BCVD Bringing Cleantech Ventures and Capital Together
The 4th annual Boston Cleantech Venture Days (BCVD) took place at the offices of Edwards Wildman Palmer LLP during November 2-3. Whether a European Cleantech venture is looking for a U.S. investor or a U.S. investor is looking for new Cleantech Technology, BCVD is a hands-on venue for venture financing and strategic partnering opportunities.
Brief Conference Outline
This year expanded to two days, the Boston Cleantech Venture Days was divided between the Strategic Partner CleanTech Day (SPCD) and The Boston Cleantech Venture Day. Day one started off with remarks from Per Baverstam, Chairman of Swedish American Chamber of Commerce in New England and owner of Baverstam Associates, and Abigail Barrow, MassTechTransferCenter. Focus was on strategic connections between young Cleantech companies and large corporations and entailed pitches and panel discussions. Day two focused on venture financing of CleanTech companies with a key note by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick elaborating on a growth strategy based on (for the common wealth) education, innovation and infrastructure for the benefit of everyone in the state of Massachusetts. Growth in Cleantech company size in theMassachusetts area alone was 6% this year, and is predicted to double in 2012 (or by 2013)
“The state is about to pass the largest stimulus energy bill in history, but the challenge is still to get the money out. We have to be willing to make an agenda, take risks and responsibility for decisions and investments in the Cleantech sector,” said Governor Patrick.”We can stimulate the industry and help these companies by making the state a reference customer, through for example state vehicle requirements and early adopter funding,” added the Governor.
Invention + Commercialization = Innovation
Noted speakers and panel moderators were also Amir Eldad, founder and managing director of A2E Partners; Albert Sokol, Partner of Edward Wildman; and William Aulet, Senior Lecturer and Managing Director at MIT Entrepreneurship Center. During an enlightening speech, Mr. Aulet underlined that innovation is the sum of invention and commercialization, and that combination of talent and technology should be central to the Cleantech discourse.
Knowledgeable speakers, moderators and panelists aside, the dynamic 2-day-conference also provided well organized matchmaking between – and insight into – a number of international Cleantech Ventures and their possible strategic partners and venture financiers. BCVD was initiated by the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce in New England (SACC-NE) in 2008 and is now a perfect example of a fruitful collaboration between several economic development organizations in theBoston area. This year’s conference was a partnership between British American Business Council of New England, the Finish American Chamber of Commerce in New York, the French American Chamber of Commerce, the Boston chapter of the Netherland-America Foundation, the New England-Israel Business Council, and SACC New England.
What Did the Experts Say?
Find a deeper summary of Mr. Aulet’s thoughts on Cleantech, a discussion of the venture capitalist perspective and an elaboration of the main lessons of the conference right here on Currents Online. Also keep your eyes open for an interview with Al Sokol, named the Securities and Venture Finance Super Lawyer by Boston Magazine, talking about how to cross the Atlantic with the help of the right U.S. partners.
Read more about Boston Cleantech Venture Days on their website >>>
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