2024 PCV Prize Official Rules
+The PCV Prize is an annual student climate tech startup competition hosted by Penn Climate Ventures at the University of Pennsylvania.
+Competition Tracks
+Students must submit their application in one of the following tracks. We’ve provided some potential ideas that could belong to each track to help get you started! +
+Themed Tracks
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Waste and Circularity
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- Excessive waste +
- Landfills (lack of proper on-site waste management); leakage +
- Profit-based regulations +
- Mislabeling of “green” technologies +
- Toxic waste +
- Contamination & improper recycling +
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Energy and Transportation
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- Poor renewable energy grid stability +
- Transportation with net-zero carbon emissions +
- Inadequate energy storage & transportation (particularly solar energy) +
- Insufficient electric vehicle charging infrastructure +
- Unequal energy transition for low-income communities +
- Lack of renewable energy infrastructure +
- Electric vehicle long-distance range anxiety +
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Food and Agriculture
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- Rising demand for food globally; +
- Loss of biodiversity during farming; +
- Lack of improvement in farming productivity and food system resiliency; +
- Increased and more intense natural hazards impacting farms; +
- Hunger, poverty, and malnutrition; +
- Unsustainable usage of natural resources +
+ - Wild Card +
For All Teams
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- You do NOT need to have an incorporated business to apply; all concepts are welcome, whether it's just a great idea or a revenue-making startup +
- If you do have an established startup, you must not have received more than $25K in external funding, dilutive or non-dilutive. +
For Teams competing in Themed Tracks
+All team members must be currently enrolled students, at either the high school, undergrad, or graduate school level. We recommend teams solely consisting of high school members to participate in the high school track.
+For High School Teams
+All team members must be currently enrolled in a high school anywhere around the world.
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2024 Ecoventure Challenge Official Rules
+The Ecoventure Challenge is an annual student climate tech startup competition hosted by Penn Climate Ventures at the University of Pennsylvania.
+Eligibility
+Individual Eligibility
+All students enrolled at any high school globally are eligible to compete. +
+Team Eligibility
+Teams can compete in groups of 2-5 given that every member is an enrolled high school student. One member of the group will fill out the application form on behalf of the team. There will be a space on the form to indicate all of the team members. You do NOT need to have an incorporated business to apply; all concepts are welcome, whether it's just a great idea or a revenue-making startup. If you do have an established startup, you must not have received more than $25K in external funding, dilutive or non-dilutive. +
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FAQ
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- Who can apply? -
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- - All students currently enrolled at a high school are eligible to - compete. The PCV Penn Ecoventure Challenge is a global - competition, so international applications will also be - accepted. - -
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- What type of solution should I present? -
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- - Anywhere from just an idea to a working prototype. The key - caveat is that teams must have less than 25K in external - funding. As much as we would love to support great climate - startups that are already growing, we’re focused on - encouraging new students to enter the scene. Feel free to - check out the winning pitches from - our last competition. - -
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- Can I apply without prior experience with tech or startups? -
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- - We strongly encourage anyone interested in climate - innovation to apply. There are no requirements for what a - successful PCV Prize team will look like, and we will be - hosting educational events to help teams build and - strengthen their startup ideas. - -
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All students currently enrolled at a high school are eligible to compete. The PCV Penn Ecoventure Challenge is a global competition, so international applications will also be accepted.
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What type of solution should I present?
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- - Nope! It’s perfectly fine if you have non-students in your - startup. However, only students are allowed to compete in - the PCV Prize. Furthermore, if you are an incorporated - startup, at least one of the students presenting must be an - owner / managing member listed in the articles of - incorporation. We’re focused on students, so no interns - presenting for established startups :). - -
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There is no fee to participate in the PCV Penn Ecoventure Challenge. This event was made with the intention to provide accessible and inclusive opportunities to students.
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- Can I apply without prior experience with tech or startups? -
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- - We strongly encourage anyone interested in the PCV Prize or - climate innovation to apply. There are no requirements for - what a successful PCV Prize team will look like, and we will - be hosting educational events to help teams build and - strengthen their startup ideas. - -
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We strongly encourage anyone interested in climate innovation to apply. There are no requirements for what a successful PCV Prize team will look like, and we will be hosting educational events to help teams build and strengthen their startup ideas.
- -
-
What type of solution should I present?
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- - Anywhere from just an idea to a working prototype. The key - caveat is that teams must have less than 25K in external - funding. As much as we would love to support great climate - startups that are already growing, we’re focused on - encouraging new students to enter the scene. Feel free to - check out the winning pitches from - our last competition. - -
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Anywhere from just an idea to a working prototype. The key caveat is that teams must have less than 25K in external funding. As much as we would love to support great climate startups that are already growing, we’re focused on encouraging new students to enter the scene. Feel free to check out the winning pitches from our last competition.
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Nope! It’s perfectly fine if you have non-students in your startup. However, only students are allowed to compete in the PCV Prize. Furthermore, if you are an incorporated startup, at least one of the students presenting must be an owner / managing member listed in the articles of incorporation. We’re focused on students, so no interns presenting for established startups.
FAQ
