Israeli VC on Sand Hill road

Cleantech delegation to Israel - seeking companies interested in presenting

 

 

 

The California Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC) is leading a special Cleantech delegation to Israel on May 18, 2009.  This delegation is part of the CICC Cleantech Initiative, a partnership between California and Israeli industry players and policy leaders designed to explore collaboration and co-investment opportunities in this sector.  During four intense days in Israel, delegates will gain unique insights into Israel’s Cleantech landscape, while surveying Israel’s breakthrough technology innovations in energy efficiency, renewables and water technology. 

Israeli Cleantech companies interested in presenting to this delegation should contact E&Y – keren.dahan@il.ey.com  to receive the application form (or send me an email I’ll happily forward the form).  Application deadline – April 30th, 2009.

The delegation includes participants from the following organizations:

• Sempra Generation
• 21 Ventures
• Jefferies
• Amadeus Capital
• Good Energies
• Kleiner Perkins Caulfied and Byers
• Mohr Davidow Ventures
• Silicon Valley Bank
• Protecht Group
• RIG Investments
• US Venture Partners
• Khosla Ventures
• Vantage Point
• Musea Ventures
• CMEA Venture Partners
• Virgin Green Fund
• Wind Harvest International
• Canaan Partners
• Alon Ventures

Tags: CICC, CICC+Cleantech, Good+Energies, Kleiner+Perkins, SVB, Khosla+Ventures, Sempra, 21+ventures, jefferies, amadeus+capital, mohr+davidow, protecht+group, rig+investments, usvp, vantage+point, musea+ventures, cmea+venture+partners, virgin+green+fund, wind+harvest+international, canaan+partners, alon+ventures

Earth Day 2009

Earth Day 1970 was the first; today it is observed by more than 500 million people in 175 countries.  Nice, I suppose...  It’s important to raise public awareness, but it’s policy makers that have the biggest impact, with the education system critical in educating an environmentally literate generation. A generation that understands it’s interdependence with and responsibility for the total environment, and possesses the knowledge and concern to solve existing problems and prevent future environmental degradation.

On our Moshav we’re getting better at the basics; recycling, saving water and keeping these issues on our mind, and helping people to act on them.  A few days ago, the Israeli Environmental Protection Minister called for a freeze on the planned coal-fired power plant (although I would hope that this type of initiative would come from a different part of government ….).  All of this helps, but there’s a long way to go.

So here I sit, wondering if Earth Day 2010 will be any different that today’s.  To note the day, I changed my blog design to Green.  After all, Green is the new Black.

 

Tags: Earth+Day+2009

Green with Envy

It is difficult to open the newspapers here in Israel without feeling nausea as the process of building a coalition government is underway.  Therefore, I opt the easy solution… avoidance. 

I prefer to read about the newly formed government in the US, and Barack Obama’s stimulus package for the Cleantech industry.  There is indeed hope.

Although the proposed budget has not yet been approved, President Obama continues to send the message that Cleantech is going to be a significant growth driver for the US economy, building infrastructure and creating jobs. (Read PWC’s “Point of view: Cleantech nation” here.)

So, back to my part of the world.  I can only hope that our newly formed government will be smart enough to pay attention… after all, we are talking about job growth, energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative fuels and greenhouse gas reduction.   Issues that should be high on the Israeli agenda, IMHO.

Tags: pwc, cleantech+nation

What makes mama proud

There are many reasons to be proud of your kids: good grades, scoring a goal during soccer practice, sleeping in their beds by themselves all night, making lunch all by themselves, etc., etc., etc.  But yesterday, this mama was proud when Ben (now 5) went to buy a birthday present for his friend, and when the gift was presented in a plastic bag, assertively he told the sales clerk that a plastic bag was not necessary.  Of course, he looked back to his mama for support, and yes, he got it…  mama is proud 

Tags: Plastic+bags

Barcelona - Tsav 8

This post is targeted at Israeli’s that are attending GSMA in Barcelona. 

