CICCcleantech

CICC Partners with the Cleantech Group to Promote Growth of the Cleantech Ecosystem in Israel and Globally; Discount on Membership with the Cleantech Group for CICC Members.

CICC and the Cleantech Group have formed a strategic partnership to help accelerate the growth of the cleantech ecosystem in Israel and globally. The Cleantech Group, its network and services, are global and are connected with top tiered global leaders in clean technology. As a benefit of our strategic partnership, CICC members receive a first time twenty percent discount on Cleantech Group membership. By becoming members of the Cleantech Network, entrepreneurs accelerate their fund raising ability, receive market insight, and access to premier networking events and market visibility. Membership in the Cleantech Group provides unlimited access to databases that put entrepreneurs at the forefront of the cleantech sector. In this competitive market it is a challenge to find the right investor. With the Cleantech Group databases it is quick and easy to identify investors who understand and have invested in specific cleantech sectors. Furthermore, the M&A and IPO databases allow to see cleantech companies trading costs, and find corporations who are acquiring cleantech companies.

The Cleantech Group has been helping startups and growing companies speed their ventures from ideas to products and customer contracts since 2002. Click here to learn more.

Mark Your Calendars for the Cleantech Group Upcoming Event: Cleantech Forum XX -- Shanghai -- December 3 – 5, 2008

Announcing Presenting Companies - Israel Cleantech Showcase November 11, 2008

Join leading cleantech companies, investors, utility giants and policymakers for presentations by Israel's top 12 cleantech companies in renewable energy, storage, energy efficiency, and water.

Introducing:

3G Solar, BotanoCap, Canarious, Cequesta Water, Coriolis Wind, CellEra, CES - Computerized Electricity Systems, Emefcy - Bio Energy Systems, HCL Clean Tech, Metrolight,  SOVNA, Tigo Energy

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
Bechtel Conference Center
616 Serra Street, Encina Hall Stanford, CA map
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Breakfast and lunch included
Parking is a challenge, please park at Galvez Field, corner of Galvez and Campus.

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Keynote Speaker: Alexander Karsner Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (2006-2008); US Department of Energy (DOE)

Featured Speaker: Aliza Peleg, COO, Better Place

Panels:

Corporate Innovation in Cleantech
Ricardo Angel Senior Vice President, GE Energy
Alex N. Beavers, Jr. Ph.D. Corporate Director, SRI International
James C. Davis President, Chevron Energy Solutions
Annette Finsterbusch Director, Applied Ventures, LLC
Stephen Eichenlaub Managing Director, Cleantech Sector, Intel Capital
Moderated by Ralph (Buddy) L. Arnheim Partner, Perkins Coie

Investment Opportunities in Water and the Water-Energy Nexus
Assaf Barnea, CEO, Kinrot
Evan Lovell Founding Partner, Virgin Green Fund
Hans Peter “HP” Michelet Executive Chairman, Energy Recovery Inc.
Moderated by Rachel Sheinbein, CMEA Ventures.

Cleantech in Israel 2008
Meir Ukeles , Israel Cleantech Ventures

CICC Members - Free
(Members - Please send your RSVP to iris@ca-israelchamber.org)
Participation Fee - $125
At the Door - $175

Showcase Kickoff Event - Advanced Cleantech R&D from Israel

Cleantech industry leaders, companies, investors, entrepreneurs and policy makers are invited to learn about leading edge and commercializable scientific research in renewable energy and water technology from Israel, at the Academia-Industry Forum: Advanced Cleantech R&D from Israel, hosted by CICC and Energy Crossroads, in cooperation with the Technion, Ben-Gurion University, and Tel Aviv University. The forum is scheduled for Monday November 10, 5:30-8:30pm at Bechtel Conference Center, Encina Hall, 616 Serra St. Stanford, California (directions). A $30 fee will be collected at the door, no RSVP is required. The forum is free to Stanford faculty, students, and staff with valid ID.

The forum will be led by distinguished speakers from Israeli academia and research institutes: professor Yohay Carmel, Technion Faculty of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Chair of the Israel Society of Ecology and Environmental Science, professor Eilon Adar, Director, Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, and Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research , Ben Gurion University, and professor Avraham Kribus, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, and Chair of the International Solar Energy Society in Israel. Professor Sally Benson, executive director, Global Climate & Energy Project (GCEP) and professor in the Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Stanford University, will moderate the discussion.

The forum is a kickoff event to the CICC Israel Cleantech Company Showcase scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, 2008. The showcase will introduce pre-selected Israeli cleantech companies to California's key cleantech industry players - cleantech companies, investors, utility giants and policymakers. To also register for the CICC Israel Cleantech Company Showcase on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 click here.

