Clean Tech Challenge 2023
Changing the world
for better
Rewarding the next student led innovative clean technology ideas
Changing the world
The competition
The CleanTech Challenge is a global business plan competition for students with innovative clean technology ideas, jointly hosted by the London Business School and University College London. It began in 2011 and has been run successfully for the past 11 years. Winners of the international chapters compete as finalists in the UK competition.
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.
Who can enter
The Challenge is open to all current university students (undergraduate and postgraduate) enrolled in a degree programme at a recognised Higher Education Institution anywhere in the world as of 1 January 2023.
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Competition Guidelines
The competition takes place over three different stages between January and April each year. Submit your proposals before Feb 3rd 2023.
Stage 1
All you need is an innovative Cleantech idea. Submit a 200 word pitch by Feb 3rd 2023 clearly outlining (i) the idea, (ii) cleantech impact, and (iii) why it would be commercially viable.
Stage 2
Selected entries are asked to develop their idea and present a pitch deck by March 10th 2023. The deck will be reviewed by prospective investors.
Stage 3
Finalists will undergo training from industry experts from the environmental, entrepreneurial, and science sectors over the course of May. Bootcamp finals take place between April 19th - 20th where finalists present a 10-minute pitch.
Our Story
Rewarding innovation
Students compete in cross-functional teams combining technical and business skills. Startup ideas are expected to be at the concept phase at which point they would likely only attract pre-seed funding.
>500 Entries
We judge hundreds of applications every year
£20,000 Prize Fund
Access to world class clean tech venture capitalists
Investor Network
Get mentoring from the best clean tech entrepreneurs
Past winners
Congratulations to our most recent winners
WASTEQ is an AI-powered demand forecaster of food perishables in shops that reduces both food
shortages and importantly food wasting, in turn this helps shops increase profit.
2021 Winners
SYNTHESEA Biological platform producing sustainable low cost omega-3 for aquaculture
2020 Winners
PHABIO
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