Cleantech Challenge

The 2025 Cleantech Challenge Finals will be hosted at the University of Portland, March 28th.   

Witness Portland State’s top entrepreneurs take the stage and pitch live for $3,000 in prizes. 

About The Cleantech Challenge
 

The annual PSU Cleantech Challenge is a showcase of the innovative spirit fostered at PSU. Students from across disciplines come together each year to solve some of the most significant issues our communities face today. Students are supported throughout their journey with mentorship, coaching, and prototyping  funds. Throughout the next few months, teams will work through processes such as design thinking, business modeling, and market research in order to get to the prototype-building phase for their ideas and pitch at the Cleantech Finals. The top two teams will be invited to further their prototype during the Invent Oregon competitions.

Do you have a prototype idea that will create a positive environmental or social impact? Do you want to solve real-world problems (like climate change and accessibility)? Then the Cleantech Challenge is the perfect opportunity for you to bring your ideas to life with a development grant, mentorship, and workshops!
Coming this January, join the PSU Center for Entrepreneurship's premier inventor competition: Cleantech Challenge! Learn how to move from concept to creation with like-minded individuals. Learn how to navigate the landscape of entrepreneurship with guidance from professional mentors and PSUCE staff. Gain confidence and competence in the innovation and lean startup process. PSU undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates are invited to apply for a $1,000 development grant to compete for $3,000 in prizes! 

The Cleantech Challenge is Portland State's premier prototype competition, where teams receive $1,000 in grant funding and ten weeks to develop their innovative prototypes. Watch as all six teams showcase their hard work and compete live.

1st Place Winners will receive $1,500
2nd Place Winners will receive $1,000
3rd Place Winners will receive $500

Join us on March 28th to witness Portland State’s top innovators pitch and compete live! 
 

Meet the Cleantech Challenge Teams:

Plastic Scanner Squad

Blurb: A handheld plastic scanner designed to identify and sort plastics, making recycling easier and more efficient.

Team Members: Kaleb Rice, Adan Velasquez, Mohammed Alreshoud, Natalie Kashoro

The (W)hole Collective

Blurb: Experimental research startup creating biodegradable biomaterials for art and infrastructure that enhance soil health and foster community collaboration.

Team Member: Isla Vogelsang

Cyberarm Dynamics

Blurb: Affordable and durable prosthetic arm with lifelike movement, crafted using carbon fiber 3D printing to balance functionality and aesthetics.

Team Members: Thuwanon (Antuan) Sodwilai, Harnoor Singh

Shiddie Gear

Blurb: Custom gear made with strong sustainable materials to withstand the elements.

Team Member: Piper Easton

Mode Motor

Blurb: Hobbyist-grade needle winding machine for electric motor stators, providing precise and efficient motor assembly.

Team Members: Devesh Mohan, David Turcic, Grace Gonzalez

Earth Panels

Blurb: Eco-friendly construction panels that improve air quality, control humidity, and regulate temperature for sustainable architecture.

Team Members: Eric Giovannetti, Sophie Anderson

Rules & Eligibility / Student Agreement

2025 CTC/EE - Competition Rules & Eligibility

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The PSU Center for Entrepreneurship and PSU Cleantech Challenge are committed to creating an experience that builds community, capacity, and accountability. By building a network where our staff, mentors, and partners reflect the communities and students that we serve, we aim to create a more inclusive environment where everyone is welcome.

By holding ourselves accountable to model the diverse and inclusive reality, we can shift the barriers to opportunity, taking a stand for an inclusive future