Europe & Israel sponsors

Europe Lead Sponsors

Aloe Private Equity

Aloe Private Equity manages a number of Environment Funds which invest in companies that can make a positive contribution to society, both socially and environmentally whilst simultaneously providing high financial returns to our investors. It has a particular interest in companies who have proven products or solutions who wish to leverage our expertise in growing businesses in Greater China and India. It has proven its ability to make venture capital returns by investing in existing and new technologies which enhance the ability of future generations to meet their own economic, environmental and social requirements.

The Aloe management team are experienced serial-entrepreneurs who have founded companies in different industry sectors including the environment, energy, software, information technology, retail and media. It has a strong network in Europe, Greater China and India and a track record of successfully delivering again and again. Its portfolio companies benefit from experience, networks and passion for forming partnership and growing their companies in these fast growth countries. It knows when to interfere and when not to. With focus, ambition, experience, trust in one another and integrity the risks of success for its companies (and hence Aloe) can be greatly enhanced.

Bankinvest

The BankInvest Group is the third largest asset management house in Denmark formed in 1969 owned by 52 smaller and medium sized Danish banks. The management of assets is more than €23 billion with more than 200,000 private and institutional clients. The investment activities of the BankInvest Group are concentrated on three product categories: investment manager of quoted securities, venture investments and structured products.

The venture activities in BankInvest are divided into four individual teams: Biomedical, North Cap Partners, New Markets and New Energy Solutions. The 4 teams have 30 employees and close to €1 billion million under management. New Energy Solutions has from its start in 2002 been dedicated to energy investments in Europe and North America. The team consists of 6 investment professionals and has more than €160 million under management.

Capricorn Venture Partners

Capricorn Venture Partners NV is an independent pan-European manager of venture capital funds that invest in innovative European companies with technology as competitive advantage. Capricorn has longstanding industrial and venture capital experience in backing entrepreneurs with breakthrough technologies in the cleantech, life sciences, biotechnology, IT and material sciences sectors. Capricorn’s third consecutive venture capital fund, the Capricorn Cleantech Fund, focuses on pan European start up, early and development stage investments in clean technology based growth companies. For us, cleantech embraces a diverse of range of products, services and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources, dramatically reduce and optimize the use of natural resources, cut or eliminate polution and toxic waste and add economic value by significantly lowering cost and improving profitability.

Capricorn currently has over €120 million under management and counts among its investors the European Investment Fund (through the EU’s Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme), Electrabel/Suez, ParticipatieMaatschappij Vlaanderen, MRBB, Limburgse Reconversie Maatschappij (LRM), Dexia Bank, a number of pension funds and private investors. Successful exits of the past Capricorn venture funds include Omrix BioPharmaceuticals and FillFactory.

Carbon Trust

Carbon Trust Investments finances emerging clean energy technology businesses that demonstrate rapid growth potential and the opportunity for venture type investor returns. It specialises in identifying and investing in early stage technology companies which have credible management teams and a unique competitive advantage. Carbon Trust Investments is the venture capital subsidiary of the Carbon Trust.

Carbon Trust Investments has invested in 11 companies over the last 5 years with two portfolio companies having listing on AIM. It is a co-investor of choice in the low carbon technology field with investments ranging from £0.5million to £3million in one company. The investments team is strongly supported by in-house technical and strategy groups.

The Carbon Trust is an independent company set up by government in response to the threat of climate change, to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy by working with organisations to reduce carbon emissions and develop commercial low carbon technologies.

Demeter Partners

Demeter Partners, an AMF-accredited independent asset management company, manages funds investing capital in SMEs in the eco-industries sector (water, waste, polluted sites) and the eco-energies sector (renewable energies, energy efficiency, environmentally-friendly buildings). The first FCPR Demeter fund manages assets of €105 million invested entirely in 22 companies.

The FCPR Demeter 2 fund is targeting €200 million; final closing is scheduled in June 2009. Demeter Partners has offices in Paris, Madrid and Berlin.

