2009 Green Business Competition

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This website was created in 2009 to promote a new platform via a competition that aimed at emerging green businesses in NYC .
The content below is from the site's 2009 archived pages.

Contest Details

The Green Business Competition is a groundbreaking platform to promote emerging green businesses in New York. The competition will reward investment funds to companies that have the ability to revolutionize their industry by working with our ecological resources while creating economic opportunities.

Through participation in the competition, companies will gain valuable exposure to financial institutions, venture capitalists, consumers, prominent business leaders, government officials, and the media to help ignite the green economy. The Green Business Competition will be the first competition of its kind to showcase small businesses across all industries as the foundation of New York's emerging green economy.

The competition will run from January 15th, 2009 to March 22nd, 2009.

The Green Business Competition is presented by Green Spaces, a leader in providing green entrepreneurs with work space, business services, workshops, and a networking outreach of over 4,300 environmentally and socially conscious people.

Green Spaces brings together leading green entrepreneurs by offering shared work space, resources and a community to launch their business.�

Entrepreneurs have access to a network of peers in different industries to share ideas, and a strong network of Green Business Leaders through the networking group affiliated with Green Spaces.� This hub of leading green entrepreneurs will also draw investors, clients and talent looking to break into the new green economy.

Prizes

Below is a list of cash prizes and service packages the GBC will reward winning companies (additional services may be added):

 

1. Cash Prizes

• 1st Place: $8,000

• 2nd Place: $1,000

 

2. Office Space provided by Green Spaces:

• 1st Place: 1 year of desk rental ($6000)

• 2nd Place: 6 months of desk rental ($3000)

• 3rd Place: 3 months of lounge space ($675)

 

3. Website Development and Support provided by Squarespace:

• 1st Place: Design of your company's website (up to $2000)

1 year of web hosting ($360)

• 2nd Place: 6 months of web hosting ($180)

• 3rd Place: 6 months of web hosting ($180)

 

4. Legal Services provided by Mintz Levin:

• 1st Place: Legal services ($1000)

 

5. Accounting Services provided by Citrin Cooperman & Company:

• 1st Place: Accounting services ($500)

 

6. Public Relations Services provided by The SOAP Group:

• 1st Place: Public relations strategy, tools, and services ($2500)

• 2nd Place: Public relations strategy and planning ($600)

• 3rd Place: Public relations strategy ($250)

 

7. Banner Advertising on Grist website provided by Grist:

• 1st Place: Advertising on Grist website ($5000)

Note: Where and when the ad is placed is up to the discretion of Grist.

 

8. Networking and Business Mentoring provided by SBNYC:

• 1st Place: Membership to SBNYC ($250)

1 Year Mentoring Relationship with Prominent Business Leader from SBNYC ($1500)

• 2nd Place: Membership to SBNYC ($250)

• 3rd Place: Membership to SBNYC ($250)

 

 

 

 

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 5 FINALISTS

The following companies will present at the Award Ceremony on May 14th and only three will be chosen as winners.

Environmentally Conscious Organization E.C.O Inc. is a design, licensing, manufacturing and subcontract management firm, dedicated to improving outmoded, outdated and wasteful food packaging. e.c.o. is marketing its first product, the "Green Box' (U.S. Patent 7051919), a pizza box manufactured from 100% recycled and recyclable material. The top of the “Green Box” breaks down into convenient serving plates and the bottom of the box converts easily into a handy storage unit, thus eliminating the need for disposable plates, aluminum foil, plastic wrap and plastic bags. The perforations and scores that create this functionality allow for easy disposal into a standard-sized recycling bin.

DBA is a New York based product development company founded in 2008 with the goal of developing unique products that combine aesthetic strength, technical innovation, and ecologically effective principles. DBA's wares are distinguished by an honest simplicity and a heightened sensitivity to user needs. Furthermore, DBA is committed to the awareness and application of responsible materials, efficient construction, and intelligent packaging.

Gotham Greens is creating NYC's first commercial scale, rooftop hydroponic farm. The 12,000 ft2 facility will grow over 30 tons of premium quality, pesticide-free vegetables each year for the NYC retail and restaurant market. The farm will combine technically sophisticated Controlled Environment Agriculture techniques with unique energy saving innovations. Gotham Greens addresses ecological and public health concerns surrounding conventional agriculture, including long distance food transport and food safety, while bringing New Yorkers delicious, local produce year round.

GreenSoul Shoes works with local artisans to produce recycled products. For every product sold, a pair of shoes is donated to an underprivileged child around the world. Our initial shoe line uses only 100% reclaimed scrap tires and inner tubes.

Re-Fab produces furniture and lifestyle goods through a unique business model that optimizes environmental, social, and financial returns. Our vision is to help revitalize post-industrialcommunities through the creation of “green-collar” design and manufacturing jobs by turning urban waste into valuable consumer products. The business will begin in the South Bronx and expand to similar communities in Philadelphia, Hartford, and Baltimore.

Eight years later, where are these finalists? Google searches end in zero results or defunct websites. Compare that to Online-Casino-Party.co where the business model is green by default, since the operation is entirely online and uses eco friendly hosting. Revenue is generated as the site refers players to slots at casinos where they have a relationship entitling them to a cut of the losses of each player referred. The business is driven by search engine optimization and augmented by social media, where traffic numbers correlate to revenue. They are primarily focused on online casinos offering US slots for obvious reasons. Different foreign casinos have restrictions related to the laws of each country, but since the relationship is with the affiliate partners, the hassles associated with currency are handled by that entity. So no problem, growth is green, and they, unlike many others, are still in business. Pretty impressive considering how many companies are created with high hopes and enthusiasm, but simply don't survive after two, five or tens years. Even this site's domain registration was allowed to expire after the 2009 competition. However the intent of the competition is to be applauded and three winners did get to take home some helpful prizes.

 

The Competition

I. General Requirements

Each business must meet the following requirements in order to compete in the Green Business Competition. Failure to meet all requirements will result in a disqualification.