Cleantech Startups Funding

For many investors and entrepreneurs there's a feeling that the technology industry will be hurt by a significant recession. But many believe that the Cleantech sector, which is targeting a $4 trillion energy market, might be an exception. Cleantech investments typically require longer time periods and more money to mature than Internet or software startups, and they enjoy the support of governments and a populace worried about energy issues and global warming.

A panel called "Funding Alternatives for Clean Tech Startups" held in Santa Clara, California, on October 14th, by Intel Capital and angel investor network, Keiretsu Forum, for the California Clean Tech Open, , sought to give advice to young companies who plan to look for funding in the downturn. Rachel Sheinbein, an associate at venture firm CMEA who is also a Keiretsu member, told Chris Morrison of Venturebeat.com before the meeting that most angel investors aren't put off by the economic pain. "Now's the time to put some money into new things and find some good deals," she said. Marc Gottschalk, a lawyer at William Sonsini who helps run the CCTO, is also guardedly optimistic. He told Morrison that as someone who sees plenty of deals, he thinks venture funders will look past a recession when investing in newer cleantech startups. "I know firms like Sequoia are telling their firms to be lean and mean," he said. "But cleantech investments are for a three to five year window, so you can't make your bets on that right now."

AquAgro Invests $1.5m in Biodiesel Start-Up

Globes reports that Transbiodiesel Ltd. has raised $1.5 million from B. Gaon Holdings Ltd. (TASE: GAON) cleantech venture capital arm AquAgro Fund LP. Additionally it was reported that Transbiodiesel has also signed a cooperation agreement with a US biodiesel company. Transbiodiesel aims at solving the problem of biodiesel production by chemicals, which pollutes the land with its waste discharges. By producing biodiesel with enzymes three advantages can e achieved: ecofriendly production; substantially lower costs compared with current production methods; and the production of ecofriendly glycerin as a byproduct, which is a valuable raw material in several industries. The current chemical method for producing glycerin pollutes.

Registration for the Israel Cleantech Showcase is Now Open - Don't Miss the Early Bird Pricing

Join leading cleantech companies, investors, utility giants and policymakers in presentations by the top 10 cleantech companies, carefully preselected from Israel’s burgeoning renewable energy, storage, energy efficiency, and water companies.

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Bechtel Conference Center
616 Serra Street, Encina Hall Stanford, CA map
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Breakfast and lunch included

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Keynote Speaker
Alexander 'Andy' Karsner
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (2006-2008) U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

The day will include company presentations and discussion panels with the following speakers:

• Corporate Innovation in Cleantech
  Ricardo Angel, Senior Vice President, GE Energy
  Alex N. Beavers, Jr. Ph.D., Corporate Director, SRI International
  James C. Davis, President, Chevron Energy Solutions
  Annette Finsterbusch, Director & Kauffman Fellow, Applied Ventures, LLC
  Stephen Eichenlaub, Managing Director, Emerging Platform Technologies and Cleantech Sector, Intel Capital

• Investment Opportunities in Water and the Water-Energy Nexus
  Assaf Barnea, CEO, Kinrot
  Evan Lovell, Founding Partner Virgin Green Fund
  Hans Peter "HP" Michelet, Executive Chairman, ERI Board of Directors

• Cleantech in Israel: Meir Ukeles, Israel Cleantech Ventures

• Leading edge Cleantech scientific researchers from Technion, Ben Gurion and Tel Aviv University.

CICC Members - Free
(members - please send your RSVP to iris@ca-israelchamber.org)
Early Participation Fee (Until Oct. 15th., 2008) - $75
Participation Fee - $125
At the Door - $175

Join our kickoff event prior to Israel Cleantech Company Showcase…Academia-Industry Forum: Advanced Cleantech R&D from Israel. For more information Click Here

For any questions contact Iris Blich at iris@ca-israelchamber.org or call our office at         (408) 343-0917       .

For Sponsorship information please contact Shuly Galili at shuly@ca-israelchamber.org.

The Israel Cleantech Showcase is part of a week-long Israel Cleantech Tour taking place in California. Launched by CICC's Cleantech Initiative the tour's goal is to accelerate collaboration, investments and partnerships between US and the Israeli cleantech companies. Visiting CEOs will participate in meetings, facility tours and roundtables at PG&E, CPUC, Sunpower, Google, San Jose Water, and other local investment firms and companies.

