Tampa firm competes for $100K

TAMPA — A local company, Trash2Cash Energy, is among 10 statewide finalists in a business competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy through the University of Central Florida.

Tampa-based Trash2Cash is working on a process for fuel production from biomass. The company and the other finalists were awarded $10,000, according to a release from MegaWatt Ventures, the lead sponsor. The finalists will now be assigned professional mentors and form business idea workshops in a competition to win a $100,000 grand prize. The finalists will also have access to high-level executives and product/technology experts, according to MegaWatt.

“We feel this competition will help not only these companies in their quest to commercialize, but will also raise awareness of the business opportunities in the renewable energy sector to many other entrepreneurs in Florida,” contest Executive Director Tom O'Neal says in the release.