בשבוע שעבר, התפרסמה כתבה שלי בעיתון גלובס שמתיחס להסברה הישראלית וקהילית אנשי העסקים. היום נודע לי על כנס חשוב המתיחס בדיוק לנקודה זו עבור המשתתפים הישראלים בברצלונה. לצערי ההזמנה נשלחה למייל ישן שלי, אבל בכל זאת חשבתי לפרסם בבלוג. במידה וזה רלוונטי. יוזמה ברוכה – כל הכבוד לדני גילרמן ויעקב פרי ולשאר המשתתפים ומארגנים

להרשמה: http://www.iba-forum.com/

 

 

Tags: Hasbara, הסברה, GSMA+Barcelona

Solar electricity in the middle of nowhere

Most people know that I love taking pictures (and those that didn’t figured it out from my last blog post).  But most people don’t walk around Morocco taking pictures of PV cells (see above).  This is your classic “off grid” application.  They have plenty of sunshine, but the local electric company can’t get the grid anywhere near.  Yes, these folks are humble with their electricity needs (how many of these would be required to power my house….), but nice to see a real implementation.

However, for a beautiful example of what solar could/should be like, check out Casablanca airport.  Inside the terminal is a big board, indicating exactly how much power is currenty being generated, and what costs and carbons are being saved.  I was envious…. you would expect that Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport to set such an example to the world, no???

 

Tags: Solar+cells+Morocco, Naps+Systems

December in Morocco

There are many excuses for not blogging regularly.  At least, I have a good one for the last 2 weeks or so….

For some more photo’s of our family trip to Morocco, click here.

Happy 2009 !!!

Tags: morocco

My Shoes have a Carbon Footprint

Each week, our Moshav newsletter publishes a “green corner” which offers suggestions relating to conservation and environmental protection. Besides offering helpful advice, it serves as a weekly reminder to keep the “green” agenda on our minds.  This week’s newsletter reminded me more of advice on how to survive the financial crisis…. the basic idea was “consume less”. 

We all consume more than we really ought to, definately more than we need to, and in may cases, more than we can actually afford.  As marketeers convince (seduce) us to purchase the newest, faster, bigger, better “thing”, we throw away the old (or tuck it away the closet/garage), adding more landfill, utilizing resources for production and distribution, while spending our hard-earned money, often on things we can really do without.

I’m as guilty as everbody else when it comes to shopping… but I do think I have developed greater awareness.  Faced with the temptations of the store window, I think I now have the ability to ask “Do I really need that new pair of shoes???”, and answer “probably not”, well, at least some of the time.

Tags: carbon+footprint, green+corner

Green Economy Conference - thoughts

Last Thursday, the 2nd annual Green Economy Conference, organized by Ernst & Young, The Marker and Life and Environment, took place in Tel Aviv.  The conference attracted over 700 attendees, beating expectations. You can read a pre-conference discussion with E&Y Cleantech Leader Itay Zetelny, and Cleantech Israel blogger Jonathan Shapira here.

Similar to many conferences, much of the action took place in the corridor.  There were plenty of breaks, but some people never quite made it into sessions…. 

One of the major issues relates to the current financial crisis and it’s impact on the adoption of renewable energy.  It is clear what is the opinion of those in attendance… Cleantech is not for the short term.  The entire space has long term viability, but will struggle with short-term challenges like everybody else.

Nick Parker, of the Cleantech Group, reflected on how the industry has developed in the past 5 years, with increasing amounts of capital invested, and quality of entrepreneurship getting better and better.  This means that the supply side has come together, as we now move to the adoption phase.

There has been much discussion on the significance, or rather critical function that public policy plays in the adoption of new energy solutions.  The Obama “New Energy for America”  plan has the potential to have major impact on the development of this space.  Check out an excellent blog post by Andrew Revkin of the NY Times entitled “Climate Plan Firm Amid Economic Woes”.

Actually, the Israeli government has also issued a plan in light of the current financial crisis… unfortunately, and very disappointingly, it failed to include anything pertaining to renewable energy. 

Today GM, and tomorrow???

Not a day goes by without another company announcing lay-offs.  Big companies, small companies, tech companies, non-tech, etc., etc.., etc.   Just a few hours ago, Deutsche Bank adjusted the price target for General Motors to $0. Never a dull moment, who knows what tomorrow brings.

There are plenty of people dishing out advice on how to survive this crisis… so I thought to give a pointer of my own to those entrepreneurs that still monitor my not-so-active blog…

Spend every dollar (or shekel) as if it were your own.

Many people have repeated the famous lines “Cash is King”, “make sure to have 24 months of cash in the bank”, and so forth.  Rarely does a start-up raise enough money for 24 months of operation, so I think that is a slightly unrealistic approach, but sounds good.  As for Cash is King, it’s always true, crisis or not.

I believe in keeping things simple.  Believe me, if you were spending your own money, you would probably do things differently.  Anyhow, just food for thought from an ex-VC, formerly on Sandhill road.

Tags: Deutsche+Bank, General+Motors