World’s biggest green business ideas competition now fully digital, free and accessible to all

The three-day Grand Global Final of the Climate KIC supported ClimateLaunchpad competition will take to the virtual stage this week (30 September to 2 October), with 68 finalists from 56 countries pitching to win a place in the Top 3.
What this new format means is that anyone can register for a free ‘online seat’, wherever they are in time or space, to offer encouragement to these fledgling businesses, and to listen, learn, connect or even invest.
What you can expect from this online event
Day 1, Wednesday 30 September:
A feast of ideas, all day long. The 68 finalists from 56 countries will pitch start-up ideas that have the potential to contribute to systemic change in one of eight priority areas:
- Resilient Regions
- Climate-friendly Food
- Healthy Clean Cities
- Circular Economies
- Clean Energy Systems
- Sustainable Mobility
- Cleantech
- The Next Big Thing
Day 2, Thursday 1 October:
While the juries deliberate on which Top 2 teams per theme will battle it out (on Day 3) for the global win, attendees are invited to an exciting programme of conversations, talks and workshops on Day 2, with some of the brightest minds in green business and cleantech, on topics including:
- Things I wish I’d known before I started my first company
- What do cleantech investors look for?
- #DealStream: CLP Alumni pitch for deals up to €1 million
- #DealStream: CLP Alumni pitch for deals over €1 million
- Connecting start-ups with cities and municipalities
- Workshop with Climate KIC Cities team (Ticketed as numbers are limited. Tickets are free.)
- NEW – CLP TV: Prepare to be outsmarted during this new CLP TV ‘talkshow’ where leading minds challenge each other during straight-talking conversations. Includes sessions with designer and environmentalist Julia Watson and Bloomberg NEF founder Michael Liebreich and many others.
- Live on CLP TV: Announcing the world’s Top 16 green start-ups
VIEW FULL PROGRAMME FOR DAY 2 and LIST OF SPEAKERS
Day 3, Friday 2 October 2020
- Grand Final: Top 16 pitches
- Panel session: How to accelerate the green recovery with Kirsten Dunlop (CEO of Climate KIC), Rowan Barnett (Google.org), and Juan Vicén
- Award ceremony and virtual drinks
How to attend
Attendance at pitch sessions and talks is free and open to all, but places at some of the workshops on Day 2 may be limited and are therefore ticketed. Register below now to book your ‘online seat’ and to be alerted to any changes in the programme. You can register for ticketed sessions by following the links on the online Programme.
Could you be a ClimateLaunchpad Partner?
ClimateLaunchpad has been supporting green entrepreneurs across the globe since 2013. It offers participants free support – including courses and bootcamps, intensive coaching and national semi-finals – in the run-up to each Grand Global Final. Many winning teams take their next steps with Climate KIC too, through our accelerator and demonstrator progammes or through our place-based innovation ecosystem projects like Deep Demonstrations.
The network of ClimateLaunchpad partners is a powerful one. They are dedicated to encouraging innovation in their countries and work with a range of local partners including businesses, investors, chambers of commerce, and local governments. They are optimistic and believe they can bring about change.
Does this sound like something you’d like to be a part of? There are opportunities to contribute. We operate on a global scale. So no matter where you’re located, you can apply to be a new partner. Find out more.