California-based competition, with backing from Google and AMD, will give participants a chance at $100,000 plus valuable guidance California-based competition, with backing from Google and AMD, will give participants a chance at $100,000 plus valuable guidance 1. Steal Underpants 2. ??? 3. Profit! Indeed, the absence of “phase twos” — actual plans to earn a profit on an arguably innovative ideas — led the demise of many an Internet startup, and spelled dollars down the commode for many a VC.Well, now aspiring entrepreneurs are spawning a new crop of green-tech ideas and are in search of seed money to help them bloom. As reported over at Green Options, a California-based non-profit called Acterra: Action for a Sustainable Earth, with financial backing from heavyweights like Google and AMD, has the announced the 2007 “California Clean Tech Open,” soliciting green-tech business plans from start-ups. Participants in the open will have a chance to win $100,000 in funding and services to get their green-tech businesses off the ground, plus they’ll be able to attend workshops to build viable strategies to hopefully prevent the eco-efforts from wilting.Team may enter ideas for one of six categories: Air, Water & Waste; Energy Efficiency; Green Building; Renewables; Smart Power; and Transportation.AMD is offering $50,000 to the winner of the Smart Power category, which “encourages links between information technologies and electricity delivery that give industrial, commercial and residential consumers greater control over when and how their energy is delivered and used.” Google, meanwhile, is laying down the $50,000 for the winner of the Green Building category, which “focuses on reducing the environmental impact of building construction or operation through improved design or construction practices, new or innovative use of building materials, or new hardware or software applications.”Other sponsors include the Environ Foundation (for the Air, Water, and Waste category), Lexus (for Transportation), and PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E (for Renewables and Energy Efficiency).Sixty finalist teams will be able to attend a series of workshops, aimed at helping them develop business plans to help them succeed in the marketplace. They’ll also received mentoring services and other benefits. All contestant will be able to attend an Executive Summary Workshop, on June 14, where they can learn more about application requirements and criteria. There’s also a series of Innovators’ Symposia Events, which will bring together clean-tech companies, entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors. The first one, on Smart Power, is June 28.The California Clean Tech Open is open to all U.S. residents, citizens, and legal aliens, though all winners must establish their primary place of business in California. Participants need to submit their entry fees and three-page executive business summary by June 30. For more information, go here. Technology Industry