SVForum East Bay Event: Life after Solyndra for US Cleantech January 18, 2012

Topic: Real-life Stories of Entrepreneurial Success. Is there Life after Solyndra for US Cleantech?

Did the bankruptcy of Solyndra destroy the appetite for venture investing in cleantech? In renewables? In solar? Investment in the U.S. cleantech industry went from $286 million in 2001 to $3.7 billion in 2010. In 2010 cleantech represented 17% of total VC investment in the United States. In the first quarter of 2011, venture investments in cleantech fell 44% compared with the first quarter of 2010. VCs are also being more cautious. Of the $1.1 billion invested in the U.S. cleantech sector in the second quarter, 67% went to later-stage companies. So given that dynamic, will venture firms be able to raise the money they need to make investments in the clean energy? What, if anything, does Khosla Ventures' recent success raising a $1.05 billion fund (50% earmarked for cleantech) portend for the venture investing in cleantech? And will entrepreneurs be able to rely on venture capital? Our panel of cleantech VCs will address these questions and yours.

-Christina Ellwood, Principal, Moreland Associates (www.morelandassoc.com)
-Ephraim Lindenbaum, Managing Director, Advance Ventures (www.advanceventures.com)
-Sven Stroban, Investment Team, Mohr Davidow Ventures (www.mdv.com)
-Ryan Kottenstette, Investment Staff, Khosla Ventures (www.khoslaventures.com)

Official Website: http://www.svforum.org/EastBaySIG