1. Eligibility

• Business must be a legally registered for-profit company (Partnership, LLC, S-Corp or C-corp) with operations in New York State.

• Company revenue must not exceed $10 million.

• Members of the current Green Spaces Executive Board (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer) and Volunteer Committee are not eligible to compete.

All questions about eligibility should be referred to Brad Holmes at bholmes [at]greenspacesny.com

2. Application

• There is a $25 application processing fee for each entry.

• Each business is required to submit a completed application by 11:59 pm on March 22, 2009. Participants that submit incomplete applications will automatically be disqualified. Absolutely no late documents will be accepted.

• In addition to each application include the following:
  • Management team member resumes, wherein each individual's resume must not exceed two pages in length.
  • Format the resumes into ONE Microsoft Word document.
  • At the top of the document include the name of your company, one contact person, and all necessary contact information (address, phone, e-mail address).

3. Business Plan and Mentoring Program

• The proposed business should be fundable.

• The proposed business should not be in violation of any intellectual property rights.

• Competition participants are not to contact GBC judges or students during any part of the competition without the expressed written consent of the GBC.

• The GBC will offer limited mentoring assistance for applicants who want it. Assistance includes help with your business plan and/or filling out the application. Mentors will have NO contact with any judge or NYU student once the competition begins. The mentor's opinions are strictly their own and will not add any advantage in the scoring process of the competition.

II. Judging Criteria

All Submissions will be judged by standardized criteria. The principle evaluation measures will be the inherent economic value of the business and the impact the business has on the community (socially, environmentally, and economically) as it achieves its growth objectives. In other words, is the business sustainable? For this competition, sustainabilityis defined by creating and innovating new business strategies and activities that accelerate positive social change, protect and preserve environmental integrity, while enhancing business performance.

Judges will grade the submissions based on a score of 1 to 4 (1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=excellent) for each category.

Each business will be judged on the following categories:

I. Overview - 15%

• Does the company provide a clear and concise explanation of the business?

• Does the business have a viable, unique and realistic mission statement?

• Does the company have a well thought out plan of how to use the prize money?

II. Company Analysis and Environmental Impact - 25%

• Does the company clearly define the problem it is addressing or solving?

• Will the company's product or service ultimately save the consumer money or be competitively priced?

• Does the company thoroughly explain how its service or product will positively impact the community socially, economically, and environmentally?

• If a product company, how well does the company evaluate the entire life cycle of the product (including souring of raw material to consumer disposal of product)?

• Has the company taken steps to implement in-house environmental practices and programs in its place of operations?

III. Industry Analysis, Market Size and Trends - 25%

• How well does the company define and understand its target market?

• Has the company performed comprehensive market research that is conclusive and supportive of the proposed offering and strategy?

• How well does the company explain its competitive advantage over existing products and services?

• Does the company have a well thought out strategy (sales and marketing) to drive market uptake?

• Has the company anticipated barriers of entry into their targeted market and does it have a plan to overcome them?

IV. Financials and Goals - 20%

• How well does the company explain its revenue model?

• How realistic are the company's financial targets and is it able to meet them?

• Does the company accurately anticipate risks and does it have a strategy to minimize them?

• Does the company provide a realistic forecasted magnitude of financial success (revenue and profitability)?

V. Management Team - 15%

• Does the company's management team have the necessary skill set and experience to successfully bring the product or service to market?

• Does the company have the ability to recognize weakness in its management team and does it have a plan to overcome them?

III. Judging Process

1. First Round of Judging - Student Round

• After the submission deadline has expired at 11:59pm on March 22nd, 2009, all applications will be reviewed by graduate business students at New York University Stern Business School with the guidance of Prof. Jill Kickul.

• Students will grade submissions based on a score of 1 to 4 (1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=excellent) for each judging category (see above for judging categories).

• With the guidance of Prof. Kickul, the students will analyze each application and submit the 10 highest scores to the panel of expert judges.

• To ensure consistent scores, each application will be reviewed by two students and those scores will be averaged. If in the case of a wide discrepancy between the two students' scores, a third student will be asked to evaluate the application and an average of all three will be considered the final score.

2. Semifinal Round

• Approximately 10 finalists (the number of finalist is subject to change depending on the amount of applicants) will be invited by email or telephone to compete in the Semifinal Round.

• Semifinal applicants will present their business application in randomly selected groups comprised of at least 2 judges (may include additional judges that are not part of the GBC panel of experts) and 2 students. These presentations will be closed to the public and will focus on the participants' presentation skills.

• Finalists may also be asked to submit full business plans (10 pages or less) or any other additional information prior to presenting to the judges and students.

• Five finalists will be notified by e-mail or telephone a week after the conclusion of the semifinal round.

3. Final Round Live Presentations

• The day of the award ceremony, the finalists will be invited to stand before the GBC panel of judges and give a ten minute presentation and answer questions from the judges.

• The final pitches will be open to the public, but participation will be limited to the judges and the finalists.

• The final results and winners will be announced at an award ceremony that same evening.
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The Green Business Competition Team

Jennie Nevin Founder, Green Spaces Co-Founder, Green Spaces Innovation Institute

After receiving her MBA, along with taking graduate Environmental Studies coursework, she worked at Merrill Lynch Private Banking Group in NYC to manage portfolios for institutions and families with at least $10 million in assets at the firm. In 2005, Ms. Nevin launched Green Leaders, one of New York City's first educational green networking groups to bring together change agents crossing all industry groups seeking to make the world more sustainable. Green Spaces was officially founded on May 28th, 2008and is now a leading hub for green entrepreneurs drawing in talent, consumers and investors to the emerging green economy in New York City. Green Spaces brings together leading green entrepreneurs by offering affordable work space, shared resources, and a community over 4,000 green minded people to launch their business.

 

Brad Holmes Partner, Green Spaces Director, Green Business Competition Co-Founder, Green Spaces Innovation Institute

Brad Holmes is a partner at Green Spaces, a collaborative work space to launch green entrepreneurs. He is also the director of New York's first Green Business Competition which is a groundbreaking platform to promote and reward companies that have the potential to revolutionize their industry by creating green jobs while preserving our ecological resources.

