SolarCity finally went IPO just before Christmas. Does this mean light at the end of tunnel for cleantech? Last year was particularly challenging for the sector, to the point that green energy got caught into Presidential rethoric cross-fire. More critically, many VC investors have moved away from traditional cleantech companies that consume a lot of cash and require building plants to scale.
I talked to a Sand Hill VC firm before the holidays and they confirmed that "cleantech fell out of favor" although they did well with a couple of investments like Nest. Smart devices, as we predicted last January, faired well in 2012. Smart thermostats, smart cars, etc. You name it! Today we are looking at the likely trends to come in 2013. Here is our top-5...
The Cleantech Group hosted its annual gala in Washington D.C. yesterday to reward the top-100 private companies. The ceremony marks one of the most difficult years for the cleantech sector. I talked to Richard Yougman, Managing Director for Europe and Asia at the Cleantech Group, and reviewed the big trends this year.
The Cleantech Group has one of the most advanced tools, the I3 platform, to track M&A and VC investment deals in cleantech. It regroups diverse sectors such as renewable energy, transportation, water, etc. "Energy efficiency is getting stronger and stronger in the portfolio" stated Richard Youngman, "Paybacks are relatively fast". Here are my top-5 picks for cleantech companies that have not been acquired or gone IPO. Energy efficiency is well represented with three of the top spots.
We are in mid-summer and it is still a great time to go camping. With so many outdoor treasures like Yosemite, California has plenty to offer for those who want to reconnect with nature for the time of a week-end. But how green is camping? If you are packing charcoals and a gas lamp in your car, you may want to think twice before you take the road...
Actually, going "off-grid" is a good opportunity to realize some of the challenges that developing countries have to face on a daily basis: little access to reliable electricity and clean water. Luckily water is not an issue in most camping spots. So I tried to focus on limiting my carbon foot-print when I went camping with my daughter. Here are the top-5 green products to go camping.
The Green Frog The Green Frog is a consulting firm passionate about making a positive impact on the environment and the economy. Join its global community and read the latest leaps in clean technology innovation, social & environmental entrepreneurship, venture capital and energy policy.
