Wins $125,000 MIT Ignite Clean Energy Competition, Stellaris Press Release, May 11, 2006
Solar, Hydro, and Waste Processing Start-Ups Win $125,000 Ignite Clean Energy Competition Hosted by the MIT Enterprise Forum Of Cambridge, Corporate Social Responsibility Press Release, May 11, 2006
WPI Students Reach Finals in $125,000 ''Ignite Clean Energy'' Competition, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Press Release, May 5, 2006
GreenFuel President and CEO to Help Kick Off Clean Energy Business Competition, GreenFuel Press Release, February 16, 2006
The Ignite Clean Energy Competition, University of Massachusetts/Lowell
ICE 2006 Volunteers
Steering Committee:
- Jim Walker, Chair, MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge Energy SIG, and Director, Global Utilities Industry Strategy and Development for Sun Microsystems, Inc.
- Linda Plano, Chair, Ignite Clean Energy Competition, Chair, University Team Outreach, and Associate Director at the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center (MTTC).
- Dan Goldman, Chair, Sponsorship, and Founder/CFO, New Energy Capital Corp.
- Jonathan Klavens, Chair, Judging, and Counsel, Bernstein, Cushner & Kimmell, P.C.
- David S. Miller, Chair, Mentoring, and MIT Graduate Ph.D. student, entrepreneur, and angel investor.
- Eric J. Krathwohl, Chair, Professional Team Outreach, and Managing Director, Rich May, PC.
- Jeffrey M. Bentley, Chair, Team-Building Events; and CEO of CellTech Power LLC.
- Mark A. Barnett, Chair, Competition Semifinals, and Attorney, Foley Hoag.
- John Jaddou, Competition Finals, and Managing Partner, Veraxia Management Advisors.
MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge
- Trish Fleming, Director.
- Ann Chaney, Program Manager.
Finals Judges:
- Cary Bullock, President and CEO, GreenFuel Technologies Corporation
- Mark Farber, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Evergreen Solar Inc.
- Pamela Winer Goldberg, Director, Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, Tufts University
- Daniel P. Goldman, Chief Financial Officer, New Energy Capital Corp.
- Ken Mabbs, Senior Managing Director, FA Technology Ventures
- Chuck McDermott, General Partner, RockPort Capital Partners
- Peter Rothstein, President, ALLEGRO Strategy
- Deb Shufrin, Deputy Director and Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Department of Business and Technology
Semifinals Judges:
- Dr. Brian Abraham, CEO, Bluefin Robotics, Vice President, Battelle Memorial Institute
- Michelle Addington, P.E., Associate Professor of Architecture, Harvard University
- Chris Baldwin, General Partner, Charles River Ventures
- Richard Baxter, Senior Technology Analyst, Ardour Capital Investments
- Walter Beinecke, General Partner, Brook Venture Partners
- Gerry Bingham, Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources
- Brad Bradshaw, President and Founder, Velerity and President, Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition, Inc.
- Dwayne Breger, Ph.D., Manager, Renewable Energy & Climate Change, Mass. Div. of Energy Resources
- Cary Bullock, President and CEO, GreenFuel Technologies Corporation
- Michael Burgmaier, Principal, Community Ventures Fund
- Thomas R. Burton, III, Member and Chair, Energy and Clean Technology Practice, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
- Robin Chase, Founder and CEO, Meadow Networks and Founder and Former CEO, ZipCar
- Andrew Chen, Managing Director, Boston Community Venture Fund
- Robert J. Crowley, President, Massachusetts Technology Development Corporation
- Eric Emmons, Principal, Massachusetts Green Energy Fund
- Mark Farber, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Evergreen Solar Inc.
- Karina Funk, Emerging Technologies Mgr, Renewable Energy Trust, Mass. Technology Collaborative
- Phil Giudice, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, EnerNOC, Inc.
- Daniel P. Goldman, Chief Financial Officer, New Energy Capital Corp.
- Michael J. Granoff, Maniv Energy Capital
- John Harper, Principal, Birch Tree Capital, LLC
- Karl Jessen, Economic Development Officer, Renewable Energy Trust, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
- Dave Kopans, Director, Fat Spaniel Technologies, Inc.
