FAQ

ClimateLaunchpad is the world’s largest green business ideas competition. Innovation and invention can lead the way to a clean future.

Through ClimateLaunchpad, we create a stage for the people who have great ideas for climate innovation, and help them take the first steps of entrepreneurial thinking, business planning, and a pitch around their idea – developing those ideas into start-ups and making a global impact.

ClimateLaunchpad is part of the Entrepreneurship offerings of Climate-KIC.
Join the green wave!

Established in 2010, Climate-KIC is Europe’s leading climate innovation agency and community, supporting cities, regions, countries and industries to meet their climate ambitions through systems innovation and place-based transformations.

Together with our partners, we generate, implement and integrate climate solutions by mobilising finance, testing business models, and opening pathways for institutional change and behavioural change. We orchestrate large-scale demonstrations that show what is possible when cycles of innovation and learning are deliberately designed to trigger exponential decarbonisation and build resilient communities.

Because your idea has the power to shape a greener future! ClimateLaunchpad is your gateway to a global movement of changemakers tackling climate change with bold, innovative solutions.

By joining, you’ll gain the opportunity to test and refine your idea with through our boot camp & coaching, and connect with a worldwide network of experts and investors, and attract the visibility needed to accelerate your impact. Whether you’re looking to launch, scale, or secure funding, ClimateLaunchpad gives you the tools, knowledge, and community to turn your climate innovation into reality.

Ready to join the green wave? Let’s make it happen!

Anyone with a promising cleantech idea who dreams of becoming an entrepreneur should join. You can be a new start-up, SME, researcher, student, public organisation, consultant, engineer, a combination of the above or something that doesn’t fit a job title. Don’t worry if you don’t have a business plan ready! We are here to help!

You can only submit your application in your own country. Check this page to find out if there is a ClimateLaunchpad competition in your country.

You can only apply in your own country and you can only enter if:

• You have not yet started a business or your company has been incorporated for less than two years  (definition: your legal entity does not exist for more than 2 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, et cetera)
• 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 info@climatelaunchpad.org.

The ClimateLaunchpad programme gets you all the knowledge and skills to build a successful start-up. In 2025, the competition consists of four stages:

Step 0: Mini-course

After your application, teams are automatically invited first for participation in a CLP 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 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.

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 to rock your National Final where you’ll pitch digitally for a National Jury.

Step 3: Regional Finals (online)
The top teams of each country go to the Regional Finals where they pitch in front of the region’s best and brightest.

The big prize? A bunch of new acquired skills & knowledge and networking opportunities to get your business thriving.

Step 4: Global Grand Final in Vienna, Austria (physical)
The top teams from each region process to the Global Grand Final to pitch it out in front of an expert panel.
In 2025, we are proud to announce that for the first time since 2019, we are bringing back a physical Global Grand Final, to take place in Vienna Austria.

The big prize? A bunch of new acquired skills & knowledge and networking opportunities to get your business thriving.

National prizes may vary by country. Prizes for the Global Grand Final will be announced at a later date.

In most countries, applications open in March 2025 – however exact dates may vary by country.

Check the key dates in the competition calendar.

Yes, you can only submit your application in your own country.

Check this page to find out if there is a ClimateLaunchpad competition in your country. Is your country not listed? Stay tuned, as we are still expanding; or become a National Lead yourself.

What kind of ideas is ClimateLaunchpad looking for?

We are looking for early-stage ideas with the potential to make a real difference in the fight against climate change. Whether your idea helps reduce carbon emissions, supports communities in adapting to climate impacts, or enables others to take climate action, we want to hear from you!

We welcome innovations across all cleantech sectors—from renewable energy and circular economy solutions to food system transformation, sustainable mobility, nature-based approaches, and beyond. Even if your concept is still just a sketch on the back of a napkin, you’re encouraged to apply.

If you’re unsure whether your idea fits, reach out to us at info@climatelaunchpad.org —we’d love to help!

For the selection of ideas jury members take the following six criteria into account:

Business or Market Potential

• Does the proposition address a real pain?
• Is there a clearly identified customer segment?
• Is there an opportunity to expand in other markets?

Job Potential or Social Impact

• Does this business have the potential for strong growth and create jobs doing so?
• Does it address an important environmental or social issue?

Innovation or Technology Potential

• Is there strong new technology?
• Is there a strong new business model?
• Or an idea with existing technology/business model

Climate Impact

• Is there a significant climate impact?
• Is the climate impact significant in this business sector?

Strength Management Team

• Is there entrepreneurial spirit in the team?
• How complete is the team for the task at hand?

Quality of Pitch

• How compelling was the pitch?

You can only enter ClimateLaunchpad in your own country.

