CleanTech Challenge 2025
Rewarding the next student led innovative clean technology ideas
Applications for the 2025 CleanTech Challenge have closed.
Join us for the final pitches and networking reception on April 17th 2025!
Secure your spot now!
The competition
The CleanTech Challenge is a global business plan competition for students with innovative clean technology ideas. Hosted by London Business School, the challenge has been running successfully since 2011 and attracts applications from students in over 25 countries each year. The 2025 edition is supported by our sponsors, Gore Street Capital and Sky.
The objective
Great Cleantech technologies emerging from research often flounder through lack of good commercial input early on. Meanwhile, management schools have many entrepreneurial students who are worried about the environment but who lack impactful ideas to work on. To bridge this gap, the interdisciplinary competition was created, to promote CleanTech thoughts in today’s educational institutions.
Who can enter
The Challenge is open to all current university students (undergraduate, postgraduate and phd) enrolled in a degree programme at a recognised Higher Education Institution anywhere in the world as of 1 January 2025.
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Competition Guidelines
The CleanTech Challenge takes place over 3 stages between November and April each year. Our Finals will take place over April 16-17th 2025, at London Business School.
Stage 1
All you need is an innovative Cleantech idea. Fill out our application form and answer a few questions about your idea and team by January 17th 2025!
Stage 2
Invited Stage 2 entries will submit an investor-style pitch deck in PDF format, highlighting your Cleantech idea, business potential, and team details. Deadline: February 16th, 2025.
Finals
Finalist teams will gather in person at London Business School on April 16–17th, 2025 to work with mentors and present their solutions to a panel of judges. Following the final presentations, teams will compete for two prize tracks — the GSC GO RE-Think CleanTech Award and the Sky Zero Award. The event will conclude with judging, prize announcements, and a networking reception.
> 200
Participants
Two £20,000
prize tracks
Compete for the GSC GO RE-Think CleanTech Award and the Sky Zero Award.
Investor & Entrepreneur
Network
Get mentoring from the best CleanTech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists.
Will you create the next clean technology idea?
Congratulations to some of our most recent winners
TUULI is a software to help measure, reduce and monitor the embodied and operational carbon emissions of your assets. They are now collaborating with some of Canada’s largest real estate developers and REITs, driving tangible change in the industry.
2024 winners
A&B SMART MATERIALS is a service provider that tackles the issue of lost energy and revenue generation due to overheating solar panels.
2023 winners
WASTEQ is an AI-powered demand forecaster of food perishables in shops that reduces both food shortages and food waste. In turn this helps shops increase profit.
2021 winners
SYNTHESEA is a biological platform producing sustainable low cost omega-3 for aquaculture.
2020 winners
PHABIO is a provider of bio-based polymers to replace conventional plastics like HDPE/PP.
2019 winners
BIOKIND Protein of the future: sustainable protein feed for aquaculture, livestock and pets
2018 winners