Event: Cleantech to Spacetech
Florida Cleantech Acceleration Network (FL-CAN), Igniting Innovation (I2) Capital Acceleration Network, and MegaWatt Ventures proudly present Cleantech to Spacetech: Accelerating Florida Entrepreneurship, a two-day special event designed to encourage partnerships between entrepreneurs, investors, manufacturing partners, industry veterans, and students. Participants will be introduced to the latest cleantech initiatives, programs and entrepreneurial endeavors, and $200,000 in grant money will be awarded to promising startup entrepreneurs.
“This is the first multi-showcase event of its kind in the state of Florida,” explains Thomas O’Neal, associate vice president for research and commercialization at UCF, and the principal investigator on the FL-CAN project. “Clean technologies, Life Sciences, and Space related technologies are very important sectors to Florida’s economic future. We feel it is imperative to not only unveil what new initiatives are on the horizon, but offer participants an opportunity to connect with one another and explore partnership opportunities that can create opportunities for the cleantech industry as a whole.”
Cleantech to Spacetech will take place September 20-21 at The Florida Hotel in Orlando. Early bird tickets may be purchased for only $40 by August 31st by visiting www.cleantechtospacetech.com/registration. Space is limited. “This is a ‘must-attend’ event for anyone who has an interest in the future of clean technologies and technology entrepreneurship in Florida,” says O’Neal.
The FL-CAN Showcase / exhibit hall will be open for the 2 days of the event. Exhibits will include exciting displays from cleantech startup companies, intellectual property and cleantech inventions, as well as the finalists and winners of the I2 Capital Acceleration Showcase and the MegaWatt Ventures competitions.
The I2 Capital Acceleration Showcase will feature business presentations from 10 growth-oriented and venture-ready technology companies competing for a $100,000 prize sponsored by Space Florida. Other I2 participants will display their business ventures in the Exhibit Hall. Applications must be submitted online at www.i2florida.com/how-to-apply by June 1, 2012.
In addition, MegaWatt Ventures will be awarding an additional $100K grant to one of ten finalists already selected to present a prototype and business plan to judges comprised of venture capitalists, industry veterans, and technical experts. These finalist companies will receive seed funding and mentorship in the six months leading up to the Cleantech to Spacetech showcase.
Several levels of sponsorships are available for companies and organizations, interested in supporting the Showcase. For more information on sponsorships, email Fran Korosec at Fran.Korosec@ucf.edu. The Florida High Tech Corridor Council is leading the way as a Platinum sponsor.
For more information about the Cleantech to Spacetech conference, or to register, please visit www.cleantech-to-spacetech.com.