Give energy to your idea! ClimateLaunchpad 2016

ClimateLaunchpad 2016 is now open for applications until the 3rd of June for those with a green business idea. Students, start-ups and entrepreneurs are all invited to submit their cleantech ideas and enter in this opportunity for European and global success. This year’s competition in Hungary is organized by Pannon Pro Innovation Ltd. (PPIS) and DBH SeedStar start-up incubators with the support of the European Climate-KIC knowledge and innovation community.

ClimateLaunchpad 2016 start-up program, Europe’s largest cleantech business ideas competition will be held for the fourth time in Hungary this year. Climate-KIC is one of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) created in 2010 by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

The competition is now open for entries from 30 countries for candidates who:

• have not yet started a business or started it less than one year ago,
• have no substantial revenue, have attracted no more than €200,000 in investment and
• have yet to sell products, solutions or prototypes on commercial terms.

All entries are judged on their impact on climate change, their growth potential and on the skills and enthusiasm of the team behind them.

ClimateLaunchpad 2016 kicks off with a two-day business boot camp and is followed by a series of focused coaching sessions to prepare the participants for the national finals where they will pitch their business plan to a professional jury in Budapest, Hungary. The program is orchestrated by Pannon Pro Innovations Ltd. (PPIS) and DBH SeedStar start-up incubators.

“The successes of recent years inspire us to continue and raise our business incubator, and the Hungarian chapter of Europe’s largest cleantech idea competition, to the next level. To do so, we were looking for a strategic partner who can contribute to the realization of such ambitious plans both professionally and with their international background. This is why we joined forces with DBH SeedStar, thus the participants of ClimateLaunchpad 2016 will have more opportunities to enter the global market” – Zoltán Kovács, Entrepreneurship Manager from PPIS introduced the background of cooperation. 

“DBH SeedStar business incubator is a member of Dutch-Hungarian DBH Group with twenty two years of international investment experience. We assist the development of innovative companies with professional services and bring international breakout opportunity” – presented Sándor Erdei, PhD, CEO of DBH Group.

“We have a global community of experts and investors who can help startups to grow fast and find international success quickly. Our company has major presence and widespread activities in the Netherlands, Great Britain, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania as well as having an extensive business portfolio from the United States through Western Europe to the Middle East (Turkey, UAE) and Far East (Malaysia)”- Sándor Erdei, PhD showcased DBH Group.

Sándor Varga-Tarr, Business Unit Director of DBH SeedStar has said that the joint acceleration program is based on education, innovation and development of entrepreneurial skills hence offers practical solutions that can be applied quickly to the immediate challenges posed by climate change. “Our mission is to help Hungarian startups successfully pass the early stages, the development phase, and enhance their chance of entering and staying in the market after the business incubation process ends. This is why we are delighted to become a strategic partner of PPIS so we can help more cleantech-focused start-ups.” – Sándor Varga-Tarr summarized the goals of cooperation.

“Since the program is international fluent English is a must. In addition, the assessment of idea is based on five criteria, these are; the innovation and international market potential, the job-creation opportunities, the team’s strength and preparedness, as well as the potential reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, also known as climate impact. The incoming ideas are judged by a professional jury that involves PPIS and DBH SeedStar and well known players from the Hungarian start-up ecosystem” – Zoltán Kovács presented the details of the program.

The three finalists in Hungary will enter the European Grande Finale in Tallinn, Estonia, where the European Top-10 will get direct access into Climate-KIC Accelerator without having to pitch to a review board. The overall winner of the European Final receives €10,000, the runner up gets €5,000 and the idea that comes in third wins € 2,500.

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