- Deishin Lee, Assistant Professor, Harvard Business School
- Ken Mabbs, Senior Managing Director, FA Technology Ventures
- Michael B. Manning, Ph.D., Director of Technology Transfer, Worcestor Polytechnic Institute
- Chuck McDermott, General Partner, RockPort Capital Partners
- David S. Miller, RK Ventures and MIT Laboratory for Energy and the Environment
- John Moskal, Energy Team, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency New England
- Henry W. Newman, Co-founder, Solstice Capital
- Ann Partlow, General Partner, Earthrise Capital
- Dan Primack, Editor-at-Large, PE Week, a Thomson Financial publication
- John G. Ravis, Vice President, TD Banknorth Project Finance
- Peter Rothstein, President, ALLEGRO Strategy
- Vasilios Roussos, Village Ventures
- Paul Savage, CEO, Nextek Power Systems, Inc.
- Peter Shannon, Associate, Atlas Ventures
- Robert Shaw, Jr., President, Aretê Corporation
- Deb Shufrin, Deputy Director and Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Department of Business and Technology
- Eric S. Silverman
- Joel L. Singer, Managing Partner, Boston Digital Ventures
- R. Daniel Wadhwani, Lecturer, Entrepreneurial Management Unit, Harvard Business School
Media Placements
Major Media Placements:
- Business Wire
- BusinessLeader.com – 3 stories
- BusinessMVP.com – 3 stories
- Charlotte Observer.com
- Clean Edge – 2 stories
- CSR Wire
- DallasNews.com (Dallas Morning News) – 3 stories
- Energy & Sustainable Development magazine (Paris)
- Finance Canada.com
- FMLink
- Forbes.com – 3 stories
- Greater Richmond Technology Council
- Lycos
- MarketWatch.com
- MassHighTech Journal –Calendar Listings
- MassHighTech Journal – April 21, May 12
- Morningstar.com
- New England Cable News feature
- PetroAssist.com
- Red Herring – 3/21/06
- Red Herring – 5/1/506
- Renewable Energy Access – 12/19/05; 5/16/06
- SecuritySales.com
- SocialFunds.com – 5/11/06; 1/31/06
- The Star Ledger (nj.com)
- WBZ Radio interview (The Jordan Rich Show)
- World Energy Source.com
- WorldEnergy.com
Local/Trade/Smaller Media Placement
- Allston Brighton Tab
- Alternative Energy News
- Arbrust Aviation Group
- Architects Newspaper
- Arlington Advocate
- Babson College Newsroom – 2 stories
- Brookline Tab
- Cambridge Chronicle
- CapeCodOnLine.com – 3 stories
- Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Network News
- DIGG.com
- Energy Industry Today
- Energy Vortex
- Environmental News Bits
- FinanceNachrichten.de
- Five Colleges Calendar
- FML exchange
- GreenFuel Technology Corp website
- GreenList (DC Energy Office)
- GreenPowerZone
- Harvard Extension School
- HeyLetsGo.com
- Hiploid Inc
- ITTown.com
- Lowell Sun
- MIT news
- MITcnc.org
- Montana Associated Technology Roundtable
- Museum of Science podcast
- New England Real Estate Journal
- News.com
- Northeast Combined Power & Heat
- NREL.gov – National Center for Photovoltaics
- Optical Keyhole.com
- RedOrbit
- Regional Technology Corporation Info Center
- Renewable Energy Trust
- Rich May website
- SearchTheWeb.com
- SecuritySales & Integration
- Solardrome
- Stellaris website
- Suffolk University News
- The Soy Daily
- TMCNet News
- Treehugger
- Tufts University – Office for Technology Licensing website
- UMass Amherst –2
- UMass Lowell- 2
- US Dept. of Energy – Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy News
- Water Technology (Latham, NY)
- William James Foundation
- Winds of Change.net (EERE.energy.gov)
- WMSL-UK.com
- WPI News 3/29/06; 5/5/06
- Yahoo Finance