Apply online by filling out the application form for which you’ll answer questions like what problem you are solving and what climate impact you expect to make.

No need for a business plan just yet – we’ll help you strengthen your plan or teach you how to create one.

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.

Check our Terms & Conditions for definitions. If your business is more mature you may want to consider applying to other programmes from Climate-KIC.

Absolutely! ClimateLaunchpad is designed for early-stage innovators taking their first steps. If you have a rough idea with climate impact potential—whether it’s a concept, a sketch, or just an exciting vision—we encourage you to apply. Our program helps turn early ideas into viable business solutions through expert coaching, a global network, and real-world testing opportunities.

Filling out the application is a great first step to move beyond the napkin stage. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the details yet—just share your best estimates, and we’ll help you refine your idea along the way.

Still unsure? Reach out to us at info@climatelaunchpad.org—we’re happy to help!

Yes—100%! ClimateLaunchpad and Climate-KIC do not take any ownership or intellectual property (IP) rights over your idea.

Your idea remains entirely yours before, during, and after the competition.

Any information you submit is used solely for the purpose of evaluating your application and supporting your journey in the program. We are here to help you develop and strengthen your idea, but all rights remain with you.

If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to reach out at info@climatelaunchpad.org.

Your application will be reviewed and evaluated by a selection panel in the country you applied for. This panel ranks submissions and selects at least 10 business ideas per country to participate in our multi-day Boot Camp. In some cases, National Leads may invite applicants to join a ClimateLaunchpad Mini-Course first, helping them refine their ideas before final selections are made.

All application reviews and selections are conducted in accordance with our programme terms and conditions and the Climate-KIC Privacy Policy.

If you are selected, you’ll be notified by email—so keep an eye on your inbox! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at info@climatelaunchpad.org.

Unless otherwise stated, participation in ClimateLaunchpad is free of charge, but all costs and expenses related to your entry and participation—including travel, accommodation, and other personal expenses—are your responsibility.

For start-ups selected to compete in the Global Grand Final in Vienna, Austria, travel grants may be available. Further details on this will be shared with finalists at a later stage.

We are currently finalising the schedule for ClimateLaunchpad 2025. To stay updated on key dates, follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter.

By joining ClimateLaunchpad, you commit to fully engaging in the program. This includes attending the 2 or 3 day Boot Camp (online*), participating in at least five out of six coaching sessions, and competing in National, Regional and Global Final pitching events if selected.

The programme is run by experienced trainers and coaches who are passionate about helping you succeed. We expect participants to be fully present and engaged. If you miss key sessions without prior agreement, you may lose the opportunity to continue in the competition.

*In 2025, some selected countries may offer a physical boot camp.

Yes! As mentioned in our Terms and Conditions and in accordance with our Privacy Policy, we’ll be capturing photos and videos throughout ClimateLaunchpad events, and we may even ask you to share a few words on camera about your experience. These will be used only for promotional purposes—to showcase the incredible green wave of changemakers like you!

By entering ClimateLaunchpad, you’re giving us the thumbs-up to feature you in our content. If you have any concerns or wish to opt-out, you can do so in writing at info@climatelaunchpad.org.

That’s awesome! First, check our map to see if your country still needs an organiser. If it does, head over to this page to learn more about becoming a local partner and submit your application.

Not a fan of forms? No worries—just send us an email at info@climatelaunchpad.org and tell us why you’d make a great local organiser!

We love bringing more people into our global community! You can support ClimateLaunchpad by:

🌍 Becoming a mentor or business coach – Help early-stage climate innovators take their first steps.
💡 Sponsoring or funding the program – Help scale our impact and support the next generation of cleantech entrepreneurs.
📢 Spreading the word – Share ClimateLaunchpad with your network and inspire more changemakers to join.

If you’re interested, drop us an email at info@climatelaunchpad.org.

Our themes help ensure that ideas are judged alongside similar innovations by industry experts, giving every idea a fair shot and helping the best of the best rise to the top.

These themes reflect some of the most pressing climate challenges of our time.

🌱 This year’s themes:

• Adaptation & Resilience
• Blue Economy
• Circular Economies
• Clean Energy
• Food Systems
• Sustainable Mobility
• Urban Solutions
• The Next Big Thing

You can read the full descriptions per theme here.

Note: As part of the competition you will likely pitch against other participants representing ideas from different themes.

ClimateLaunchpad is just the beginning! Our alumni go on to:

🚀 Join other start-up competitions and accelerators
📚 Take masterclasses and training programs
💰 Seek funding and investment opportunities
🤝 Find their first customers and scale their businesses

We also encourage you to follow ClimAccelerator page on LinkedIn to stay connected with the Climate-KIC’s entrepreneurship work. You never know what opportunity might come next!