Venture Capital Investment in Renewable Energy Exceeds $2.8B in Q3 2008

Greentech Media Forecasts Record-Setting Investment Pace to Stay Strong Through 2009

Greentech Media Inc. released the most recent quarterly data showing that venture capital investment in green energy technologies exceeded $2.8 billion in the third quarter of 2008, far exceeding any previous quarter on record. Investment in solar technology led the VC charge this quarter with more than $1.5 billion invested in 26 venture capital financing rounds. Renewable energy sectors, such as transportation and the smart grid, also received record amounts of funding. Venture firms continue to invest in biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol and algae with more than $150 million directed towards these new feedstocks and technologies. Eric Wesoff, Senior Analyst at Greentech Media, commented that "Despite less than optimal market conditions, there are a number of renewable energy IPOs filed and on-deck. Investors are looking for 2009 and 2010 to be the years of renewable energy exits". According to Wesoff "early stage financing is still alive. VCs and angel investors are still investing in new innovative technologies. Not as much as in 2005 to 2007, but angel and Round A financings are still represented." Wesoff also added that he sees "these investment numbers staying steady through 2009 as investors continue to nurture their current portfolio and look for new opportunities".

Total Q3 VC investment by sector:
Solar $1,585.8M in 26 deals
EE, DR and Smart Grid $272.14M in 14 deals
Geothermal $216.5M in 4 deals
Automotive, Transport $193M in 8 deals
Water Technology $182.46M in 10 deals
Ethanol and Biofuels $150.2M in 8 deals
Wind Energy $140.93M in 8 deals
Batteries and Fuel Cells $49.4M in 4 deals
Carbon and Energy Storage $29.9M in 3 deals
Green Building $28.76M in 3 deals
Green IT and Lighting $27M in 4 deals
Others $10.8M in 3 deals
Total $2,886.89M in 95 deals
Source: Greentech Media

For the full article go to http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20081001005167&newsLang=en

PG&E to Join CICC Cleantech Committee and Host Companies in November Tour

We are very excited to announce that California's largest utility company PG&E joined the Steering Committee of the CICC's Cleantech initiative.  Hal La Flash, Director of Emerging Clean Technology Policy at PG&E will represent the company and has been involved in helping our team build the program for the upcoming Cleantech Tour in November, where 12-15 Israeli energy and water companies will embark on a roadshow in California in search for investments, partnerships and collaborations. 

The companies selected to visit from Israel will be hosted at PG&E for an extensive session addressing opportunities of selling/scaling to large utilities with major focus on case studies with participating companies such as BrightSource and SunPower.

Call For Companies -- Cleantech Tour to California

CICC is Seeking Israeli Cleantech Companies to Participate in the Cleantech Tour to CA -- November 10-13, 2008

The California Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC) is gearing up for the inaugural Cleantech Tour to Silicon Valley, California. Part of the CICC's multi-year cleantech program, the goal of this special effort is to introduce pre-selected cleantech companies to California's key cleantech industry players -- customers, investors and technology and channel partners.

Joining CICC in hosting this delegation are the following:

General Electric (GE),  Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), Google, Applied Materials, California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and The Cleantech Group.

In addition to one-on-one meetings, companies will engage in presentations, dinners, panels and private discussions with investors and analysts discussing future trends and opportunities in global cleantech market.

APPLYING

Companies interested to apply for this delegation please complete this form and send it along with a one page Executive Summary of your company to cleantech@ca-israelchamber.org or fax it to
(408) 343-1197no later than September 17th 2008.

As space is limited, only up to 15 companies will be selected to participate. 

The decision regarding the participating companies will be made by the CICC Cleantech Committee comprised of top executives from US investment firms and companies mentioned above. For more information or questions please contact cleantech@ca-israelchamber.org or call         (408) 343-0917       

Israel Corp Unit Invests $10m in Solar Power Co HelioFocus

Globes reports that the latest investment of IC Green Energy Ltd. (ICG), the cleantech arm of Israel Corporation., is in a company called HelioFocus, which is developing thermo-solar technology. ICG reportedly contributed $10 million out of the $20 million the company raised in its latest financing round.

According to IVC Online data, HelioFocus, which employs 20 people, is developing a technology for use in parabolic mirrors that concentrate sunrays for use in powering electricity turbines. The company was established on the basis of know-how developed by a group of scientists headed by Prof. Jacob Karni - currently on unpaid leave from the Weizmann Institute of Science. The company was co-founded by Prof. Sasson (Sass) Somekh, who held a number of senior management roles at Applied Materials Inc., and CEO Dr. Ory Zik.

According to IVC Online, Somekh contributed part of the latest investment, through Musea, a fund he controls, and Karni adds that ICG has acquired a controlling share of around 50%.