By Type

1 February 2010

NewNet Investor Profile: Simon Webber, Schrodersp

Institutional investors are progressively turning their sights to listed opportunities related to climate change and clean energy, according to Simon Webber of asset manager Schroders. 'We are looking to identify undervalued growth stocks and we think climate change will be one of the key drivers over the next few years.'

Read full story

16 January 2010

NewNet Investor Profile: David McMeekin, London Technology Fundp

The London Technology Fund has the unique advantage of focusing solely on cleantech innovation emerging out of London. At the helm sits David McMeekin, who believes that London offers a more diverse range of investments than any other UK city. 'It is important to make sure we reach the key players in our ecoystem, rather than just waiting for people to find us. London is much larger and more diverse than other centres of technology.'

Read full story

23 December 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Steve Westly, The Westly Groupp

Steve Westly discusses the opportunities for US clean technology investors, the long-term prospects for the sector, and the role of global government in stimulating the industry's growth. 'What people are realising is that while it never hurts to be smart, most of our entrepreneurs need someone who can navigate government because so much of this industry is government-based and government-dependent.'

Read full story

1 December 2009

NewNet Investor Profile, Mark Nydam, PCG Asset Managementp

Mark Nydam discusses the advantages of funds of funds as a means to access clean energy assets, the challenges of fluctuating energy prices and why institutional investors should increasingly be looking to the sector. 'Institutional investors tend to have a lot of capital at their fingertips and enjoy investing larger amounts so I believe there is a nice agreement between what the space requires and what the institutional investors can provide.'

Read full story

19 November 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Bob Ackerman, Allegis Capitalp

Bob Ackerman, founder of Silicon Valley venture capital firm Allegis Capital and board member of The Entrepreneur's Foundation, on the hype surrounding cleantech, the potential bubble that is currently growing around the sector and the dangers of over-capitalisation.

Read full story

3 November 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Nino Tronchetti Provera, Ambienta Partnersp

Nino Tronchetti Provera discusses the impact of the economic downturn on the clean energy space and what lies ahead for Italy in the race to achieve a greener economy. ‘Italy is a big player in energy because it is a country without traditional energy sources. Unfortunately, Italy lost the opportunity to build an industrial sector out of the demand for solar and wind. The big potential for Italy lies with energy efficiency.'

Read full story

28 October 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Crédit Agricole Asset Managementp

Sandra Lourenco, Olivia Asseo and Elisa Vergine of Crédit Agricole Asset Management discuss why energy efficiency is so crucial, the impact of the economic crisis and the rapid growth of the emerging markets. 'If we had to find an upside to this financial crisis, from an investor point of view, the bubble has burst, so now is the time to investigate and cleantech is becoming interesting again.'

Read full story

23 October 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Pantheon Venturesp

Dushy Sivanithy of Pantheon Ventures looks at the problems created by inexperienced managers, why cleantech presents a pan-European opportunity and how he gains access to the best funds. 'We do view it as a huge opportunity and one that will only grow from here which is why we will continue to look at it very carefully. The energy and water sectors are just so vast that the scope for opportunities is immense. Accessing an investable opportunity however is more challenging.'

Read full story

12 October 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Rick Wilson, Cobalt Biofuelsp

Rick Wilson of US biofuel technology company Cobalt Biofuels discusses the need for private investment in new energy, the huge potential for development in biofuels and why a financial downturn encourages innovation. 'The fuels market is huge. Next generation biofuels are only going to get better over time. The aim is to get to the point where we are cost competitive with crude oil refinery, but no-one is here yet.'

Read full story

28 September 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Tom Bartolomei, Ausra Energyp

Amid growing public demand for clean energy, Ausra Solar has created a place for itself in the burgeoning global solar industry. Tom Bartolomei, senior vice president of the company, quashes concerns that the solar sector is too heavily dependent upon subsidies, arguing that the huge market opportunities means it will have a key role to play as the developed world looks to transform its energy usage.