Brad is also the co-founder of The Green Spaces Innovation Institute, a non-profit organization that provides educational and business services to young individuals and entrepreneurs looking to foster a career in the emerging green economy.

Brad has over 10 years of experience in editing, producing and directing countless hours of television programs such as the Sundance Channel's Big Ideas for a Small Planet and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.Brad grew up in Los Angeles and attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and has lived in New York for over 8 years.

 

Marissa Spano Event Coordinator, Green Business Competition

Marissa is a NY-based events professional who has been involved in vegetarianism, yoga and sustainability since the age of 12. Here at The Green Business Competition, she helped launch and coordinate our 1st Annual Competition. Her specialties include securing sponsorships, goodie bag inclusions, establishing relationships with vendors and being involved on the marketing side of the Competition. In her spare time, this registered yoga instructor teaches classes in and around NYC. She recently sold her Award-Winning Yoga Studio in NJ to immerse herself in marketing and events full-time. Her recent launch of soulspeekermedia (www.soulspeekermedia.com) supports her creative and resourceful nature and puts her in touch with mom-and-pop businesses. She has a strong network and believes anything is possible when it comes to entrepreneurs and business. In Q2 of 2009, she will be launching green earth events (www.greenearthevents.org): a worldwide directory of events and concierge resources for event locations. Feel free to visit the site and register for more information or membership. Her hobbies include: cycling, traveling, yoga, reading non-fiction, and collaborating with creative minds. She can be contacted at mspano@greenspacesny.com.

 

Marissa Feinberg Co-Founder, Green Leaders Global

Marissa has a life-long work history dedicated to the betterment of society and culture. Previously, Marissa worked for Felissimo Universal Corporation of America and did Partnership Development for DESIGN 21, focusing on socially responsible design and building its membership to 350 organizations globally. Marissa also worked for General Electric, publicizing its community initiatives worldwide during her time at the GE Foundation.

Marissa has degrees in public relations, marketing, and Spanish from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Through her commitment to cultural iniatives, Marissa also worked in Partnership Development for Felissimo's Japan Brand and JapanC, in journalism as Managing Editor of Focus Magazine and The Distinguished Tourist Magazine. She has also worked in publishing for Random House, The Princeton Review and Jon Wiley & Sons. During her free time, Marissa dedicates herself to causes. She is a member of Fashion Delivers Associate Board, BPeace, and Friends of Hillary.

 

Freida Orange Consultant, Green Business Competition

Freida Orange has spent her career working in film and television. She has been Assistant to Martin Scorsese, a publicist for Miramax/Dimension Films, Associate Producer for Oxygen Sports and Associate Producer on the independent feature film BOTTLEWORLD. As a publicist, she worked on the award wining films FAHRENHEIT 9/11, PAPERCLIPS, KILL BILL VOL. II, SPY KIDS 3, BAD SANTA, COLD MOUNTAIN and THE AVIATOR. She worked for Martin Scorsese and Sikelia Productions for three years on films such as THE DEPARTED, SHINE A LIGHT, NO DIRECTION HOME: BOB DYLAN and the upcoming Paramount Pictures feature SHUTTER ISLAND starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo and Michelle Williams. Freida is a life-long tennis player and has served as Tennis Liaison at the U.S. Open for CBS Sports from 2001 through 2008. She actively supports THE INNOCENCE PROJECT as a member of their Young Professionals Committee. Born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, Ms. Orange holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia in Athens.

 

Roberto Rhett Deputy Director Green Spaces Brooklyn

Roberto has a strong financial services background having worked as a Financial Consultant for A.G. Edwards and as an Internal Auditor at Ernst & Young. Roberto recently joined the Green Spaces team to assist with operations, business development and programs including the Green Entrepreneur Workshops and the Intern Rotation Program.

 

Te Baybute Designer Green Spaces Brooklyn

T Baybute is a New York based Graphic Designer and a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design in Advertising Design. After being exposed to so many wonderful creations, he decided that the communication is the true art and elected to pursue his degree in Advertising Design. T arrived in New York at the beginning of the year and is pursuing a career creating advertising for socially responsible institutions and causes. For the 'Green For Good' Launch Party of the Green Business Competition, T Designed materials like the slideshow, posters, nametags, and gift bags as well as helped to coordinate the event
His professional portfolio is available at http://tebaybute.net

 

Judges

Graham Hill
Founder, TreeHugger.com, VP Interactive Planet Green at Discovery Communications

Graham Hill, a New York City resident is the founder of TreeHugger.com, which in 4 short years has become one of the most respected and trafficked environmental sites on the web. TreeHugger.com was recently acquired by Discovery Communications, and added to the family of networks as part of its Planet Green multi-platform, global environmental initiative. Additionally, Graham owns a product business that sells a New York souvenir he designed which sells in 150 stores. Graham has a Bachelor of Architecture with distinction from Carleton University in Ottawa and did advanced studies in Industrial Design at E.C.I.A.D, Vancouver.

Daniel I. DeWolf Member, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

Daniel is a member in the Corporate practice of the New York office and Co-Chair of the Venture Capital and Emerging Companies practice group. Daniel brings a unique blend of talent and expertise to Mintz Levin's venture capital and emerging companies practice. In addition to his active legal practice, he is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the NYU Law School, and he has a wealth of experience as an active venture capital investor having co-founded Dawntreader Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm based in New York. Daniel is also the Co- Editor of Venture Capital Forms and Analysis, a leading treatise on venture capital published by the Law Journal Press.

