The path to becoming a participant in the accelerator and going on to be a finalist then hopefully a prize winner is based on 3 rounds of judging. Each round is a source of feedback, training, and foundation for creating a successful and sustainable business.
Round 1: Judging the Applications
This occurs right after the Application deadline each year. Applications are reviewed by a team of judges in the region in which the teams applied. The applications are reviewed by a panel of three or more judges from the academic, research, business and venture communities, including experienced professors, engineers, entrepreneurs, angel and venture investors, environmental experts and legal professionals. A phone interview may also be included to answer any questions the judges may have.
In Round 1 judges are looking for:
- product companies with an exciting technology innovation that could disrupt an industry
- product or service companies with an innovative business model that could give them a sustainable competitive advantage
- technologies that work, or look as if they could work; we would disqualify a product or service that demonstrably breaks the laws of physics
- teams that show promise: at least a person or two whose credibility could pull in other talented people to help them crack a given market
| Criterion | Description |
| Team | Minimum two people; team members must be credible, able to attract additional quality team members; at least one team member must be RSA resident or citizen; no member of the team is directly affiliated with the operation of the GCIP |
| Technology | The technology or service fits within one or more of the four technology categories of the GCIP, is potentially disruptive innovation and/or demonstrates the potential for a sustainable competitive advantage; the product, service or business model has protected or protectable IP or know-how |
| Market | The potential market size is large enough for sustained business growth, and aligned with the expectations of possible funding sources (if any) |
| Basic Due Diligence | The team owns its own IP, or has a reasonable expectation of protection of know-how |
If you make it through Round 1 you will become a Global Cleantech Innovation Programme Participant in the region in which you applied, for the rest of the program during the Programme year.