Blog
Top Global Cleantech Companies Booming
Every so often it’s nice to get a little perspective on the cleantech industry. The Cleantech Group just published a review of the top 100 cleantech venture-backed companies in the world and it has some interesting insights. Over 13,900 companies from 37 countries...
Electric Vehicles Support Local Jobs
The developing industry around electric cars creates jobs. Building new manufacturing and supply chain infrastructures and investing in the new vehicle technologies by default adds jobs to the economy. However, a legitimate question is, does Electric Vehicle(EV)...
Three Regional Companies in Cleantech Open West Competition
Recently CTO West announced its group of teams accepted into their accelerator and business plan competition program for 2019. Three local teams were included, the largest number so far in this annual program. They will be competing for over $100,000 in prizes. The...
My CleanStart Experience
I had the pleasure of working with a dedicated team of professionals at CleanStart who have given their time to encourage and help others build a better, greener, and more sustainable future. They help connect start-up businesses with the resources and connections...
Why Do StartUps Fail?
Analytic firm CB Insights just published its study of 101 failed startups to uncover why they didn’t make it. It’s a revealing list. Here’s a summary of their Top Twenty Reason: Reason Percent Reason Percent 1. No Market Need 42% 11. Lost Focus 13% 2. Ran Out of...
TripHammer: Energy Storage Power Plants
Although California has a grid rich with renewable power sources, it has a hard time handling the volatility inherent to renewables and the new demands coming from electricity users. Solar, for example produces all of its energy during the day at non-peak hours. With...
We Hopped Aboard a Tuk-Tuk, Then Heard the StartUp Weekend Teams
On June 27, we had the last MeetUp before taking the summer break. We will be back in September. It was a fun evening. First, Manushi Weerasinghe gave rides in her all-electric, three-wheeled tuk-tuk. She has started a business to provide an alternative to provide...
Startup Weekend Brings Excitement to Sustainability
We just put on an amazing event this last weekend--the Global Startup Weekend Sustainable Revolution. It was some of the most fun you can have while making a difference. Startup Weekend is a 54 hour business plan competition and the focus this time was on creating...
The New $10+ Billion Gold Rush is On!
In a decision published May 1, the CPUC has approved an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to guide the purchasing of new power supplies over the next ten years. In total, the plan calls for nearly 12,000 MW of new renewable and storage resources, with some big surprises...