Christiana Wyly; Environmental Entrepreneur

Christiana Wyly is an environmental advocate and a venture partner at Satori Capital, an investment firm focused on sustainable investing, providing conscious capital and helping to grow the market for products and firms dedicated to a sustainable future. Christiana's unique perspective as a twenty-something businesswoman has landed her on the cover of Kiplinger's and inside The New York Times, WIE Magazine, the Dallas Morning News, The Herald Tribune and Treehugger.com, among others. In addition to contributing regularly to the HuffingtonPost.com's "Green" column, Christiana is a frequent lecturer. Her recent speaking engagements include the Green Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., the Aspen Ideas Festival, the Conscious Capitalism Conference in Austin, Texas, Hollywood Goes Green in Los Angeles, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali.

Christiana is also active with a variety of non-profits. She holds a Founders Circle position at FLOW, the organization co-founded by Whole Foods CEO John Mackey that promotes entrepreneurial initiatives focused on creating sustainable prosperity. She also serves on the L.A. Committee for Global Green USA.

As a young girl, Christiana inspired her father, Sam Wyly's, environmental education, which ultimately led him to found one of the largest clean-energy companies in the country, Green Mountain Energy. It was this experience that showed her how business can be a powerful force for change. Christiana remains actively involved in the company, and she and her father are in the process of coauthoring a book about its creation and its ongoing mission and success.

Arthur Kressner Director of R & D, Power Supply, at Con Edison of New York

Arthur ("Artie") Kressner manages a professional staff, developing technology for the transmission, distribution, control center operations, substations, customer operations and energy efficiency business units. This research is focused on the development and demonstration of new power delivery equipment, software models, sensors, feasibility and engineering studies. Artie has been in leadership roles at local, state and national levels in areas of energy policy, energy efficiency, customer end-use and various national environmental and public health programs. Artie has published papers and articles in peer reviewed technical journals and industry magazines related to energy efficiency, information technology, management and computer modeling.

Michael Block;CEO, Kinetix, & Co-founder of the Sustainability Practice Network

As CEO and principal of Kinetix, Michael oversees company strategy development, infrastructure and operations. He is responsible for business development and implementing Kinetix marketing initiatives. His strong belief in the need for community among sustainability professionals led him to co-found the Sustainability Practice Network, an interdisciplinary forum to further the goals of corporate sustainability and sustainable development. Prior to starting Kinetix, he was CEO of Avalanche Systems, a leading creator of digital communication solutions that was twice voted top ten interactive agency by AdWeek Magazine and was acquired in 1998 by Omnicom. Michael was a finalist for Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1997.

Jeremy BentonPresident & CEO, Impact International

Jeremy has fifteen years of international experience working in the Learning and Development and Organization Development industry. He has worked with over 100 corporate, government, and not-for-profit clients across all sectors. Jeremy joined Impact in 1998 and has an in-depth knowledge of their services, business, and clients. Impact is a global leader in sustainable business transformation and people development. Their learning journeys and training solutions inspire new thinking and generate the meaningful dialogue needed to create and develop sustainable enterprise. Jeremy was responsible for setting up Impact USA in 2001. He is a member of the Board of Directors and in his current role of CEO is responsible for the US business.

Imke Oster

Vice President, New York City Economic Development Corporation Green Sector Development

At NYCEDC, Imke currently leads New York City's effort to attract more green business and green jobs to the five boroughs. Prior to heading NYCEDC's green sector development efforts, Imke managed a number of international consulting engagements focused on identifying new market and growth opportunities for mainly Fortune 100 firms. In this capacity, she spent six years with the Monitor Group in London and New York, covering a wide range of industries and functions. Imke also serves as an environmental commissioner for the town of Montclair, NJ and as a member of the Board of a non-profit organization in NYC -Comprehensive Development Inc. Imke chairs the Strategic Planning committee of the Board.

Professor Jill Kickul
Director of the Stewart Satter Program in Social Entrepreneurship in NYU's Stern's Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies

Jill R. Kickul joined New York University Stern School of Business as a Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations in July 2008. She teaches courses in entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship and is the Director of the Stewart Satter Program in Social Entrepreneurship in NYU Stern's Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. Professor Kickul's primary research areas of interest include innovation and strategic processes within new ventures, micro-financing practices and wealth creation in transitioning economies, and social entrepreneurship. She is the author of Entrepreneurship Strategy: Changing Patterns in New Venture Creation, Growth, and Reinvention, and has published more than 50 publications in entrepreneurship and management journals.

 

Board of Advisors

Marc Alt, President & CEO, Marc Alt & Partners

Katie DeWitt, Economic Development Corporation

Arrun Kapoor, Senior Associate, SJF Ventures

Ann Goodman, Ph.D., Executive Director, The Women's Network for a Sustainable Future

 

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More Background On GreenBusinessCompetition.com

 

GreenBusinessCompetition.com was established in 2009 to promote an ambitious initiative designed to encourage environmentally responsible entrepreneurship in New York. Known as the Green Business Competition, the program brought together emerging companies, investors, business professionals, environmental advocates, and government representatives to identify promising businesses capable of combining commercial success with environmental and social benefits.

Organized by Green Spaces, a New York-based organization supporting environmentally conscious entrepreneurs, the competition offered cash awards, professional services, office space, mentoring, and opportunities for publicity. Its underlying premise was that environmental sustainability and economic development did not have to be competing objectives. Instead, innovative businesses could address environmental problems while generating revenue, creating employment, and strengthening local communities.

The inaugural competition attracted more than 70 applicants and culminated in an awards ceremony at Brooklyn Borough Hall on May 14, 2009. Five finalists presented their business concepts, with Gotham Greens winning the grand prize for its plans to develop commercial rooftop hydroponic farming in New York City. The other award recipients were E.C.O. Incorporated, a company developing environmentally responsible food packaging, and DBA, a sustainable product design business.

Although the competition was a relatively small initiative, its history offers an interesting perspective on the early development of the green economy. It emerged when sustainable business practices were gaining attention but many environmentally focused startups still struggled to obtain investment, establish commercial credibility, and develop profitable operations. GreenBusinessCompetition.com served as a central information resource for the event, documenting its objectives, eligibility requirements, participants, sponsors, judging procedures, and awards.

