Who can join ClimateLaunchpad?

Anyone with a promising cleantech idea who dreams of becoming an entrepreneur should join. You can be a new start-up founder, an SME employee, a researcher, a student, part of a public organisation, a consultant, an engineer, or a combination of the above or even something that doesn’t fit a job title at all. Don’t worry if you don’t have a business plan ready! We are here to help you. You can only enter if: • You found your business in Austria. • You have not yet started a business or your company has been incorporated for less than two years. • Your new venture has attracted less than € 200,000 in total funding (this includes all funding, like grants, government loans, angel and/or VC investments, etc.); • You have not yet sold products, solutions or prototypes on commercial terms. You cannot enter ClimateLaunchpad if you have: • Already been accepted into Climate-KIC (pre-/Clim)Accelerator with the same idea; • Already been accepted into ClimateLaunchpad (or the former CleanLaunchpad) in a previous year with the same idea. Not sure if you should enter? Drop us an email at austria@climatelaunchpad.org.(mailto:austria@climatelaunchpad.org)

I already started a business with my idea, can I still enter ClimateLaunchpad?

Yes, you can - provided that your business is younger than two years, doesn’t have a meaningful customer base yet, and hasn’t received more than € 200,000 in external investments.

ClimateLaunchpad

What is ClimateLaunchpad?

ClimateLaunchpad is the world’s largest early-stage green business competition, existing to promote innovative solutions that help combat climate change and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable economy.

The competition creates a stage for climate, green and clean techideas, but also provides all the knowledge and skills to build a successfulbusiness. It was established in 2014, founded and supported by Climate-KIC, EU leading agency for climate innovation. Since its start, ClimateLaunchpad has attracted almost 14,000 ideas that resulted in over 4,300 teams of entrepreneurs trained. The Program operates on a global scale, which is supported by national host organisations leading the competition on a country level.

Futurezone article about the National winning teams 2025

What our alumni say

Who can apply?

If you want to know how to navigate your ideas and hands-on business advice while developing your plan and become a pro in presenting your proposition to investors and prospective customers enter the competition by submitting your idea or innovation with ecological and social impact.

No need for a business plan just yet, you can apply even if you have not yet started a business, or you started it less than one year ago. You can be a new start-up, SME, researcher, student, public organisation, consultant, engineer, or something that doesn’t fit a job title. You can apply as long as your company was founded less than two years ago, or you have not yet founded a company and have acquired less than €200,000 in investments.

Apply until 29th of March by filling out the application form in
which you’ll explain your business idea, what problem you are
solving and what climate impact you expect to make.

Apply now!

The program consists of the next stages

Boot Camp: You will take part in a two-day Boot Camp moderated by an international expert. Our trainer will teach you all you need to know about jump-starting your business and receipt to have a winning pitch.

Coaching sessions: You’ll perfect your pitch, value proposition, and finalize your business model.

National Finals: You’re ready to rock your National Final where you’ll pitch at Kurier’s SpeakOut festival, win potential prizes and go into the next stage of the competition.

Regional Europe Final: The top teams from each country go to the online Regional Finals where they pitch in front of the region’s best and brightest to continue to the next stage of the competition.

Global Finals: The global final will take place in Singapore in October. The finalists will present their innovative ideas to the jury, investors, experts, and potential partners.

The CLP is a unique opportunity for founders with a focus on sustainability to take their startup to the next level with training and mentoring and to position themselves throughout Europe. YOU are interested in ClimateLaunchpad? Then follow us on social media so you don't miss any news and updates. We are looking forward to your application!

Our partners

Academic Partner

STaR, the Competence Center for Sustainability Transformation and Responsibility, has accompanied us since the very first steps of Thinkubator as an organization. Their support began as a sparring partner, not only for the founding team but also for the Thinkubator Fellow Program, and continued as a partner of ClimateLaunchpad.

STaR supports us with expertise, a platform to showcase our work, continuous intellectual exchange to increase our impact, and much more. Today, we are very pleased to announce STaR as our main academic partner for ClimateLaunchpad Austria.

Media Partner

Since we began hosting ClimateLaunchpad in Austria in 2024, we have been able to count on the KURIER Medienhaus as a vital partner by our side. A particular highlight: our National Final takes place annually at their Speak Out Festival. The event brings sustainability and innovation to the stage, gathering people who are committed to actively shaping change.

This stage serves as the ideal springboard for our startups. The partnership with KURIER provides cleantech innovations with the necessary reach to transform ideas into impactful companies. Presenting our finalists in such a professional environment underscores the relevance of climate entrepreneurship in Austria and highlights KURIER’s essential role as a trailblazer.

Ecosystem partners

Apply now!

Do you have any questions?

Who can join - Does my startup fit the profile

What kind of ideas are you looking for

How does the competition work

Why should I join

How do I apply and how are ideas selected

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Anyone with a promising cleantech idea who dreams of becoming an entrepreneur should join. You can be a new start-up founder, an SME employee, a researcher, a student, part of a public organisation, a consultant, an engineer, or a combination of the above or even something that doesn’t fit a job title at all. Don’t worry if you don’t have a business plan ready! We are here to help you. You can only enter if: • You found your business in Austria. • You have not yet started a business or your company has been incorporated for less than two years. • Your new venture has attracted less than € 200,000 in total funding (this includes all funding, like grants, government loans, angel and/or VC investments, etc.); • You have not yet sold products, solutions or prototypes on commercial terms. You cannot enter ClimateLaunchpad if you have: • Already been accepted into Climate-KIC (pre-/Clim)Accelerator with the same idea; • Already been accepted into ClimateLaunchpad (or the former CleanLaunchpad) in a previous year with the same idea. Not sure if you should enter? Drop us an email at austria@climatelaunchpad.org.(mailto:austria@climatelaunchpad.org)
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Contact Us!

Anna Nägele

Anna is our Communication Lead at Thinkubator and Program Coordinator for the ClimateLaunchpad. If you have any questions about the competition or your application, feel free to reach out to us anytime.

anna.naegele@thinkubator.earth

austria@climatelaunchpad.org