Brinks Hofer Sponsoring Innovation Competition At Midwest Clean Tech 2011

Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the nation's largest intellectual property law firms with an office in Ann Arbor, is joining with the Global Midwest Alliance and the Midwest Research University Network to announce the Midwest Clean Tech 2011 Brinks Innovation Competition.

The competition is held in conjunction with Midwest Clean Tech 2011, a one-day program to be held at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago on Sept. 14 that features Midwest excellence in clean technology innovation, products and services.

Now in its third year, the Brinks Innovation Competition was created to help emerging and venture ready clean tech companies gain visibility and make connections. Among the finalists recognized in the 2010 contest was Ann Arbor-based Fusion Coolant Systems.

The Brinks Innovation competition will provide a showcase for developers of new technologies that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges. 

The companies featured in this competition must develop products and services that:

* Promote the productive and responsible use of natural resources;
* Reduce negative ecological impact; and
* Provide superior performance at lower costs.

Competition entries may include, but are not limited to, the areas of renewable and alternative energy, infrastructure and community, and green building science. Lawrence Almeda, a shareholder in the Ann Arbor office of Brinks and Chair of the firm's nanotech practice, serves as co-chair of the Brinks Innovation Competition and urges Michigan-based entrepreneurs to enter.

"Clean tech is presenting new environmental and economic opportunities in Michigan," Almeda said. "The Brinks Innovation Competition gives entrepreneurs in Michigan and the Midwest a forum to share their ingenuity and business model with an influential audience of decision makers who can help companies in the clean tech space take their business to the next level."

Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts representing regional universities, venture capitalists and clean tech business executives. All finalists will receive recognition through conference print materials and the event website, and will be eligible to attend the Clean Tech 2011 conference free of charge. Additional finalists' representatives may attend at a reduced registration rate of $100.

The top five competition finalists will be invited to present their technology at the Midwest Clean Tech 2011 conference as a speaker before an international audience of early stage investors, researchers, entrepreneurs, clean tech-focused venture capitalists and financiers, and corporate R&D and business development executives. All other entrants will have the opportunity to display information about their technology in exhibitor space at the conference venue.

Applicants must be focused in the clean tech space as described above.
Applicants must also have a sound business plan, and applicants ideally will have completed an initial or angel round of funding. Companies presenting on the agenda at Midwest Clean Tech 2011 are not eligible to participate and sponsors of Midwest Clean Tech 2011 are not eligible to participate.
 
To apply, please prepare a 50-word (maximum) company profile and complete the competition application, which can be found with the event details at:   http://www.brinkshofer.com/news_events/2866-midwest-clean-tech-2011-brinks-innovation-competition.  Applications must be received no later than June 28.

The Executive Summary must be in Word or pdf format and must be organized under the following headings:  Company Name, Company Profile, Product/Technology, Market Opportunity, Sales and Marketing Strategy, Team/Founders, Investment Sought, Use of Proceeds, Main Contact and Presenter.

Finalists will be notified of acceptance by Aug. 5. There is no cost to apply or present at the conference.

The competition judging panel reserves the right to disqualify submissions not adhering to the application requirements or to request resubmission in the event that application criteria are not met.
 
For more detailed information on the Midwest Clean Tech 2011 Conference and Brinks Innovation Competition, please visit www.midwestcleantech2011.com.