OPEN 2019

Register now for OPEN 2019! Our 23rd annual conference will be held in Washington D.C., on March 28-30, 2019.

If you’re an entrepreneurship educator or student, or from the wider world of innovation and entrepreneurship, you’ve come to the right place! The VentureWell OPEN conference gathers together representatives from across the innovation and entrepreneurship spectrum to share stories, start new collaborations, and learn emerging best practices in the rapidly evolving field of technology entrepreneurship education. Register now!

from the i&e community

The Environmental Media Association Innovator Challenge

The Environmental Media Association (EMA) Future Innovator of the Year Challenge will return to the annual EMA IMPACT Summit, a two-day sustainable business Summit in Los Angeles focused on the potential of a green economy. Each contestant must submit their business and marketing plans, a short video pitch of their concept or company, any links to press coverage, and a short essay explaining why they deserve to win. Six finalists will be flown to Los Angeles for the EMA IMPACT Summit to pitch their world-changing concepts and compete for the EMA Future Innovator of the Year Grant: a$50,000 prize that includes ongoing mentorship by our EMA Advisory Board. The deadline to apply is March 22. 

Urban-X Cohort 6

The URBAN-X accelerator program provides 20 immersive weeks of customer development, product development, network-building and expert guidance for startups – all in preparation for fundraising. The accelerator is unique in that our mentors are experts in urban-tech challenges and deeply understand regulated industries and government procurement– to help equip startups facing the unique challenges of working with and in cities. The deadline to apply for the upcoming Cohort 06 is April 1, with the program beginning on June 3.

Halcyon Incubator Fall 2019 Fellowship

The Halcyon Incubator provides promising early-stage social entrepreneurs with rent-free housing, a $10,000 stipend, pro bono legal and consulting services, and access to our diverse network of advisors, mentors, investors, and partners. Fellows receive these benefits and more, while Halcyon takes no equity in their ventures. Applications for the Fall 2019 Fellowship program are open until April 4, 2019. 

The Techstars Sustainability Accelerator

The Techstars Sustainability Accelerator, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, will ensure that we innovate to make the world a better place to live. Techstars and The Nature Conservancy are seeking for-profit entrepreneurs with commercially viable technologies that can rapidly scale to help sustainably provide food and water and address global issues like climate change.  The deadline to apply is April 7.

76West Clean Energy Competition

Now in its fourth year, the 76West Clean Energy Competition offers early-stage clean energy startups support, mentorship, and funding to grow their companies. Six finalists will be awarded $2.5 million in prize money: one grand prize of $1 million, one $500,000 prize, and four $250,000 awards. Along with a cash prize, competition organizers will also seek to provide additional specialized support based on the winners’ business goals. The deadline to apply is April 15. Start your application or sign up for a virtual information session to learn more.

Greentown Labs InNOVAte 2019

Greentown Labs is now accepting applications for the InNOVAte 2019 Challenge. The InNOVAte program is designed for entrepreneurs and innovators with innovative ideas to disrupt the built environment value chain, who have reached the prototype stage.This year’s challenge is being held in partnership with CertainTeed,  Saint-Gobain’s leading building and construction brand in North America, along with Saint-Gobain NOVA, the external ventures arm of one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions. Awardees may be eligible for dozens of awards and benefits, including $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding; desk space at the Greentown Labs Global Center for Cleantech Innovation; acceptance into Greentown Launch, a 6-month acceleration program for startups at Greentown Labs; access to select Saint-Gobain testing capabilities, technical facilities and expertise; and possible partnership or investment from Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed by end of program. Applications are due by April 18.