Hawken graduate selected as finalist in California tech open

Sonia Aggarwal `02 was recently selected as a finalist in the 2007 California Clean Tech Open. She was among fifty finalists chosen from an entrant pool of 150. The open, according to its Web site, is \"an independent effort by entrepreneurs, researchers, environmentalists, investors and others to create economic growth and environmental sustainability by sparking a clean technology cluster in California. \"It seeks [business plan] entries from professionals, scientists and students alike; focuses solely on clean technology; and selects teams that are prepared to take their innovations to the marketplace by building and sustaining a company.\" Sonia won a spot as a finalist for Friendly Cow Biogas, which, according to her proposal, \"will rapidly scale sales of proprietary biogas digesters for rural areas in developing and transition countries.\" Winners of the open receive a cash prize, but also office space and a slew of public relations, accounting, insurance and marketing services for their upstart businesses. \"Being a finalist for the California Clean Tech Open Business Plan Competition is a great opportunity,\" said Raj Aggarwal, Sonia`s father and former Hawken trustee. \"As a finalist, she will attend many seminars on how to implement her business plan - seminars that are taught and led by some of the most prominent names in venture capital in California.\" The elder Aggarwal, who is also a professor of International Business and Finance and University of Akron was quick to note that Sonia`s recent accomplishments were a direct result of her time spent during her formative years at Hawken. \"Sonia`s success in California is driven to a large extent by the excellent education and leadership skills she received at Hawken and at Haverford College,\" he said. \"As a former parent and a former trustee of Hawken, I am proud of the education in academics and values provided by Hawken.\" Click here to visit California Open Web site.