SEPTEMBER 30 - SEMI-FINALS & INVESTOR CONNECT

How should I get to Foley Hoag? Foley Hoag’s address is 155 Seaport Blvd # 1600, Boston, MA 02210. You can take the Silver Line from South Station to the World Trade Center stop in the Seaport, Foley Hoag will be about a 3-5 minute walk from there. If you’re up for a longer walk, you can walk from South Station (on the Red Line).

Where can I park near Foley Hoag on September 30th? There are several parking garages near Foley Hoag’s office: 

• 1 Seaport Lane (directly next to entrance at Foley Hoag, 155 Seaport Boulevard, $25/day charge)

• 503 Congress St

• Boston Fish Pier

My startup is changing fast! Can I update my pitch deck for my presentation on September 30th? Yes. The deadline to submit an updated pitch deck is Thursday, September 26th EOD (11:59 PM EDT). Email your submissions to olaroche@cleantechopen.org. 

What will judges have access to before seeing my presentation on September 30th? Judges will have access to all of your deliverables.

Are mentors allowed to be in the room for pitching? While your mentors are encouraged to help you prepare and support you, mentors are not permitted to be in the room with you when you pitch at the semi-finals.

What are the judging criteria again? You can find the judging rubric here. 

Wait, so there's pitching on September 30th and October 1st? All teams that complete and upload their deliverables on time (not including CDP teams) are invited to present on September 30th. Seven Finalists will be selected to pitch during the Finals on October 1st and compete for $70,000 in cash prizes. All seven Northeast Finalists plus two Runners up (for a total of nine startups from the Northeast cohort) are invited to pitch at the Global Forum and compete for the National Grand Prize (a $50,000 SAFE note).

Will there be food at Foley Hoag? Lunch for semi-finals judges will be served at noon on September 30th! Teams will be able to snack on finger foods throughout the afternoon.

INVESTOR CONNECT

What should I expect at the Investor Connect? This is an opportunity for startups to meet with investors in speed-dating style. There will be angel investors, VCs, grant providers, social impact investors, and corporates.

October 1 - SHOWCASE & AWARDS

How should I get to Greentown Labs? Greentown Labs is located at 444 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143. Parking is incredibly limited at Greentown Labs and we encourage attendees to consider taking advantage of public transportation. Greentown Labs is a short walk from the newly opened Union Square Green Line station, as well as about 1 mile away from the Harvard MBTA Red Line station. Union Square in Somerville is also easily accessible via the #86 and #91 MBTA buses. Greentown Labs offers indoor bike parking on-site and the closest Bluebikes stations are at Dane St., Conway Park and Union Square.

Where do I park near Greentown Labs? There is limited street parking on the streets surrounding Greentown Labs, most of which requires a permit from the City of Somerville. Again, the use of public transportation or Uber/Lyft/Taxi is strongly encouraged.

What can I bring to the Showcase at Greentown Labs? There will be WiFi available, and we will provide either a small hightop table space or half of a 6-foot table (i.e. 3 ft of presentation space for each startup) for you (image below for reference). We encourage you to bring your own signage, which may include computers, fliers or business cards, and any other materials that share information about your startup. Feel free to bring a prop only if it can be held in your hand. Please refrain from bringing any toxic or otherwise dangerous props into the convention center. We ask that teams only bring items that can be easily carried.

What can I expect at the company Showcase? This is the largest Cleantech Open Northeast event of the year, bringing together industry professionals, entrepreneurs and innovators to celebrate the region's top cleantech startups. Finalists will pitch publicly and compete for $70,000 in cash prizes. All graduating members of the 2024 Cleantech Open Northeast Cohort are invited to showcase at this event. The audience will include  investors, corporates, and other members of the cleantech innovation community.

Will there be electricity at the company Showcase? Yes. If you’re planning to use your laptop, bring a long cord, in case your space is not right next to an outlet.

What if I’m not selected to pitch at the Finals? We encourage all Cleantech Open Northeast companies and their mentors to attend the Showcase and Awards Celebration, be part of the Showcase (if you’re graduating), hear the seven finalists pitch, and celebrate the 2024 Cleantech Open Northeast cohort and the accelerator overall! We will honor all graduating companies and recognize our mentors and volunteers at this event. Register to attend here.

LODGING & TRANSPORTATION

Where should I stay in Boston? We’ve assembled a list of recommended hostels and hotels at every price point.

How can I get to Boston? Boston is easily accessible via plane, train, bus, and driving. 

• Flying: You can fly into Boston Logan International Airport, which is located in East Boston. Upon arrival, you can take either the Blue Line, Silver Line or Massport Shuttle into Downtown Boston, where you can connect to other public transportation to reach your final destination across the Greater Boston Area.

• Train: You can take Amtrak to Boston from various locations throughout the Northeast, including New York City, Philadelphia, Albany, and Portland, Maine. Trains go into either Boston’s North Station or South Station, both of which provide easy access to public transportation. Click here for more information.

• Bus: Many bus companies, including Greyhound, Megabus, Dartmouth Coach and Peter Pan provide routes throughout the Northeast to Boston’s South Station.

How do I get around Boston? Boston has a robust public transportation system, including the T (subway lines), commuter train lines, and buses. For more information on public transportation near you and pricing, visit https://www.mbta.com/.