Emerald Technology Ventures

Emerald Technology Ventures is a global leader in cleantech venture capital. Founded in 2000 under the name SAM Private Equity, Emerald is a pioneer in this rapidly emerging sector and is focused on innovative technologies in energy, advanced materials and water. From offices in Zurich, Switzerland and Montreal, Canada, Emerald manages three venture capital funds and two venture capital portfolio mandates totaling over €300 million (USD 440 million). Emerald is currently investing out of its latest fund and is looking for energetic and passionate entrepreneurs with the vision to build world-class clean technology companies.

Energy Capital Management AS

Energy Capital Management AS (“ECM”) has since 2001 invested in technology companies in the upstream Oil & Gas - and Clean Technology sector. Today, we have a portfolio of 26 active companies localized in Europe and North America, and close to 250 MUSD under management. We are an independent manager of the venture portfolio (i.e StatoilHydro Venture) of StatoilHydro ASA, an international Fortune 500 energy company headquartered in Norway.

Our team has long operational experience from the petroleum industry, the renewable industry and the private equity industry. The head office is located in Oslo, Norway.

ETF (Environmental Technologies Fund)

ETF was created to provide entrepreneurs with a top-quality venture capital group in Europe dedicated solely to Cleantech. We did so because we passionately believe there is a need, and an even greater opportunity. ETF, based in London, is backed by some of the world's leading institutional investors.

Our team is made up of passionate individuals with more than 80 years of international Venture Capital experience and unrivalled experience of working with environmental companies. Collectively we have worked with over 100 growth companies across Europe, Israel and North America, and in the process have built up an enviable network of contacts for our entrepreneurs.

The companies we invest in have developed unique technological solutions that bring substantial improvements in productivity and profitability, creating more economic value with the use of less energy, less material, and with less waste; and which in the process are environmentally beneficial.

Our aim is to generate excellent returns by helping entrepreneurs grow great companies that make a big environmental impact.

Frog Capital

Frog Capital is a London-based investment partner to some of Europe's most ambitious growth-stage companies. Founded and backed by one of Europe’s most significant family offices, Frog has been making investments across the cleantech sector and has recently extended their investment remit to include IT & digital media. Frog leads or partners on fundings of €2 million to €20 million for expansion capital, minority purchases, management buy-outs, or acquisitions. Occasionally, Frog invests in quoted companies. The Frog portfolio currently includes six cleantech companies, all in rapidly developing sectors. Frog has achieved one exit through a sale to Severn-Trent Plc.

Formerly known as Foursome Investments, Frog Capital launched its new identity in March 2009 and expanded its funds under management to €100m. The new branding reflects the firm’s individuality as well as the kind of metamorphosis it can effect in ambitious companies through the clever application of not just capital, but honest appraisal, strong networks, market knowledge, experience, and close teamwork.

Kenda Capital

Kenda Capital is the independently owned manager of the Shell Technology Ventures Fund 1 B.V. (the Fund). Kenda Capital and the Fund maintain a unique technology relationship with Shell. Major investors in the Fund are Shell, Coller Capital and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The Fund also has proprietary access to oil and gas field operations and wells in order to test, prove and demonstrate combinations of new technologies.

The Fund is a unique, large scale investment fund focused at reducing the cost of energy by accelerating the development and deployment of new technologies. Kenda and the Fund possess a solid energy sector expertise, fostered through a unique technology relationship with the Shell Group.

The Fund’s primary focus is on the upstream oil and gas sector, but also selectively invests in downstream O&G, renewable energy and by-product recycling technologies. Areas of interest include: oil and gas exploration, sub surface visualisation, well construction and automation, automated production operations, processing facilities and infrastructure, CO2 and sulphur disposal, biofuel, renewable energy technologies and water and fluid treatment.

Nomura International Plc

Nomura is a leading financial services group and the pre-eminent Asian-based investment bank with worldwide reach. Nomura provides a broad range of innovative solutions tailored to the specific requirements of individual, institutional, corporate and government clients through an international network in over 30 countries. Based in Tokyo and with regional headquarters in Hong Kong, London, and New York, Nomura employs about 26,000 staff worldwide. Nomura’s unique understanding of Asia enables the company to make a difference for clients through five business divisions: domestic retail, global markets, global investment banking, global merchant banking, and asset management.

