Cleantech Open unveils three Northwest finalists

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Three Northwest startups are headed for the national competition next month.

The Cleantech Open startup competition announced this week the finalists from the Pacific Northwest that the organization will send to compete in the Cleantech Open Global Forum, the final competition held in San Jose, Calif., next month.

The winner of the competition will receive $250,000 in cash and services.

Of the 17 Northwest semifinalists named in June, the three most challenging were chosen move on to the national stage:

• GR Green of Burnaby, British Columbia, which has a patented process to make the kind of green building materials that are heavily sought for cutting-edge green building projects. GR Green uses limestone waste, recycled milk bottles and grocery bags to make roofing and siding products that are themselves recyclable after 50 years — or more — of use.
• Regenergy365 of Hillsboro, which has a double-win technology for recovering waste heat from commercial air conditioning and cooling systems and using it to generate on-site electricity that can be stored for later use.
• Vÿykn of Eagle, Idaho, which has developed a network-controlled on-site water purification system designed for use in campus and commercial settings. Vÿykn also won the Regional Sustainability Award, which is given to the startup most effectively incorporating a triple-bottom-line approach to their business.

In all, 40 cleantech entrepreneur teams from across the region participated in the process, which included training and pitch competitions.

“Our 2012 finalists are exceptionally well-positioned to succeed not only in the national competition, but also as profitable companies advancing the newest and most innovative technologies in the sector,” said Byron McCann, regional director of the Pacific Northwest Cleantech Open, in a press release.

Oregon companies have fared well at the national competition in the past. In 2010, Beaverton-based Puralytics took home the top national prize while last year Portland's Indow Windows came in second.