CleanTech.Org

Subject: UFTO Note - Cleantech Venture Forum II

Date: Mon, 19 May 2003

Cleantech Venture Network's second venture forum in San Franciso, Apr 30- May1 was a great success. Over 260 people in attendance included mostly investors, along with representatives of the 23 companies selected to present (from over 200 companies that applied).

You may recall reading about Cleantech Venture Network in UFTO Notes 26 July, 1 October '02.

The surge of interest in cleantech was noteworthy. Many new faces were there, some of them very prominent VC firms whose usual sectors of IT and telecom have lost their lustre. These investors seem to be checking out energy tech and cleantech to see what the opportunities are, and whether it might represent a "next big thing". Some of them are actually doing deals, too. Panels sessions discussed this very trend, while others went into water, Asia, and the overall outlook for investing in cleantech. The new issue of the Venture Monitor, due in a couple of weeks (for members only!) will have details from the panel discussions.

The presenting companies ranged from a successful biopesticide company (better, cheaper, safer than chemicals...really), to several hydrogen, fuel cell, and solar PV companies, and some water and waste management. (The PV companies were described in another UFTO Note just recently). Here's the list. (If you want additional information, please contact me. I'm not including details here in the interests of brevity, but I can send you a version with longer descriptions, as well as individual company's own writeups. Some may appear in future notes.)

AgraQuest, Inc. - Natural pesticides

aqWise - Wastewater treatment retrofit increases throughput

CellTech Power - Fundamentally new solid oxide fuel cell acts like a refuelable battery.

FiveStar Technologies - Advanced materials via cavitation technology

Global Solar - thin film PV in production

H2Gen - On-site hydrogen generation via small scale steam methane reforming

Hoku Scientific, Inc - PEM fuel cell membrane to replace Nafion

HyRadix Inc. ? Small scale hydrogen generators via thermal reforming

Integrated Env. Technologies - Waste Treatment via Plasma

iPower - Distributed Generation ? New genset

Mach Energy ? Energy management services to commercial buildings

PolyFuel Inc - Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) systems

PowerTube - Geothermal powerplant downhole

Powerzyme - Enzymatic fuel cell

PrecisionH2 - Hydrogen, power and carbon from methane, via cold plasma (no CO2!)

Primotive - unique electric motor/generator

QuestAir - Gas purification via pressure swing absorption

Raycom Technologies - Thin film solar cells via high volume sputter coating

Sensicore - Sensors monitor water quality cheaply

Solaicx - Polycrystalline silicon PV

Solicore - Thin film lithium batteries

Verdant - Wave power via underwater windmills

Here's a definition of "Cleantech", from the website:

**The concept of "clean" technologies embraces a diverse range of products, services, and processes that are inherently designed to provide superior performance at lower costs, greatly reduce or eliminate environmental impacts and, in doing so, improve the quality of life. Clean technologies span many industries, from alternative forms of energy generation to water purification to materials-efficient production techniques.**

I strongly suggest you consider an investor membership, for dealflow, Venture Monitor, networking and other benefits. (http://www.cleantechventures.com). The next Forum will be held this Fall in New York.