The Origins and Purpose of GreenBusinessCompetition.com

The website was created to introduce entrepreneurs to the Green Business Competition and explain how they could participate. Rather than functioning as a general environmental news publication or commercial marketplace, it was primarily an event and business-development website. Its content focused on encouraging applications, explaining the evaluation process, introducing the competition's organizers, and publicizing the opportunities available to participating companies.

The program was established around the belief that small businesses could play an important role in developing environmentally responsible products, services, and industries. While major corporations were increasingly adopting sustainability initiatives, emerging businesses often had the flexibility to introduce more experimental approaches to waste reduction, renewable energy, food production, manufacturing, and resource conservation.

The competition aimed to provide these smaller enterprises with opportunities that would otherwise be difficult or expensive to obtain. Participants could gain exposure to venture capitalists, financial institutions, established business leaders, potential customers, government representatives, and journalists. For young companies, such connections could be as valuable as direct financial assistance.

The original application period ran from January 15 through March 22, 2009. Eligible businesses were expected to demonstrate not only environmental benefits but also realistic business models, market opportunities, and financial objectives. The competition therefore emphasized sustainable entrepreneurship as a practical commercial discipline rather than simply an expression of environmental ideals.

Its website reflected this philosophy by combining promotional material with detailed business requirements. Applicants were encouraged to think about their competitive advantages, management capabilities, revenue models, environmental impacts, and plans for future growth. These expectations helped distinguish the event from competitions that rewarded interesting ideas without closely examining their commercial viability.

Green Spaces: The Organization Behind the Competition

Green Spaces was the organization responsible for presenting and organizing the Green Business Competition. Founded in 2008, it developed a collaborative business environment intended to help entrepreneurs establish and grow companies addressing environmental and social challenges.

The organization offered shared office facilities, business services, educational workshops, networking opportunities, and access to professionals working in sustainability-related industries. Its approach reflected the growing popularity of coworking spaces, particularly among startups seeking alternatives to expensive traditional offices.

Green Spaces was associated with entrepreneur Jennie Nevin, who had previously worked in financial services and developed an interest in connecting business professionals committed to environmental responsibility. In 2005, Nevin launched Green Leaders, a networking initiative intended to bring together individuals from different industries who shared an interest in sustainable economic development.

Brad Holmes, a partner at Green Spaces, served as director of the Green Business Competition. His responsibilities included helping develop the program and coordinating its relationships with entrepreneurs, sponsors, and other participants. Holmes was also involved in the Green Spaces Innovation Institute, an educational initiative supporting individuals interested in careers and businesses connected with the emerging green economy.

The Green Spaces model recognized that entrepreneurs frequently need more than a promising product or service. They also require affordable facilities, professional advice, access to experienced businesspeople, and opportunities to meet potential collaborators. By combining these resources with a competition, Green Spaces attempted to create an environment in which environmental innovation could develop into financially sustainable businesses.

At the time, its broader networking community reportedly included more than 4,000 environmentally and socially conscious individuals. This network helped position the competition as part of an emerging business community rather than an isolated promotional event.

Location: Brooklyn, New York, and the City's Emerging Green Economy

The Green Business Competition was closely associated with Brooklyn, one of New York City's most active centers for independent businesses, creative industries, and entrepreneurial experimentation. Its 2009 awards ceremony took place at Brooklyn Borough Hall, a historic government building in Downtown Brooklyn.

Located at 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn Borough Hall stands near Brooklyn's civic and commercial center, close to Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard, Court Street, and the surrounding government and business district. The venue provided an appropriate setting for an event bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, city officials, and organizations interested in economic development.

The competition was not restricted to businesses physically located in Brooklyn. Its eligibility requirements allowed qualifying for-profit companies operating anywhere in New York State to participate. This statewide scope broadened the range of potential applicants while maintaining a strong connection to New York City's business community.

The finalists illustrated this geographical diversity. Gotham Greens was developing an urban agriculture business serving New York City, while Re-Fab envisioned manufacturing operations in the South Bronx. Other participants focused on products and services that could be distributed well beyond the metropolitan area.

Brooklyn was particularly relevant to the competition because its industrial buildings, warehouses, creative communities, and entrepreneurial networks offered opportunities for experimenting with new approaches to production and urban development. The borough also provided a setting in which environmental innovation could intersect with concerns about employment, neighborhood revitalization, affordable workspace, and the reuse of existing infrastructure.

The choice of Brooklyn Borough Hall for the awards ceremony reinforced the competition's connection to public policy and local economic development. It presented green entrepreneurship as a subject worthy of attention from civic institutions, rather than merely a specialized interest among environmental organizations.

The 2009 Competition: Eligibility, Applications, and Selection

The Green Business Competition used a structured application and judging process intended to identify companies with credible opportunities for commercial and environmental success.

Applicants were required to operate legally registered for-profit businesses in New York State, with annual revenue not exceeding $10 million. Eligible business structures included partnerships, limited liability companies, S corporations, and C corporations. Members of the Green Spaces executive board and volunteer committee were excluded from participation to avoid conflicts of interest.

The application fee was $25, and submissions had to be completed by March 22, 2009. Applicants also needed to provide information about their management teams, business objectives, environmental contributions, and financial plans.

The evaluation process placed considerable emphasis on the relationship between commercial performance and sustainability. Judges considered whether businesses were addressing meaningful problems, whether their products or services could compete in the marketplace, and whether their operations would produce measurable social, environmental, or economic benefits.

Five principal categories were used in scoring:

• Company overview and mission: 15%.

• Company analysis and environmental impact: 25%.

• Industry analysis, market size, and trends: 25%.

• Financial projections and business goals: 20%.

• Management team qualifications: 15%.

These categories demonstrate that the competition was not simply rewarding companies for describing themselves as environmentally friendly. Half of the total score was associated with environmental and company analysis together with industry research and market opportunities. Financial planning and management capabilities were also important.

