Accelerator

What is the Imagine H2O Accelerator?

Our virtual accelerator program helps entrepreneurs and innovators who compete in our prize contests. Incubators accelerate the development of entrepreneurship from brilliant ideas to products and services that have commercial potential and provide value to people who need them.


Recent Highlights
In addition to the feedback from our world-class panel of water experts and the services provided by our acclerator partners, IH2O competitors have recently benefited from the following:

• Media exposure in the International Herald Tribune, New York Times, TechCrunch, GOOD and other publications.
   
• Introductions to accredited investors.

• Our 2009 inners featured at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's 2010 Global Water & Technology Forum.  Our three winners were introduced at the Chairman's Breakfast.  This event resulted in introductions to water ulitites, investors and other partners.

• The Imagine H2O incubator (and our winners) will be introduced at the 2010 WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, the world’s largest conference dedicated to urban water efficiency.

• The winners announcement (in Reuters) and follow-up media resulted in an immediate increase in business inquiries and website traffic for each of our 10 finalists.  Our winner, Fruition Sciences, saw website traffic grow from 70 unique visitors per week to over 1000 visits and yielded over 50 new business inquiries. 

Services

We offer a comprehensive incubator program to support water entrepreneurs and innovators: Business plan coaching, mentoring from water experts and business CEOs, team-building and networking, introductions to financiers, strategic partners, beta customers, and help securing lab space and office space.

• For All Contestants: Imagine H2O hosts seminars and workshops to expose the opportunity in water efficiency businesses and water innovation. Contestants receive feedback on their plans and networking and team-building opportunities, as well as guidance on start-up basics.

• Second Place and Third Place Prizes: Our 2010 runners up received each $10,000 cash prizes; and up to $7,500 of in-kind legal services from Cooley LLP, up to $7,500 of in-kind accounting and consulting services from PwC, and in-kind support from Early Growth Financial Services; introductions to beta customers, financiers, and go-to-market partners; and publicity at the Imagine H2O Showcase in March 2011.

• Grand Prize: Our 2010 winner receieved a $20,000 cash prize; up to $10,000 of in-kind legal services from Cooley LLP, up to $15,000 of in-kind accounting services from PwC and in-kind support from Early Growth Financial Services; introductions to beta customers, financiers, and go-to-market partners; assistance in securing lab and/or office space; and publicity at the Imagine H2O Showcase in March 2011.
   
• Executive in Residence: Imagine H2O's EIR will be working with a select number of our 2010 finalists.  The EIR will provide strategic consulting and insight related to commercialization and team development.  Our 2010 EIR, Ralph Petroff (see bio) is an experienced entrepreneur and former Imagine H2O judge.

2010 Water-Enery Nexus Competition
Thanks to increased support from our sponsors & partners, IH2O's 2010 competition featured a $100k purse of cash and in-kind services. 

For all the latest updates and information on the Imagine H2O accelerato and competition, please join our community.