The Belgian startup, Turbulent, took home first place at the 2016 Startup Nations Summit held in Monterrey, Mexico, this year.
Turbulent co-founder, Geert Slachmuylders, was nominated by Belgium to participate in the The Pitch competition – a three-round competition featuring 33 of the world’s best startups. Turbulent is a clean-tech startup that uses a micro-hydropower plant to provide affordable and reliable energy using water.
The Pitch isn't the first startup competition experience for Slachmuylders or Turbulent. The company has obtained support from both Europe and South America – including Start It @KBC, iMinds, KIC InnoEnergy and Startup Chile. In 2014, Turbulent placed first in the Clean-Tech Challenge Belgium, and second place in the European finals held in London.
“[This honor] acknowledges our efforts on the right path, and encourages us to further develop this reliable and eco-friendly, next generation hydroelectric solution,” said Slachmuylders.
The turbine is mobile, and does not effect the ecosystem around the water source it utilizes to produce renewable energy. Turbulent features a vortex turbine based on bio-mimicry.
As part of the The Pitch competition, participants had the chance to work with professionals during one-on-one coaching sessions, and pitch to judges and investors throughout the different rounds of competition.
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