Have a Sustainable Start-up? Ready to Accelerate? Take Note.

Exposure. Credibility. Funding. New ventures need some combination of these to move from burning passionate idea to market success. Sustainable Brands Innovation Open, a business plan competition for sustainable enterprise, will offer up all three to one winning start-up.

Jim Niegowski, Director, Nike Patents announcing the SBIO 2010 winner

I don’t often plug competitions, but Sustainable Life Media, Sustainable Brands Innovation Open’s parent organization, has a way of making magic out of the typically mundane. I’ve experienced this first-hand as an attendee at Sustainable Brands conference and have seen how past entrants of Innovation Open have benefitted from their participation. Earth Aid, winner of the 2009 competition recently raised $4 million in funding and BioLite was profiled in The Guardian and Men’s Health after its 2010 win.

Criteria
Sustainable Brands Innovation Open is open to entrepreneurs and companies with either idea-stage or early phase initiatives. Entries are scored on their potential to deliver a sustainable consumer product or business-to-business solution that promotes social and environmental responsibility.

Incentive
Ten selected finalists receive free admission to the Sustainable Brands conference (June 7-10 in Monterey, California) and the opportunity to both display and pitch their initiative to green/social investors, executives from leading companies, top brand consultants and conference attendees.

One, winning start-up will receive seed money, business services and consulting services from industry professionals, as well as top-level exposure and recognition.

Details
Submit a one-page business plan by April 25. Details and the submission form can be found here.