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- February
2015
Nils Aldag pitches Sunfire
Ecosummit TV: Nils Aldag pitches Sunfire at ECO14 Berlin. The Dresden-based late stage startup makes very efficient solid oxide electrolysers and fuel cells using the same technology platform. Last year Sunfire won Ecosummit Award 2014 Silver and entered Cleantech Group’s 2014 Global Cleantech 100. Sunfire has got 80 employees and is backed by Electranova Capital, Total Energy Ventures, Bilfinger Venture Capital and KfW. Their impressive list of customers includes ThyssenKrupp and Vaillant. Upon request Nils will share more customers that prove Sunfire’s enormous market traction that may lead to €10M revenues in 2015. Nils currently raises their next financing round and welcomes new strategic and financial investors that believe in Sunfire’s growth potential in the global hydrogen market.
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- April
2014
Previewing Cleantech Forum 2014 in Stockholm with Richard Youngman
Fundraising is super difficult for startups as well as VC funds and it takes a long time during which existing and new relationships have to be nurtured. Fund investors (LPs) want to see more exits and return of capital rather than return on capital. To learn about the latest tricks of the trade and to network with the active VCs and startups it is not only a good idea to join ECO14 Berlin on 3-4 June but also to head to Stockholm to the 10th Cleantech Forum Europe 2014 (CFE14) on 19-21 May. As in the past, we support the Cleantech Group by participating and interviewing Richard Youngman (MD Europe & Asia) to give you extra motivation to join us – in case you still need it. The photos are taken at CFE13 in Bilbao.
Read more- 18
- June
2013
Richard Youngman presents the third wave of cleantech companies at ECO13 Berlin
Ecosummit TV: Cleantech is a theme spanning many industries including energy, transportation, buildings and agriculture. At ECO13 Berlin, Cleantech Group’s Richard Youngman shares his optimism and talks about the third wave of cleantech companies coming to the market with scalable value propositions that follow the idea of doing more with less. Richard confirms that cleanweb is an attractive investment area with many lean startups applying smart algorithms to all kinds of resource efficiency challenges. Geographically speaking, Richard votes for China as the key target market startups should approach rather sooner than later due to the huge demand stemming from a nationwide industrial policy inspired by cleantech.
Read more- 13
- March
2013
Cleantech Forum Europe 2013 – interview with Richard Youngman about reimagining cleantech
Financing cleantech startups as well as cleantech funds is a tough game. Investors aren’t happy yet with their returns. Consequently, startups and VCs need to reassess their strategies and look for long-term investors with strategic interest such as corporates, family offices and governments. To find advice from industry insiders we look forward to joining the Cleantech Forum Europe in Bilbao taking place on 16-18 April 2013. Ecosummit supports the event and we interview Richard Youngman, Cleantech Group’s MD for Europe and Asia, to warm up for the conference and discuss the current market environment. Richard will also speak at Ecosummit Berlin 2013.
Read more- 20
- April
2012
Cleantech Inside Is The Future – Reporting From Cleantech Forum Europe 2012
“Cleantech inside is the future,” forecasts Sheeraz Haji, CEO of the Cleantech Group. I totally agree with Sheeraz and like to call it: sustainable by default. The next wave is pervasive cleantech and ubiquitous sustainability management that will be adopted by every company in every sector. Of course, it will take time to make it real but the good news is that there are many smart green investors, startups and corporates working on it. This was obvious at the fantastic Cleantech Forum Europe 2012 which Sheeraz and his team organised this week in Munich. Before I share some of the general challenges VCs and startups are facing, let me brief you on the strategy of the Cleantech Group.
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