VESTAL, N.Y. — The 18 semifinalists competing this year in the 76West clean-energy competition are waiting to find out if they’ve secured additional funding in their product-development efforts. The semifinalists are competing for six awards, including a $1 million grand prize, which will be announced in the fall, NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and […]
VESTAL, N.Y. — The 18 semifinalists competing this year in the 76West clean-energy competition are waiting to find out if they’ve secured additional funding in their product-development efforts.
The semifinalists are competing for six awards, including a $1 million grand prize, which will be announced in the fall, NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) said in an Aug. 7 news release.
The semifinalists made their pitches to a panel of judges during a two-day event held on Aug. 7 and 8 at Binghamton University in Vestal.
The 76West competition focuses on cleantech economic development and seeks to expand “innovative” entrepreneurship in the Southern Tier.
About 76West
This is the fourth round of 76West, a $20 million competition and support program administered by NYSERDA that launched in 2016.
Each year applicants compete for a $1 million grand prize, a $500,000 award and four $250,000 awards. In total, 76West is providing $10 million in awards and $10 million for business support, marketing and administration through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the Clean Energy Fund.
The 76West winners from the first three rounds — Rochester-based EkoStinger, Ireland-headquartered Hub Controls and Dallas-based Skyven Technologies — have integrated and expanded their business operations into the Southern Tier.
In total, previous grand prize and other 76West winners have raised $28 million in private capital, made multimillion-dollar investments in property and equipment in the region, and spent more than $1.7 million on key suppliers, NYSERDA said.
As recipients of a 76West award, companies must either move to the Southern Tier or establish a direct connection with the Southern Tier economy, such as a supply chain partnership, job development with Southern Tier companies, or other strategic relationships with Southern Tier entities that helps spur economic development and creates jobs.
If the companies are already in the Southern Tier, they must commit to substantially growing their business and employment in the region.
Semifinalists
The semifinalists in the 76West competition are the following firms (base of operation in parentheses):
• Syndem (Binghamton)
• Heat Inverse (Ithaca)
• Cortland Research (Homer)
• SunDensity (Vestal)
• Paradigm of New York (Rochester)
• Clean Fiber (Buffalo)
• OXTO Energy (Queens)
• Allied Microbiota (Brooklyn)
• Carbon Upcycling Technologies (Calgary, Canada)
• SWTCH Energy (Toronto, Canada)
• Radical Plastics (Marblehead, Massachusetts)
• Optimus Technologies (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
• Prosumer Grid (Atlanta, Georgia)
• Biolive (Istanbul, Turkey)
• Blue Frontier (Parkland, Florida)
• Cambridge Crops (Somerville, Massachusetts)
• FlashCharge Batteries (Aventura, Florida)
• PolyJoule (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com