Terms & Conditions

ClimateLaunchpad Terms & Conditions 2025

1. Background and introduction

• A. ClimateLaunchpad is the Global Green Business Ideas Competition. Our mission is to unlock the world’s cleantech potential. We support start-ups that address climate change and shape the world’s next economy (the “Competition”).
• B. The Competition is run primarily via climatelaunchpad.org (the “Competition Website”).
• C. The Competition is organised by Stichting Climate-KIC International Foundation,  (Climate-KIC), in collaboration with our National Leads and partner network across the globe (“Partners”). References to “we” “us” and “our” in these Terms and Conditions shall refer to Stichting Climate KIC International Foundation and its Partners.
• D. Stichting Climate-KIC International Foundation (RSIN 860987541) is registered as a foundation with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number 77373154. It is recognised as an Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling (ANBI) by the Dutch tax authority, which makes it equivalent to a public benefit organisation. Stichting Climate-KIC International Foundations’ registered office is Plantage Middenlaan 45, 1018 DC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• E. These terms, conditions and any rules for the Competition on the Competition Website (together the “Terms and Conditions”) are intended to protect Climate-KIC, and Climate-KIC partners who contribute to or are involved in the administration, operation and maintenance of ClimateLaunchpad.
• F. Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before you enter the Competition. By submitting an entry, you accept these Terms and Conditions and agree to comply with them.
• G. The name ClimateLaunchpad is a registered trademark

2.Eligibility

Who can enter the Competition:

• A. Anyone with a promising cleantech idea is welcome to join the competition
• B. You may only enter in your country of residence (as defined under 3d);
• C. You cannot enter ClimateLaunchpad if you’ve already been accepted into Climate-KIC Accelerator or have participated in ClimateLaunchpad (or the former CleanLaunchpad) with the same business idea in a previous year;
• D. You can only enter if:
• E. You have not yet started a business, or your business has been incorporated/registered for a period of less than two years.
• F. You have attracted less than € 200.000 in investment (definition: no funding as a venture. Funding as a student is not counted);

If you are unsure about your eligibility to enter the Competition, please contact us at info@climatelaunchpad.org before submitting an entry. 

3. Submitting an entry

• A. In order to submit an idea, you must complete the relevant application form on the Competition Website, completing all mandatory fields and questions.
• B. Entries must comply with guidelines and recommendations set out on the Competition Website and in these Terms & Conditions.
• C. Please note, while entries may be submitted in languages supported by our online application form – the entire competition, including communication, will be in English.
• D. You can only submit your application in your country. This is the country where you are either a permanent or a temporary resident. Being a temporary resident means you need to live in the country where you want to participate for the duration of the Competition.
• E. If you are selected for the Boot Camp, you are only permitted to participate in the competition in one country.
• F. Application deadlines may varyvary per country, it is the responsibility of applicants to check the Competition Website for deadlines.
• G. Climate-KIC is not liable for possible deficiencies of the platform. Please note that we are not responsible for problems regarding computers, networks or any technical or other reasons that may lead to lost, damaged or late entries.
• H. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, you are responsible for all costs and expenses related to your entry into and participation in the competition, for example the Boot Camp, coaching sessions, National/Regional Final and or other events. Every country will endeavour to support your participation in the Regional Final and/or other events. It is your responsibility to check about the possibilities for such support with the National Lead in your country once you have been accepted into the programme.

4. What happens next – timeline

• A. The ClimateLaunchpad 2025 edition is a hybrid programme. As outlined below, with a few exceptions, all programme elements will be conducted online except for the Global Grand Final which is set to take place in-person in Vienna Austria.
• B. While Climate-KIC and its partners will make efforts to provide travel grants to those participants selected to proceed to the Global Grand Final, full cost coverage is not guaranteed. In the event that participants cannot join the Global Grand Final event in person, Climate-KIC will offer virtual participation instead.
• C. After initial entries have been submitted, the competition will be run in accordance with the following indicative timeline. We reserve the right to change any of the timeframes indicated on our competition website.
• D: Competition Timeline

Step 0: Mini-course

After your application teams are automatically invited first for participation in a ClimateLaunchpad Mini-course to help National Leads to make a better selection or to prepare you for the Boot Camp.

Step 1: Boot Camp

The top teams chosen by our National Leads to take part in the ClimateLaunchpad National programme which kicks off with a multi-day digital Boot Camp. Our trainers will teach you all you need to know about jump-starting your business. In limited cases this boot camp may take place in person, at the discretion of selected National Leads

Step 2: Intensive coaching and National Finals

The Boot Camp is followed by a period of intensive coaching. You’ll perfect your pitch, value proposition and business model. After that, you’re ready for your National Final where you’ll pitch digitally for a National Jury.

Step 3: Virtual Regional Finals

The top teams of each country go to the Regional Finals. if there’s a Regional Final in your Region, where they pitch in front of the region’s best and brightest.

