"Renewable Energy Jobs - Clean Tech Open Calls for Entrepreneurs to Create 100,000 Green-Collar Jobs"

"CLEAN TECH OPEN CALLS FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO CREATE 100,000 GREEN-COLLAR JOBSThe Clean Tech Open, the innovation catalyst that helps great ideas become
viable clean tech businesses, today challenged entrepreneurs, venture
capitalists, government agencies, universities, and non-government
organizations (NGOs) to participate in the Clean Tech Open's 100K Jobs
Challenge -- to create 100,000 clean tech jobs in Americaover the next five
years.""Entrepreneurs are the key to re-building the nation's economy; their
optimism and innovation is exactly what the country needs right now,"" said
Michael Santullo, co-founder of the Clean Tech Open. ""Many participants in
the Clean Tech Open are first-time entrepreneurs -- they have a great idea,
but could really use some assistance. This is where the Clean Tech Open
steps in: we connect entrepreneurs with the expertise, talent, and funding
to create a successful, sustainable business.""The ambitious 100K Jobs Challenge is part of an aggressive expansion for
Clean Tech Open, the leading clean tech business competition that has
already helped more than 120 entrepreneurs launch companies -- and
subsequently raise over $125 million in external funding -- since its
inception in 2006.This year, in addition to the original competition held in California, the
Clean Tech Open is expanding to two new regions: the Rocky Mountain region,
including Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming; and the Pacific
Northwest, including Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Entrepreneurs will
compete for a total of more than $1 million in prizes.""We are excited to bring Clean Tech Open to Colorado and the region,"" said
Richard Franklin, co-chair of the Clean Tech Open, Rocky Mountain chapter,
based in Denver. ""This is the hub of the New Energy Economy and this
competition will help accelerate the creation of green collar jobs and a
sustainable regional economy.""""The Pacific Northwest is already a major source of clean technology
innovation, whether in fuel cell technology, synthetic forecasting,
advanced biofuels and biomass, ocean energyand energy efficiency,"" said
John Pierce, co-chair of the Clean Tech Open Pacific Northwest chapter,
based in Seattle, and Member, Renewable Energy and CleanTech Practice at
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. ""This event will sharpen the focus of our
region's venture capitalists, academic institutions and laboratories on the
economic opportunities clean technology offers.""To help expand its reach, the Clean Tech Open is partnering with the Ewing
Marion Kauffman Foundation, the largest U.S. foundation that focuses on
advancing entrepreneurship and innovation.""We will work with this initiative to help it connect with the
organizations, entrepreneurs and innovators interested in advancing green
technologies,"" said Christine Gulbranson, a senior fellow at the Kauffman
Foundation. ""We fully support this vision because whenever you connect
entrepreneurs with a solid network of support, you will see companies
emerge. And new companies translate to new jobs.""""The Clean Tech Open works,"" said Zach Gentry, CEO, Adura Technologies.
""Back in 2006, our clean tech vision needed support, connections and seed
funding to grow. Today, we have 20 employees and have raised more than $5
million in capital. We're proof that the Clean Tech Open's support and
education of entrepreneurs is the right strategy for growing our economy --
locally and nationally.""The Clean Tech Open is made possible by the generous support provided by
National Expansion Sponsor, U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Platinum Sponsor, PG&E; Gold Sponsors The
Cleantech Circle, Google, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas and
Electric, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati; Silver Sponsors Accretive
Solutions and RoseRyan; and Program Sponsors California Clean Energy Fund,
Ernst and Young, and Korn/Ferry International.Competition detailsEarly stage s"