SUPPORT: THE GREEN BUSINESS CHALLENGE
“It was a formidable competition contested by an incredible group of companies. It’s an excellent opportunity for any emerging company to showcase its business plan; gain feedback from a high caliber of judges; as well as earn invaluable public exposure.”
- Viraj Puri, Gotham Greens, 2009 GBC Grand Prize winners
It is no secret that every business needs capital investments to turn their ideas into reality. Just as necessary are basic services such as office space, marketing, web development, public relations, accounting, and legal services. The Rising Tide Initiative understands these needs and created a competition called the Green Business Challenge (GBC) to offer prize money and business services to the most promising and innovative businesses. The competition will reward companies that have the potential to revolutionize their industry by helping to preserve our ecological resources while simultaneously producing abundant financial growth, employment, and community participation.
The Green Business Challenge was inspired by New York's first Green Business Competition in which RTI's founder Brad Holmes directed. The competition attracted over 70 NY companies representing a broad array of industries including green building construction, clean technology, green roofs, sustainable foods, carbon trading, biodegradable materials and packaging, sustainable clothing and textiles, beauty products, media, and transportation. The diversity of companies signified that green businesses cross all industries, but more importantly, it told us that small green businesses are hungry for business support, financial assistance, and much needed media exposure.
It wasn't only small businesses that were attracted to the competition. Some of New York's most prestigious corporations rallied behind the cause in the form of financial donations and in-kind business service support. Influential organizations that donated over $50,000 in prize money, business services,and educational workshops are Con Edison, NYU Stern Business School, Tishman Speyer, Method, Net Impact, Mintz Levin, The Nature Conservancy, Grist, and TreeHugger.
Visit the Green Business Challenge website for more information.