Statkraft

 

Taylor Wessing

Taylor Wessing is a full service law firm with a widely acknowledged strength in industries rich in intellectual property, based primarily in the three largest economies in Europe but also in emerging markets in Asia and the Middle East. Taylor Wessing act for private and public companies, financial institutions, public sector bodies and wealthy individuals.

Clients around the world trust us to deliver success. They turn to Taylor Wessing for constructive and commercial advice, partner-driven service, integrated, tailored solutions and strength in depth.

Taylor Wessing core services underpin the main areas of business activity including: corporate transactions and restructuring, finance, tax, property and construction, intellectual property, commercial contracts, employment and employee benefits as well as dispute resolution.

Taylor Wessing have extensive experience of a number of industries including technology, media, life sciences, climate change, real estate and financial services.

Vaekstfonden

Vækstfonden creates more new growth companies in Denmark. Vaekstfonden look for and invest in innovative companies that need venture capital to grow.

Vaekstfonden are a Danish State investment fund, and since 1992 they have financed growth in over 3,500 Danish companies for more than DKK 6.5 billion. Vaekstfonden invest directly, via other funds or with private investors, business angles, pension funds, banks, etc. Vaekstfonden provide a broad spectrum of finance solutions for small as well as medium-sized companies – ranging from equity to loan guarantee.

WHEB Ventures

WHEB Ventures invests in cleantech companies with high-growth potential, from initial product commercialisation through to expansion stage.

WHEB Ventures is one of the pioneers in the European clean technology sector. WHEB began as an award winning clean technology incubator and corporate finance group in 1995, and has evolved into the UK’s first dedicated cleantech venture capital firm. It now manages two cleantech VC funds with around £100m under management and is currently half way through raising its 2nd fund with a target of £150m. WHEB has 9 investment professionals with offices in London and Munich and its LP base is a mixture of family offices and institutions such as European Investment Fund and Banco Espirito Santo, the Portuguese bank which is heavily involved in the financing of renewable energy projects.

Zouk Ventures

Zouk is at the forefront of investment in clean technology. As clean technology transforms global industries, Zouk leverages its European leadership and its in-depth experience in technology, operations and finance to support visionary entrepreneurs driving this change.

Israel Founding Lead Sponsors

Israel Cleantech Ventures

Israel Cleantech Ventures (ICV) is the first venture capital fund dedicated to investing in Israel’s emerging clean technology companies. ICV invests in Israeli based or Israel related high growth clean technology companies, including alternative energy, water conservation and purification, emissions reduction, and in technologies that enable existing industries to work in a more efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

ICV’s team combines significant experience in building technology companies with deep industry understanding gained through decades in senior management positions at Israel’s prominent alternative energy, water and materials technology companies, as well as significant venture capital, IPO, and M&A experience.

Israel Cleantech’s first fund has $75 million under management and to date has completed nine investments. The fund is backed by institutional investors and family funds in Europe, the USA and Israel.

Miya

Miya, an Arison Group company, was established by and operates as part of Arison Investments, the group’s business arm. Miya represents the Arison Group’s commitment to sustainability and to preparing our planet to meet the needs of future generations.

Miya’s mission is to assist the cities of the world benefit from the huge opportunity presented by water loss reduction and effective management of urban water. Miya’s offering presents a comprehensive water loss solution for municipalities, from audit of the city’s water system to full project execution and maintenance. Miya is partnering with water utilities as a service provider, in order to ensure long term efficiency of their network.

Miya is investing in R&D for next-generation products and is committed to pioneering innovative solutions for water loss reduction.

Terra Venture Partners

Terra Venture Partners is a venture capital fund formed to take advantage of significant investment opportunities created by the urgent global need for clean technologies. Terra has assembled an experienced and entrepreneurial team to identify, nurture and grow Israel’s best seed and early-stage companies in several key environmental sectors. Terra invests in companies that combine high-level entrepreneurs with truly innovative technology and a focused operational plan to build solid, scalable businesses in markets of significant size. Terra usually leads the investments and takes a very active role in supporting the entrepreneurs through all the phases of the growth of the company, bringing much more than capital to the table.