2019 CleanStart Progress Report Released

2019 CleanStart Progress Report Released

Storage, mobility, efficiency and more.  Growth across the spectrum of clean tech can be seen in sacramento.  The Release of our Progress Report is an exciting time for me. Yesterday we walked the capitol hand delivering the progress report to our local representatives. Many where excited to hear about the past year of investment in the region making it an important player in building a sustainable clean future.

Since our last survey in 2017, the highest ever amount of new investment (over $150 million) has come into this sector, the most companies ever have been acquired or merged, and the first clean tech company has grown to over 1,000 employees locally (Siemens Mobility).  There are now about 5,050 jobs in this cluster, with over $3.1 billion in revenue. This is 300 fewer jobs than in the last survey, and $100 million less in revenue. The cause is largely the number of acquired companies that have moved out of the region. Like in most tech clusters,  there is an ongoing process of loss and renewal as companies fade while new ones are founded. As we count them, there are now 85 companies in the cluster down from 94 previously. But there are many new ones in the mix, with the numbers of new mobility- and energy storage-oriented companies growing rapidly.  

Get your copy and make sure you spread the excitement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

CleanStart Sponsors

Weintraub | Tobin, Moss Adams, River City Bank, GreenbergTraurig

BlueTech Valley, PowerSoft.biz, Revrnt, Synbyo, Califronia Mobility Center

Orange is the New Bike: JUMP Bikes in Sacramento

Orange is the New Bike: JUMP Bikes in Sacramento

If you are familiar with transit you know one of the biggest issues is the last mile problem.  How do people go the last mile from mass transit to their destination?  Cities have spent millions trying to fix this problem, with public bike share programs. Well, now some companies are trying their hand at a solution.

In Sacramento, JUMP is leading this investment push with their shared-use bikes now and with the recent release of JUMP scooters.  Working with Sacramento Regional Transit (RT), JUMP believes they can connect more people to RT by helping passengers go from their homes to RT, from RT to their destination, and then back.  If they succeed in their goal of having bikes, cars, and public transit on their app, they can help people find the most sustainable and cost effective way to travel.

Now they are in over 17 cities across the country and internationally, with its highest utilized deployments in California.  JUMP bike has about 900 bikes and 100 scooters in the area now, with big expansion plans. JUMP’s activity in Sacramento is far more than just dropping their assets (bikes and scooters) on the sidewalk, like other companies have in other cities.  Their investments include having their deployment warehouse in West Sacramento, another warehouse in North Natomas where the assembling all their bikes deployed on the West Coast locally, collaborating with SMUD to benefit Uber drivers who have EVs, and working directly with regional cities to grow with their input.

Connecting with the region is important because access to transportation is key in equitable development. When JUMP was first released they were criticized for not reaching low-income high minority (LIHM) areas.  When they expanded their Sacramento area in November 2018 from 14 to 25 Sq. Mi, half of it was in LIHM areas and followed it with the JUMP boost plan for low income residents. There still are areas that need jump bike and the out of service fee is still there, but for private investment it has helped.

This is all part of Uber’s bigger goal of providing a central service for planning one’s daily transportation. They envision themselves as an Amazon of transit, becoming a platform for people to access transportation assets.  This means expanding their payment platform to work with public transportation, making a transportation scheduling app allowing for planning your trip across different modes, and (we hope) providing access to all modes of mobility through partnerships, not just those owned by Uber.  For it to become the Amazon of transit, regional companies and startups (like Glide Cruisers and Marrs Cycles) should look to partner with with the Uber mobility platform to make their products available.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

CleanStart Sponsors

Weintraub | Tobin, Moss Adams, River City Bank, GreenbergTraurig

BlueTech Valley, PowerSoft.biz, Revrnt, Synbyo, Califronia Mobility Center

Excitement Grows, Get Exposed

Excitement Grows, Get Exposed

Last week was exciting, and the month is just halfway over. Make sure you are getting involved in Cleantech. Sometimes it might seem overwhelming but locally there are many things going on you can connect with. With Facebook showing us things happening around the world don’t forget to connect with your community to accelerate the Cleantech Revolution.

Just last week we saw how the excitement in Sustainability and Cleantech continues to grow in Sacramento.  At Green Drinks the Association of Women in Water, Energy and the Environment (AWWEE) showed up and over 70 people playing trivia, with questions on sustainability. If you don’t know AWWEE, you should check them out.  On Wednesday SMUD and FreeWire demoed their mobile batteries to Sac EV whose semi monthly meeting filled the parking lot with 20+ EVs.  Friday heard the voice of local Students in a Walk Out Protest to bring attention to Climate Change.

At CleanStart we are putting the finishing touches on our 2019 Progress report to present at the Cleantech meetup and we are planning several related programs for the Cleantech community from a Discussion on the Future of the Utility and a Startup Weekend Around Sustainability the Solstice June 21st. These are just the things we can announce, there are several more in the hopper.
CleanStart’s programs are not the only reasons to stay connected. It is an exciting time to be getting involved in Sustainability. While the problems facing the world serious and imminent, that also means now is the time to get involved. This weekend you could check out Upcycle Pop’s Eco Market.  Next month on the 22nd is Earth Day and there are events happening all month highlighting how you can get involved. Of course there will be Green Drinks on 9th and the Cleantech Meetup on the 25th, but there is also ECOS Earth day on the 28th and SacEV is putting supporting EV activities all month.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses, leadership, financial management and is proficient in working with nonprofits. He has a BS in Finance and a BA in Economics from California State University, Chico. Thomas has a passion for sustainability and a commitment to supporting non-profits in the region.

CleanStart Sponsors

Weintraub | Tobin, Moss Adams, River City Bank, GreenbergTraurig

BlueTech Valley, PowerSoft.biz, Revrnt, Synbyo, Califronia Mobility Center