The initial screening involved graduate business students from New York University's Stern School of Business, working under the guidance of Professor Jill Kickul, who specialized in entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship. Applications were evaluated using standardized scoring procedures, with additional reviews intended to address substantial differences between evaluators.

The strongest applicants advanced to a semifinal stage involving business presentations and further assessment. Five companies were ultimately selected for the public final round, where they presented their ideas to an expert judging panel.

This process combined academic evaluation, professional business judgment, and public presentation. It also gave participants experience explaining their businesses to an audience resembling the investors, partners, and customers they might eventually need to attract.

Prizes, Sponsorships, and Business Development Support

One of the competition's distinguishing features was its combination of financial prizes and practical business services. Instead of concentrating exclusively on cash awards, the organizers assembled packages intended to address common difficulties encountered by startups.

A May 15, 2009 announcement reported that the competition offered more than $30,000 in combined investment capital and business support. Gotham Greens received a first-place package valued at approximately $25,000, while the second- and third-place packages were valued at approximately $5,000 and $1,000, respectively.

The grand prize included $8,000 in cash, a year of rent-free workspace at Green Spaces, and various professional services. These resources could help a young company reduce operating expenses while obtaining expertise that might otherwise be unaffordable.

Participating sponsors and service providers included Squarespace, which contributed website development and hosting services; Mintz Levin, which provided legal assistance; Citrin Cooperman, which offered accounting services; and The SOAP Group, which contributed public relations support. Grist, an environmental news publication, offered online advertising exposure, while the Sustainable Business Network of New York City provided networking and mentoring opportunities.

Con Edison was a prominent sponsor of the competition, reinforcing the connection between green entrepreneurship and established businesses with an interest in energy, infrastructure, and environmental innovation.

The prize structure reflected a practical understanding of startup needs. A company developing a new product might require legal advice concerning intellectual property, financial assistance for initial operations, professional marketing, and access to potential investors. By assembling these resources into coordinated packages, the competition offered winners assistance extending beyond the immediate value of a cash award.

The Five Finalists and Their Environmental Innovations

The five finalists represented different approaches to sustainable business development. Their proposals ranged from urban agriculture and recycled consumer products to packaging innovation and environmentally responsible manufacturing. Together, they demonstrated the broad definition of sustainability embraced by the competition.

Gotham Greens — First Place

Gotham Greens proposed using rooftop greenhouse technology to produce fresh vegetables and herbs within New York City. Its business model addressed several challenges associated with conventional food distribution, including long transportation distances, limited urban agricultural space, and the difficulty of obtaining locally grown produce throughout the year.

The company planned to use hydroponic cultivation, a method of growing plants in nutrient-rich water rather than conventional soil. By incorporating controlled-environment agricultural technology, the business hoped to produce substantial quantities of fresh food while using resources efficiently.

The concept attracted attention because it combined an environmental objective with a commercially identifiable market. Restaurants, grocery stores, and consumers were potential customers, and the company's location within the metropolitan area could provide advantages in freshness and distribution.

E.C.O. Incorporated — Second Place

E.C.O. Incorporated developed an innovative pizza box intended to reduce waste associated with food delivery and takeout. Its Green Box used recycled and recyclable materials and incorporated perforations that allowed the lid to be separated into serving plates. The bottom section could be folded into a smaller container for storing leftover pizza.

This design attempted to eliminate the need for additional disposable plates, storage containers, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap. It also addressed the practical problem of disposing of large pizza boxes in ordinary recycling containers.

The product illustrated how environmental improvements could be incorporated into familiar consumer goods without requiring customers to fundamentally change their behavior. Rather than asking consumers to stop purchasing takeout food, the company proposed redesigning packaging to reduce unnecessary materials.

DBA — Third Place

DBA was a New York-based product development company founded in 2008. Its philosophy combined modern industrial design, material efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

One of its early products was a pen promoted as being approximately 99% biodegradable. The product was intended to demonstrate that environmentally responsible design could also be visually appealing, functional, and commercially attractive.

DBA's participation highlighted the importance of design in encouraging sustainable consumption. Products made with environmentally preferable materials would have greater opportunities for adoption if they also satisfied customer expectations for appearance, convenience, durability, and usability.

GreenSoul Shoes — Finalist

GreenSoul Shoes developed footwear using reclaimed materials, including discarded tires and inner tubes. The company's concept combined recycling with a social mission: providing shoes to disadvantaged children through a donation model connected to product sales.

Founder Alastair Onglingswan reportedly developed the idea after witnessing the dangers faced by children walking without adequate footwear in the Philippines. The company's approach connected waste reduction with a humanitarian objective, illustrating how sustainable businesses could address more than one social problem.

The concept also reflected the growing interest in socially responsible consumer brands that connected purchases with charitable contributions. Its commercial challenge was to manufacture desirable products while supporting the additional cost of providing footwear to children in need.

Re-Fab — Finalist

Re-Fab proposed transforming discarded materials into furniture and lifestyle products while creating employment opportunities in economically disadvantaged communities. Associated with entrepreneur Jonathan Santiago, the company planned to begin operations in the South Bronx.

Its business model emphasized the creation of green-collar jobs, particularly in communities affected by industrial decline and limited employment opportunities. The company envisioned turning urban waste into commercially valuable products through design and manufacturing.

Re-Fab's proposal demonstrated the relationship between environmental improvement and neighborhood revitalization. Instead of viewing discarded materials solely as a disposal problem, the company treated them as potential resources for manufacturing, entrepreneurship, and workforce development.

Gotham Greens: From Competition Winner to Established Business

Gotham Greens provides one of the clearest examples of the competition's longer-term significance. Founded in 2009 by Viraj Puri and Eric Haley, with greenhouse expertise from Jenn Nelkin Frymark, the company developed a business model based on producing fresh food in technologically advanced greenhouses close to major consumer markets.

The company's original plans attracted attention from environmental publications and business journalists. In June 2009, Fast Company reported on Gotham Greens' proposed hydroponic rooftop farm in Jamaica, Queens. The planned facility was described as a 12,000-square-foot project capable of producing approximately 30 tons of fruits and vegetables annually.