Step 4: Global Grand Final – Vienna Austria

The ClimateLaunchpad 2025 Global Grand Final will take place in Vienna Austria. The event will feature the top 8 start-ups worldwide (selected during the Virtual Regional Finals) who will participate in person in Vienna.

• E. Important note: If your application is selected you will be asked to confirm your participation to claim your spot in the competition. Accepting means compulsory attendance of the full National Boot Camp by 2 (minimum) representatives of the start-up, a minimum of 5 of the 6 coaching sessions, as well as the National Final, Regional Final (if eligible), Global Grand Final (if eligible) and other events (if eligible).
• F. For last minute cancellation or no-show, you will be fined € 100 to cover some of the costs we invested.

5. Selecting the Winner

• A. The jury will decide which entry best meets the assessment criteria, as set out on the Competition Website.
• B. Decisions, made by the jury, are final. No correspondence will be entered into. The composition of the jury may vary.
• C. Whenever we need to contact you in connection with the competition, we will use the contact information provided by you in the application form. We are not responsible for incomplete or incorrect contact information provided.

6. The Prize

• A. National Finalists are awarded prizes to be determined and organized by the National Partner Organisation.
• B. Regional Finalists are awarded prizes to be determined and organized by the Regional Partner Organisation and ClimateLaunchpad.
• C. Global Grand Finalists will be eligible for prizes to be determined and organised by the Global Grand Final Partner Organisation and ClimateLaunchpad
• D. The prizes are personal to the winners and not transferable.
• E. The winners are responsible for the payment of any taxes and charges on any prizes.
• F. We may alter, withdraw or modify any prizes at our discretion. There is no cash or monetary equivalent to the in-kind prizes.

7. Intellectual property rights, image and media rights

• A. You confirm by entering the competition that, to the best of your knowledge, you own all Intellectual Property Rights (“IPRs”) related to all kind of material shared (such as but not limited to images, media, specific information, knowledge etc.) and subsisting in your entry to the competition and that your entry does not infringe any third party’s IPRs. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission from third parties to use their IPRs in your submission and indemnify ClimateLaunchpad from any liability (including liability from used and uploaded material on the website) of third parties in this regard. We reserve the right to recover any liability and damage as result of the foregoing.
• B. We reserve the right to disclose your identity to any third-party claiming material posted or uploaded by you to the competition website constitutes a violation of their IPRs, or their confidentiality/privacy rights. We reserve the right to ask for additional evidence or documents to validate that all information you supply is true and complete.
• C. Subject to the terms of this clause 7, we recognize your ownership of the IPRs subsisting in your entry to the competition.
• D. ClimateLaunchpad does not retain any equity or ownership of the idea upon application. You retain full and exclusive ownership of your information and intellectual property rights. Any idea you submit will only be used for the purpose of evaluating your application to ClimateLaunchpad.

8. Changes and competition cancellation

• A. We may cancel the competition or vary these terms and conditions at any time at our discretion. We will post any changes to these terms and conditions on the Competition Website.
• B. We reserve the right to suspend the competition at any time and to change the form and substance, dates for deadlines and events, locations or specification of the competition and/or prize.
• C. We reserve the right not to award any prize.

9. Personal Data

• A. Unless stated otherwise, information (including personal information) submitted in any entry will be used by Stichting Climate-KIC International Foundation and its Partners in accordance with our privacy policy.
• B. By submitting your entry to the competition, you give us permission to use the information provided by you in your entry and during your participation in the competition (including your personal details; logos, photos, videos uploaded by you or your pitch and taken during events) for the purposes of administering and judging the competition, for any purpose connected to the competition and for promotional purposes. We may share this information with our jury members, our partners, and anyone who is involved in the competition.
• C. Clauses 9.a and 9.b also gives our National Leads the permission to use the information provided by you in your entry and during your participation in the competition (including your personal details, logos, photos, videos uploaded by you or your pitch and taken during events) for the purposes of administering and judging the competition, for any purpose connected to the competition and for promotional purposes. Aside from this, they may also ask you to sign a document with specific terms about this.
• D. By participating in the competition, you give us the permission to use the information provided by you in your entry, during and after your participation for purposes of evaluation may be used in scientific research related to education. All provided information will be treated confidentially.
• E. By participating in the competition you agree to complete and respond to requests for updates on your business, including through emails and surveys, including in years following your year of participation in the Competition.

10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

• A. These terms & conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Dutch laws. Any dispute arising under these terms & conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Dutch courts. By entering the competition, you agree to submit to the Dutch laws, regardless of your country of establishment or residence.

11. Questions

• A. A list of FAQ’s is available on the Competition Website. In the event of a conflict between these terms & conditions and our FAQs, these Terms and Conditions will prevail.
• B. If you have any further questions about the operation of the Competition, please contact the ClimateLaunchpad team.

Latest version: January 2025