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UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Contact: Ian
Grant
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Tel: 407/882-0345
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Email: ian. grant @ ucf. edu
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CleanTech to
SpaceTech eVENT Set to Unveil Exciting New Technologies and Entrepreneurial
Endeavors
Learn
More About Florida’s Newest Technology Entrepreneurship Initiatives
ORLANDO, FL –
May 25, 2012 – 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.
###
About Cleantech
to Spacetech Event: The
Cleantech to Spacetech event is a two-day showcase event featuring MegaWatt
Ventures, I2 Capital Acceleration Program and the Florida Cleantech
Acceleration Network. The event will feature exciting new Cleantech
initiatives, programs, and entrepreneurial endeavors while offering the
potential for networking with cleantech individuals and companies.
Additional information is available at www.cleantech-to-spacetech.com.
About FL-CAN: FL-CAN program links
Florida-based universities, incubation networks, investors and industry
resources together to create a network of Proof of Concept centers to
accelerate the creation and commercialization of innovative clean technology
research into new technology companies or to license into existing firms. FL-CAN is administered via a partnership
between the University of Central Florida, The Technological Research and
Development Authority, and the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.
About MegaWatt
Ventures:
MegaWatt Ventures is an annual clean energy business plan competition that is
sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy in conjunction with Florida’s
universities. The competition has an over-riding mission of encouraging the
commercialization of innovative energy-related technologies from the lab bench
into the marketplace. Students,
entrepreneurs and faculty are all invited to participate in this exciting
program. Selected companies receive seed
funding, mentorship and other resources while building a prototype and creating
a business plan. Each year ten companies
will compete for $100,000 in a technology showcase event.
About Igniting
Innovation Capital Acceleration Network: Florida’s I2 Capital Acceleration Network was
launched in early 2011 to provide promising technology companies in Florida
accelerated access to industry and capital. Since launching the I2 program, over 150
companies have participated, with 34 companies selected to participate in the I2
Showcase. I2 has quickly grown into a
“front door” for growth-based technology companies to identify and access the
rich array of technology entrepreneurship resources, industry partners, and
investors that are located throughout Florida.
Our cornerstone partners are the TRDA Business Innovation Center,
Startup America, and Space Florida.
This article and all content within was
prepared by The University of Central Florida in partnership with the
Technological Research and Development Authority and Florida's Energy Systems
Consortium under award #04-79-06583 from Economic Development Administration,
and U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and
recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the
views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of
Commerce.
