Energy Innovation Challenge Launch Workshop

Are you passionate about renewable energy and sustainability? Join the SPARK Energy Innovation Challenge and showcase your innovative ideas for a chance to win $2,000! This competition, powered by our partners at Duke Energy, aims to support local entrepreneurs, students, and innovators in developing groundbreaking solutions for renewable energy and sustainability.

How it Works:

1. Team Formation 
   • Form a team of 2-4 people before the Launch Workshop event. A portal will be provided to register your team.
   • The Challenge is open to anyone in Jackson County, high school students and older.

    

2. Launch Workshop 
   • A Launch Workshop is being planned for Wednesday, September 18 at 6pm.
   • Along with a celebration to launch the Energy Innovation Challenge, teams will hear from industry experts from Duke Energy and Hoosier Energy about the basics of how our electric supply system works and what current wins and gaps in innovation currently exist in the electric energy space.

    

3. Ideation Period 
   • Following the Launch Workshop, teams will have approximately 6 weeks to conduct research, market analysis, idea formation and their pitch approach.
   • During the Ideation Period, teams will have access to a suite of subject matter experts who will serve as mentors to guide the development and presentation of their innovation idea. These experts will represent a field of knowledge in the areas of electric energy industry, tech development, business case development, and pitch presentation.

    

4. Competition 
   • In Early November, a limited audience pitch competition will be held for each team to pitch their idea to a panel of judges from Duke Energy, Hoosier Energy and other innovation leaders.
   • Each team will have 5 minutes to pitch their idea and then time to field questions from the judges.
   • At the conclusion of the pitch competition, the panel of judges will select a winning team, which will be presented $2000 in prize money from Duke Energy.

*Note about the location:  The Launch Worshop will be held at Seymour High School, Room 100. Off of the 2nd Street entrance, please park in the gravel parking lot between the cafe and softball field. Please enter the school through Door 2 (Bus Lobby).