Those early plans should be distinguished from the facility the company eventually completed. Gotham Greens' first operating commercial-scale rooftop greenhouse opened in 2011 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, rather than at the originally publicized Queens location. The distinction illustrates how entrepreneurial projects can evolve substantially between their initial proposals and commercial implementation.

The Brooklyn greenhouse demonstrated the potential for year-round urban agriculture using controlled growing conditions. Instead of relying on conventional farmland outside the city, Gotham Greens used previously underutilized rooftop space to produce leafy greens and herbs for nearby customers.

In 2013, the company expanded its approach by opening a greenhouse on the roof of a Whole Foods Market store in Brooklyn. This development connected commercial food production directly with a major retail operation and provided a visible example of how agricultural facilities could be integrated into urban commercial buildings.

Gotham Greens subsequently expanded beyond New York, establishing greenhouse operations in multiple regions of the United States. Its products came to include leafy greens, herbs, salad kits, dressings, and other fresh food offerings. The company also developed relationships with grocery retailers, restaurants, and food-service businesses.

Its growth does not establish that winning the Green Business Competition was solely responsible for its success. The company also obtained other financing, developed technical expertise, attracted commercial partners, and navigated the substantial operational challenges associated with controlled-environment agriculture. Nevertheless, the 2009 award formed part of its early development history, providing recognition, resources, and exposure at an important stage.

The company's founders have subsequently acknowledged the competition as an early source of support. Its history demonstrates how a relatively modest entrepreneurial award can become associated with a business that later achieves a much larger commercial presence.

The Judges and Business Leaders Behind the Competition

The competition assembled a judging panel representing environmental entrepreneurship, venture capital, corporate sustainability, technology, public policy, and business education.

Among the best-known participants was Graham Hill, founder of TreeHugger, an influential environmental media website. Hill's involvement connected the competition with a broader audience interested in sustainable lifestyles, environmental technology, and innovative consumer products.

Christiana Wyly, an environmental entrepreneur and sustainable-investment advocate, also served as a judge. Her participation brought experience in environmental business development and the relationship between private investment and sustainability initiatives.

Daniel DeWolf of Mintz Levin contributed expertise in venture capital and emerging companies, while Arthur Kressner of Con Edison represented the perspective of a major energy utility. Other judges included Michael Block of Kinetix, Jeremy Benton of Impact International, and Imke Oster, who was involved in green-sector development at the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Professor Jill Kickul of NYU Stern played an important role in the academic evaluation process. Her involvement helped connect the competition with research and education concerning entrepreneurship, innovation, and socially responsible business development.

The range of professional backgrounds represented on the panel was significant. Environmental entrepreneurs often face challenges that cannot be resolved through technical innovation alone. They must also address financing, regulation, marketing, supply chains, customer adoption, and organizational management.

By incorporating judges with experience across these areas, the competition attempted to assess participating businesses from multiple perspectives. This approach also exposed entrepreneurs to the expectations of people who might later become investors, advisers, customers, or commercial partners.

Media Coverage, Publicity, and Popularity

The Green Business Competition attracted attention from environmental publications, business media, and organizations interested in New York's emerging green economy. Although GreenBusinessCompetition.com itself was a specialized website rather than a mass-market publication, the event received coverage that extended beyond its immediate participants.

A December 2008 article in Elephant Journal publicized the forthcoming competition and encouraged qualifying New York businesses to participate. This early coverage demonstrates that the initiative was being promoted before applications officially opened in January 2009.

In April 2009, coverage associated with the Go Green Expo mentioned Green Spaces and its plans to announce competition semifinalists. This connected the program with a broader environmental event featuring discussions about renewable energy, green technology, transportation, and sustainable business practices.

Following the awards ceremony, Fast Company published an article about Gotham Greens' proposed rooftop farm. The June 2009 report highlighted the company's ambition to develop commercial urban agriculture and identified its victory in the Green Business Competition.

Christiana Wyly also wrote about the event for The Huffington Post, discussing the finalists and the potential for environmentally responsible businesses to address economic and social problems. Her account emphasized the personal stories behind the companies and the difficulties entrepreneurs faced during the economic uncertainty of 2009.

The event itself attracted a substantial professional audience. Contemporary competition publicity reported that more than 300 invited business leaders, government representatives, sponsors, and media professionals attended the final presentations and awards ceremony.

These figures provide evidence of interest in the competition among New York's entrepreneurial and environmental communities. However, they should not be confused with verified website traffic statistics. Reliable historical figures for GreenBusinessCompetition.com's monthly visitors, search rankings, or total readership are not readily established from the available records.

The competition's significance is therefore better measured through its documented participation, professional audience, media exposure, and association with emerging businesses than through unsupported claims about the website's online popularity.

Green Spaces and the Rise of Environmentally Focused Coworking

The Green Business Competition also reflected an important development in the way startups organized their operations. During the late 2000s, coworking spaces were becoming an alternative to traditional offices, particularly for entrepreneurs who wanted affordable facilities and opportunities to collaborate with other small businesses.

Green Spaces distinguished itself by focusing on organizations interested in environmental and social responsibility. A March 2009 report published by CUNY's NYC On Deadline described a workspace housing more than 20 organizations and approximately 35 people. Tenants included businesses involved in sustainable agriculture, seafood distribution, renewable energy, and nonprofit activities.

At the time, a permanent desk reportedly cost $425 per month and included access to office equipment, internet service, conference facilities, and shared resources. More importantly, occupants benefited from working near people pursuing related goals. Interviews with tenants emphasized the advantages of professional networking, collaboration, and an atmosphere supportive of emerging businesses.

The model subsequently attracted attention from publications examining coworking and workplace design. A 2012 Work Design Magazine feature discussed Green Spaces and its emphasis on open work environments that encouraged interaction among entrepreneurs. Other coverage described its expansion and connections with businesses working in clean technology, environmental advocacy, and social entrepreneurship.

