On Your Mark — Get Set — Pitch!

There are seven of the World Bank Group’s Climate Innovation Centers — in the Caribbean, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, and Vietnam. They support more than 270 clean-technology startups with training programs, grants and mentorship. Increasingly, the centers have turned to competitions to help entrepreneurs grow. Bootcamps and pitching competitions have emerged as promising opportunities for jump-starting an entrepreneur’s journey. Participants train intensively with seasoned entrepreneurs to perfect their pitch. They learn to showcase their business idea and strategy in mere minutes before a panel of judges. Winners bring home significant prizes — and, perhaps more important, connections with potential investors and a greater understanding of the business landscape.