ICE Testimonials
ICE Testimonials
Testimonials
If you're not sure whether to enter ICE, see the quotes below from recent participants to see what they got out of being contestants.
If you've enjoyed being a contestant, a volunteer or an attendee at our events, we'd love to feature your testimonials here, complete with link to your website or e-mail if you like. We are a community of volunteers working hard to deliver an ever better experience for start-ups, mentors, investors, and service providers. Please drop us a line with any and all ideas to help us continually improve our mission -- helping clean energy companies get started and prosper.
Check back often for updates!
ICE 2007 Chair's Favorite Quote of the Month
"...I just attended an Alternative Energy conference in Delaware, and there is simply no comparison of quality."
Abe Schneider, NATEL
ICE 2006, Third Place Pro
Quotes from ICE Participants
Questions Posed to ICE Contestants
- General comments by contestants
- How has your participation in the ICE competition helped you and your clean-energy business?
- Please cite specific skills you've improved, contacts made, funds and awards received.
- What did you gain from the Competition's mentoring and judging?
- Why should others take the time to enter the ICE competition? What payoffs can they expect?
- How does participating in the ICE competition fit in to a start-up's plans to grow their company?
- What progress has your business made since the competition? Would you credit any of that progress to the Competition?
ICE Contestant Responses to Questions
General comments by contestants
"It is gratifying to have a team of industry experts confirm that you are on the right track. The prizes, including the cash award, the office space, and legal services, have been a great help getting us established. As nice as it is to have a place to call home, the greatest benefit we've received has been the broad media exposure.
Since winning the 2006 Ignite Clean Energy Competition, we have received numerous inquiries from potential investors, not only venture capitalists but international strategic industry participants as well. It is our expectation that we will be closing on funding before long. The press exposure has also generated product availability inquiries from around the globe, from such far-flung places as New Zealand, Greece, Spain, Italy, Scandinavia and more."
Jim Paull, Stellaris
ICE 2006, Grand Prize Winner
"How important was the Ignite Clean Energy Competition to me? I'm starting a regional business plan competition with the same model in the Mid-Atlantic (open to all technology businesses) because I thought it was such a great experience."
Jacob Silber
ICE 2006, Team Salvient
Chair, MITEF DC/Baltimore -
Mid-Atlantic Business Plan Competition
www.midatlanticbpc.org
"We have 17 orders, worth $3.5 million, and another $20 M in discussion. Because of the ICE competition, we were invited to participate in the Dow Jones Emerging Ventures Conference in Santa Clara, CA, 10/2006. They told us that they consulted the ICE winners list to decide who to invite.We've also found that when folks search Google we're pretty high up because of the coverage we've received from ICE. It helps with our internet presence."
Quincy Vale, Powerhouse Enterprises
ICE 2005, Cummings Prize Winner
"Thanks for the opportunity to give feedback on ICE. As you know, I am very enthusiastic about our experience and am grateful to the ICE organizers for allowing our involvement, and especially Linda Plano for all her tireless help... As an aside, I just attended an Alternative Energy conference in Delaware, and there is simply no comparison of quality."
Abe Schneider, NATEL
ICE 2006, Third Place Pro
How has your participation in the ICE competition helped you and your clean-energy business?
"ICE has helped our team has become much more business-focused. Far from a buzzword, this means that through our experience, we have evolved our business plan presentation from one that represented the a vision of the future, to one that convincingly lays out how we're going to get there. We are now better able to attract and hold the attention of potential investors."
Abe Schneider, NATEL
ICE 2006, Third Place Pro
Please cite specific skills you've improved, contacts made, funds and awards received.
"Our team significantly improved the quality of our presentation (including the content, the visual design, and the delivery). We have met dozens of valuable contacts, and the prize money (3rd place) has been useful."
Abe Schneider, NATEL
ICE 2006, Third Place Pro
Please cite specific skills you've improved, contacts made, funds and awards received.
"The mentoring process actually opened potential business opportunities to us, in addition to providing a diversity of 'fresh eyes' and new insights into means of improving our presentation."
Abe Schneider, NATEL
ICE 2006, Third Place Pro
Why should others take the time to enter the ICE competition? What payoffs can they expect?
"If you can put together a coherent business plan, and keep your composure in front of an audience of hundreds, then you have a good chance at a 'payoff' in real hard cash. (only slightly joking). But the real 'payoff' - what makes ICE worthwhile - is the opportunity to network with highly qualified, like-minded people. It's a good stepping stone for a young company, and a great development experience."
Abe Schneider, NATEL
ICE 2006, Third Place Pro
How does participating in the ICE competition fit in to a start-up's plans to grow their company?
"ICE provides a unique opportunity to convey your fine-tuned message to a select, elite, and motivated group of potential investors, clients, employees, advisors, and other industry contacts. The ICE audience is truly one of the best around - just go to some other clean energy events and you will notice how educated, dedicated, and motivated this group of people really is. ICE can be a stepping stone to future business growth opportunity - exactly what a start up needs."
Abe Schneider, NATEL
ICE 2006, Third Place Pro
What progress has your business made since the competition? Would you credit any of that progress to the Competition?
"Due in part to our involvement with ICE, our team has expanded our network of potential investors and clients."
Abe Schneider, NATEL
ICE 2006, Third Place Pro
