SVASE BIGs: Clean Tech April 29, 2010

SVASE BIGs: Clean Tech
Start: 04/29/2010 - 6:00 pm
End: 04/29/2010 - 8:30 pm

Contact: Laura Weigant
Email: [email protected]

Location: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP
3175 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304

URL:- www.svase.org/events/bigs-clean-tech

Is Water the Next Oil?

According to the World Health Organization, water scarcity affects every continent and affects 4 out of every 10 people. In addition, the United Nations predicts that two-thirds of people on the globe may be living in water-stressed conditions by the year 2025 if present global consumption patterns continue. In California itself, Gov. Schwarzenegger said Californians face mandatory water rationing if they do not drastically reduce consumption and leading experts predict that there is a 50% chance that Lake Mead, a key source of water for 25 million people or approximately 10% of the US population, will run dry by 2021. But the problems are not just linked to water itself, as the California Energy Commission calculates that moving and treating water uses 19% of California’s electricity and 30% of its natural gas. All of these issues in a water market that is estimated to be worth $500 billion per annum!
So what does this mean for venture capitalists and Silicon Valley? While investments were down from the record investment levels in Cleantech seen in 2008, one thing remained unchanged; investments in water related deals represented a very small percentage of funding, with less $50 million invested during 2008 and 2009. But while the investments to date seem small, there does seem to be an interest in the sector.

With huge local and global markets, and a sense of interest from the venture community and entrepreneurs, should we expect to see more startups & investments in the sector?

Join our panel of experts for a lively and opinionated discussion on this timely topic!

·Why isn’t more being done today to address critical water problems?
·Why have we seen relatively low level of water investments from venture firms to date?
·What do the most recent funding trends say about interest in Cleantech and water?
·What opportunities exist for entrepreneurs & startups in this sector?
·What, if anything, will it take to get funded in the water sector?

The Panel:
Tamin Pechet, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Imagine H20
TBD, Clean Technology Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
TBD, Venture Firm
TBD, CEO, Water start-up with funding

Moderator: TBD, Partner, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP

When: Thursday, April 29
6:00 – 7:00 pm Networking and hors d’oeuvres
7:00 - 8:15 pm Panel discussion and Q&A
8:15 - 8:30 pm Additional networking

Location: Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, 3175 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304

Pre-Registered Rates (All Rates Include Hors D’oeuvres):
Members - $20; Affiliates who advertise this event - $29; General Public - $49

Pre-registration closes at 9 PM the night before the event.

Walk-In Rates: Add $10.00 to the listed price

To reserve an Exhibit Table, please contact [email protected], $149 Members, $250 Non-members (Includes exhibit table, 2 tickets to the event).

Seating is limited, so early registration is recommended to avoid disappointment on the day.

This event is co-sponsored by Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, www.cooley.com.

Speaker Bios:

Tamin Pechet, Chairman & Executive Director, Imagine H2O
Tamin serves as Chairman & Executive Director of Imagine H2O. He is also currently a Principal at Catamount Ventures, where he invests in and helps build high-growth companies, with a particular focus on water, energy, and environment sectors. Tamin serves on the Board of Directors of Lux Research, and advises several startups and non-profits.

Before joining Catamount, Tamin was a principal investor at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he co-founded and managed Goldman Sachs E&P Capital to invest in private energy companies. Tamin hired the team and oversaw growth to over $200 million in capital invested. Tamin also served on the founding team of Goldman Sachs Specialty Lending Group, a $1 billion middle-market lending business.

Prior to Goldman Sachs, Tamin held a business development position with Launch Media through its acquisition by Yahoo! Tamin holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB with honors from Harvard University.