Community Updates

Sustainable Brands Seeks Entrepreneurs for Startup Business Competition

SAN FRANCISCO, February 18, 2015 – Sustainable Brands® recently opened submissions for its internationally recognized startup business competition Sustainable Brands Innovation Open (SBIO). Presented and sponsored by Target, the competition culminates at SB’15 San Diego, June 1-4, with venture finalists presenting their early operational plans to business leaders and investors in the Sustainable Brands community.

Published 9 years ago | About a 2 minute read

SAN FRANCISCO, February 18, 2015 – Sustainable Brands® recently opened submissions for its internationally recognized startup business competition Sustainable Brands Innovation Open (SBIO). Presented and sponsored by Target, the competition culminates at SB’15 San Diego, June 1-4, with venture finalists presenting their early operational plans to business leaders and investors in the Sustainable Brands community.

Sustainable Brands, known for bringing together diverse groups of business leaders with innovative and disruptive plans to embed sustainability into their companies, will accept entries for SBIO until March 23. Startup ventures looking to gain exposure for their pioneering consumer products and/or products/services that support existing corporations in achieving their sustainability-led programs are encouraged to submit an entry.

Details and timing as follows:

Startups in their post-launch phase with early operating metrics and/or a proven Beta/prototype to share are encouraged to apply before March 23.
A panel of expert judges including investors, entrepreneurs and brand merchants will evaluate entries base on creativity, team quality, economic scalability and level of disruptive innovation. Ten semi-finalists will be selected by early April.
Short list of entries will be featured for a public poll during the week of March 23 on www.SustainableBrands.com in order to select an 11th semi-finalist.
All 11 semi-finalists will be given exhibit space for 3 days at SB’15 San Diego and will pitch their business plans to the full SB’15 San Diego audience on June 2.
Target Award: The winner of the SBIO’15 Target Award will receive a $1,000 Target gift card and a two-hour consultation session from members of Target’s Sustainability, Merchandising and Marketing teams to strengthen the winner’s business model.
Overall winner will receive a $5,000 cash award.

"At Target, we believe that, through collaboration, you’re able to fuel greater innovation to deliver sustainable products and services,” said Kate Heiny, director, Sustainability, Target. “We’re thrilled to be the presenting sponsor of SBIO for the third year. Our hope is that we are able to help accelerate the discovery of great ideas that can bring more sustainable life choices to our guests and communities.”

To submit an entry and learn about past finalists, visit the Innovation Open 2015 web page at www.sbio.co. Further information about SB’15 San Diego can be found on the conference website at www.SB15sd.com.