This broader history helps explain why Green Spaces was well positioned to organize the Green Business Competition. The organization already understood the challenges facing small businesses and had developed relationships with people working across the environmental sector. The competition extended those relationships into a public program that could attract new companies and introduce them to a wider professional community.

Environmental, Economic, and Social Significance

The competition took place during a period of considerable economic uncertainty. The financial crisis of 2008 had disrupted investment markets, reduced access to financing, and increased concerns about unemployment. At the same time, public discussion of climate change, renewable energy, and green jobs was becoming increasingly prominent.

Against this background, the Green Business Competition promoted the idea that environmental protection could be connected with economic recovery and new employment opportunities. Its finalists proposed businesses that could potentially create jobs, reduce waste, improve food distribution, or introduce products manufactured with more responsible materials.

Re-Fab's proposed operations in the South Bronx illustrated the social dimension of this approach. By turning discarded materials into furniture, the business hoped to combine waste reduction with employment opportunities in communities affected by industrial decline. GreenSoul Shoes similarly connected recycled materials with a humanitarian mission, while Gotham Greens addressed questions about local food production and urban resource use.

The competition also reflected a shift in how sustainability was discussed within business circles. Environmental responsibility was increasingly being presented not merely as a charitable activity or regulatory obligation, but as a potential source of competitive advantage. Businesses could attract customers by reducing waste, improving efficiency, creating innovative products, or addressing problems that conventional industries had overlooked.

However, the competition's commercial emphasis was equally important. Its judging process recognized that environmentally beneficial ideas still required paying customers, realistic financial projections, effective management, and workable distribution systems. A product's ecological advantages alone could not guarantee that a business would survive.

This balance between idealism and commercial discipline remains one of the most instructive aspects of the 2009 initiative.

What Happened to GreenBusinessCompetition.com?

GreenBusinessCompetition.com remains accessible as a historical resource devoted to the 2009 event. Its available content preserves information about the competition, including its rules, organizers, judging criteria, prize packages, and participating businesses.

The website is best understood as a record of an earlier entrepreneurial initiative rather than an active application portal for a current competition. Its historical material provides a useful picture of how environmentally focused startups were being promoted and evaluated in New York during the late 2000s.

The available evidence establishes that Green Spaces organized the original competition, but it does not establish the current legal ownership of the domain. Ownership of the historical event should not automatically be treated as proof of ownership of the website today.

There is also insufficient evidence to confirm that the competition developed into a regularly recurring annual event. Although the inaugural program was presented with ambitions for continued activity, the surviving documentation primarily concerns the 2009 competition.

Similarly, the subsequent histories of all five finalists are not equally well documented. Gotham Greens has a substantial public record demonstrating its expansion, while the available information concerning the longer-term operations of some other participants is considerably more limited. The absence of easily accessible information about a company should not, by itself, be interpreted as proof that the business failed.

These limitations are important when evaluating the website today. It is a historical source that documents the aspirations and activities of an earlier generation of sustainable entrepreneurs, not a verified directory of currently operating green businesses.

Reviews, Recognition, and the Competition's Legacy

Unlike a restaurant, retail store, or consumer service, GreenBusinessCompetition.com was not a business that depended on ordinary customer reviews. Its reputation was primarily associated with the professional organizations, entrepreneurs, sponsors, and journalists involved in the competition.

The most useful assessments of the event come from contemporary reporting and the subsequent experiences of participating companies. Media accounts generally emphasized the creativity of the finalists, the importance of supporting environmentally responsible entrepreneurship, and the value of connecting promising startups with professional resources.

The event's own awards were its principal form of recognition. Gotham Greens received first place, E.C.O. Incorporated finished second, and DBA received third place. These were competition awards, not independently established certifications of environmental performance or guarantees of future commercial success.

Gotham Greens' subsequent development provides the strongest documented example of a finalist achieving lasting commercial recognition. Its expansion from a startup concept into a multi-state greenhouse farming business demonstrates that some of the ideas presented at the competition were capable of progressing beyond their original proposals.

The competition also has historical value because it captured an important stage in the development of sustainable entrepreneurship. In 2009, concepts such as commercial rooftop agriculture, circular product design, recycled consumer goods, and green-collar employment were gaining attention but had not yet become as familiar within mainstream business discussions.

GreenBusinessCompetition.com preserves examples of how entrepreneurs were attempting to turn these concepts into practical enterprises. Its material remains useful to readers interested in environmental business history, startup competitions, urban sustainability, and the relationship between innovation and economic development.

Why GreenBusinessCompetition.com Still Matters

The history of GreenBusinessCompetition.com demonstrates how a relatively modest initiative can bring together organizations and individuals working toward broader economic and environmental goals.

The 2009 Green Business Competition did not attempt to solve every challenge facing sustainable businesses. Its financial resources were limited, its geographic eligibility was restricted to New York State, and only three companies received awards. Nevertheless, the program offered something important: a structured opportunity for entrepreneurs to present commercially viable environmental innovations to people capable of helping them develop those ideas.

Its combination of academic evaluation, professional mentoring, business services, and public recognition reflected an understanding that successful entrepreneurship requires a network of support. The organizers recognized that emerging companies needed not only funding but also practical expertise, credibility, customers, and opportunities to establish relationships.

The competition's finalists represented different interpretations of sustainable development, from food production and consumer packaging to recycled footwear and community-based manufacturing. Their proposals illustrated the possibility of addressing environmental challenges through business models designed to generate revenue rather than depend exclusively on donations or public funding.

For readers exploring the history of New York's green economy, GreenBusinessCompetition.com offers a record of the people, businesses, and institutions that participated in this movement during its formative years. The competition's association with Gotham Greens gives it an additional place in the history of commercial urban agriculture.

More broadly, the website documents a moment when environmentally responsible entrepreneurship was increasingly being recognized as a serious field of business development. Its lasting importance lies in the ideas it promoted, the connections it encouraged, and the example it provided of how private enterprise, education, and environmental responsibility could be brought together.