Latest News & Blogs
Crowdfunding on WeFunder Pretty Good for Investors and Startups
We have occasionally mentioned crowdfunding as a new option for raising early funding for cleantech startups. One of the more popular sites (WeFunder) has just published its results, and they may surprise many. Over the period 2013-16, 119 companies attempted...
read more
Electric Ride-share Comes to Sacramento
Early in this new year, VW will start delivering the rest of 142 all-electric Golf sedans to 70 locations in the area for a ride-sharing program like ZipCar set up by Southern California-based Envoy and Electrify America. Twenty vehicles were delivered in 2018 in an...
read more
Get Ready For CalSEED
Want some seed to prove out your idea? Well, CalSEED is back with their annual grant program to get ideas of the ground. Grants are a good source of such money because you surrender no ownership and you don’t need to pay the money back. CalSEED is focused on clean...
read more
Corporate direct purchases of renewable energy at new high
Corporate customers purchased a record 6,430 MW of shares of off-site renewable power in the US in2018 as of December 14, more than double the 2,780 MW purchased in 2017. The Business RenewablesCenter recently published this result of its latest market update. These...
read more
Global Clean Energy Investment Stayed Strong in 2018
Total global clean energy investment was $332.1 billion in 2018 according to the latest survey by Bloomberg New Energy Finance just released. That was down 8% from the record $361.7 billion in 2017, with much of the difference attributed to (1) the continued...
read more
PG&E Bankruptcy Could Affect Clean Energy Investment
While the drama around the fate of PG&E, who is faced with enormous claims for liability for wildfire losses, unfolds, the implications for clean energy investment have gotten little attention. If the company does enter bankruptcy, all of its contracts, including...
read moreAbout CleanStart
CleanStart was founded in 2005 as a nonprofit organization designed to accelerate the development of clean technology ventures within the Northern California region. Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge, capital, and connections that are critical to creating a successful new business. We do this by:
CONNECTING the Northern California region’s clean tech community through CleanStart PowerUP! networking events.
PROMOTING the region’s clean tech economy in the annual CleanStart Progress Report, on social media & news outlets and at statewide and national events.
EDUCATING Clean Tech business leaders through classes and the Entrepreneurs Showcase sponsored by Velocity Venture Capital.
Our Team
Gary Simon, Chairman
A seasoned energy executive and entrepreneur with 45 years of experience in business, government, and non-profits.
Mark Henwood, Board Member
CEO of Henwood Associates, Inc., an owner and operator of hydroelectric facilities in California. Mark also leads Powersoft, LLC, a SaaS provider and was a co-founder of CleanStart with Gary Simon.
Benjamin Finkelor, Board Member
Kiara Reed, Board Memeber
Kiara Reed is a digital media professional and community advocate based in Sacramento. In her current role with Comstock’s Magazine, a local award-winning business publication, Reed oversees the marketing efforts, digital management and community engagement. In addition to serving the Clean Start board Reed is also an executive board member of the Oak Park based nonprofit, Green Tech Education and Employment and volunteers her spare time to other Oak Park community organizations, including Oak Park Neighborhood Association and Oak Park Promise Neighborhood.
Brian Hoblit, Board Member
Brian is a Business Development Officer for U.S. Banks’ commercial lending division and is passionate about helping companies in Sacramento and the broader Central Valley region grow through debt and other financial services. Brian’s educational background includes advanced degrees in environmental engineering and business he has held a variety of roles in banking, finance, clean technology and water resources.
Dan Koellen, Board Member
Dan Koellen is a veteran of more than 25 years in the high technology and semiconductor industries. Dan has mentored and invested in several Sacramento area startup companies including two companies that have gone public. He is a board member of several Sacramento non-profits in technology, community support, economic development and world class botanical gardens. Recognizing his commitment to excellence in STEM; Dan is the development chair for the Astronomy Department Board of Visitors and adviser to the Applied Math, Engineering and Physics program, both at the University of Wisconsin.
Thomas Hall, Executive Director
Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. Thomas holds a BS in Finance and BA in Economics and has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.
Renonedo Williams, Intern
Renonedo is a current Sacramento State university student in his senior year, studying Mechanical Engineering. His interest in renewable energy and a clean environment has allowed him to become a member of the CleanStart team as an intern. Renonedo has a back ground in design and material selection along with motor efficiency.
CleanStart Accomplishments & Updates
CleanStart has been busy working to build the clean tech hub in the Sacramento region. We have been supporting local growth through education, networking, and promotion. Some of our recent successes include:
- CleanStart Restart, our successful crowdfunding campaign that exceeded its goal, brought stakeholders back and promoted several regional companies.
- 2017 CleanStart Networking Kickoff at The Urban Hive in Midtown Sacramento. With over 60 people from regional companies, Tenkiv live blogging their Kickstarter from it, and California Sunlight showing their solar power solutions.
- Our Legal Essentials Class nearly sold out and was highly recommended by attendees. Douglas Bosley of BTNT Law presented to a full room at Impact Venture Capital.
- The 2017 Progress Report was completed and released on April 26th.
- The 2017 Progress Report shows the 93 companies in the core clean tech sector is generating $3.2 billion in revenue and 5,300 jobs, up 26% from $2.54 billion and 4,150 jobs from the last survey released in 2015–five times faster than the overall economy grew.
- CleanStart will be hosting a class for companies interested in Crowdfunding. Leveraging CleanStart’s own experience and connections into the local crowdfunding community, CleanStart is proud to present “Is Crowdfunding Right for Your Tech Startup?” on June 20th.
CleanStart Companies