Drylet CEO Luka Erceg received today the First Prize Certificate and $10,000 award from the Vice Governor of China’s Hubei Province, Mr. Shenglian Guo. The InnoSTARS Competition Semi-Finals in the Renewable Energy, Clean Tech, and New Materials category took place in Wuhan, China.
“Drylet is excited about the award it received today as it is a recognition of the large societal problem all nations face with biosolids pollution. We are even more excited by the opportunity to be a part of the solution in China. We expect in the coming years, China’s drive to address its environmental challenges will put it at the forefront of innovation – precisely where Drylet operates,” Erceg said.
The InnoSTARS Competition is a platform that connects U.S.-based innovators and companies with Chinese investors, corporates, and strategic partners, and aims to provide U.S.-based innovative technology companies with resources to enter the Chinese market. It is hosted by the US China Innovation Alliance (UCIA), China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC), China Association for International Science and Technology Cooperation (CAISTC), and supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of People’s Republic of China (MOST).
Drylet was selected in the initial round when it won First Place in the Silicon Valley Division last May. Fifteen contestants competed in the Semi-Finals. Each entrepreneur was given a 5-minute pitch opportunity followed by a 5-minute Q & A session with an international panel of judges, many of whom were professional investors.
All contestants join in the roadshow that will take them from Wuhan to Changzhou, and Nanjing for the remainder of the week, with several meetings set up with potential investors and partners.
UPDATE (12/15/2017) : The plan has changed for the 2017 InnoSTARS Competition as the Final, originally scheduled in January 2018, has been cancelled. The Semi-Finals are considered the “Final” for this year, according to a statement by the organizers.