Read full story

18 September 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Fairtradep

Louise Luttikholt of Fairtrade looks at what governments are doing to support cleantech production, the effects of the economic downturn on the poorer nations, and urges developed countries not to hinder the growth of developing countries. 'With Copenhagen coming up, we must ensure that climate change and development remains high on the agenda. In meeting the climate change challenge it's critical that the world's poorest farmers and workers don't lose out.'

Read full story

2 September 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Lee Edwards, Virent Energy Systemsp

Lee Edwards of Virent Energy Systems looks at the stigma surrounding biofuels, the concerns over food-based feedstocks and the role of private investment. 'The other area that comes into play is the fact that carbon is not priced in the world markets today and the technologies being developed today have environmental CO2 supremacy over fossil fuels.'

Read full story

26 August 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Duncan Grierson, Sterecyclep

Duncan Grierson discusses the challenges in gaining venture funding for a cleantech start-up, the growth of opportunities in the waste and recycling space across Europe and the need for governments to provide drivers to encourage investment in emerging environmental technologies. 'It is extremely important for governments to put in place these broad economic drivers. But it would be a mistake for governments to make technology choices. Once the financial drivers and mechanisms are in place, then governments should leave the market to decide which are technically and commercially the best technologies to build out.'

Read full story

20 August 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Vivek Tandon, Aloe Groupp

Vivek Tandon discusses the importance of strong management, why he feels the recycling sector is underveloped, and the opportunities for investment in Asia. 'Whereas previously our model was taking a lot of European companies into Asia and expanding in that way, in the future I see it going the other way. Great technology developed in Asia and companies doing very well in Asia will acquire European companies and expand into Europe, even if there is a global slowdown.'

Read full story

5 August 2009

NewNet Industry Profile: Eurostarp

Louisa Bell of Eurostar discusses its mission to make its journeys carbon-neutral, talks about the role of governments and tells us why CSR has escaped the curse of the recession. 'Everything we are looking at makes very good financial sense regardless of the environmental impact. However, coupled with the need to fight against climate change, there is absolutely no reason to reduce our focus in this area.'

Read full story

29 July 2009

NewNet Profile: Colorado Cleantech Industry Associationp

Christine Shapard, the executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association discusses why private investment is crucial in pushing cleantech forward, the effects of a new Administration and the potential impact to the industry of stimulus funding. 'The stimulus packages that were recently introduced do focus on cleantech and we see a great deal of money going into smart grid proposals. Of course none of that money has yet made its way to the companies as they are still assessing applications but knowing funds will go into this area has boosted confidence and aroused an interest amongst companies.'

Read full story

21 July 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Nigel Meir, Ludgate Environmental Fundp

Nigel Meir of Ludgate Environmental Fund looks at which areas are particularly attractive in the economic downturn, which countries are soaring ahead in the clean energy race and why management plays such an important role. 'You are far, far better off with a decent idea but a fantastic management team than with the greatest idea anyone has ever had, but with a poor management team.'

Read full story

1 July 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Russell Read, C Change Investmentsp

Russell Read discusses the changing attitude of institutional investors to clean energy funds and why he walked away from CalPERS to establish his own green investment firm. ‘The choice for me to focus on this area was purely an investment decision. I see the natural resources as lying at the centre of capital formation and investment market opportunity for the first time in decades. This will have an impact in every asset class that major institutions will invest in and can hope to profit from.'

Read full story

23 June 2009

NewNet Investor Profile: Ron Mahabir, Asia Cleantech Capitalp

Ron Mahabir discusses the opportunities for cleantech investment in Asia, the importance of local knowledge and the prospects for renewable energy. 'It makes no sense to price our resources against the historic fossil fuel prices. Renewable energy will only get more competitive as scale and technology take hold.'

Read full story

2 March 2009

NewNet Investor Profile, Andrea Davi, Amplio Partnersp

Andrea Davi discusses opportunities in the water sector, his preference for building businesses from the ground up, and what he looks for in a clean energy company. 'We look for the best technical performers in the space and we like to pick a strong team that has an in-depth knowledge and can work against the clock'

Read full story