Cleantech Venture Forum kicks off on October 21; draws more than 200 investors and companies focused on clean technology industries

Third Semi-Annual Event is Only Capital Forum Designed Exclusively for the Financing

of Clean Technology Companies

• NEW YORK, NY, OCTOBER 20, 2003 – Cleantech Venture Forum, a semi-annual
• capital forum hosted by Cleantech Venture Network, today announced more than 220
• attendees are expected at its third event, which kicks off on Tuesday, October 21, and
• runs through Thursday, October 23, at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. Cleantech
• Venture Forum is the only capital forum designed exclusively to facilitate the finance of
• companies commercializing clean technologies by bringing together clean technology
• entrepreneurs and venture investors and providing them with a venue in which deals and
• relationships can originate and incubate.
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• Cleantech Venture Forum attracts more than 220 attendees and 20 presenting companies,
• which have collectively generated $100 million in revenues. A “Who’s Who” of
• investors from venture capital firms, corporations, fund management and private wealth,
• including representatives from Advent International, Nth Power, CalPers, IdeaLab,
• Rockport Capital Partners, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, will attend the event –
• the largest gathering of investors interested in clean technology investment opportunities.
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• Cleantech Venture Forum Kicks Off On October 21 – Page Two
• During the event, attendees will hear presentations from companies in the clean
• technology industry, participate in meetings with key investors including business angels,
• venture capitalists, fund managers, investment bankers and corporations and can take
• advantage of leading-edge information and research on the investment opportunities from
• leading thinkers on clean technology innovations and trends. The keynote speaker for the
• event will be John Rockwell, managing partner of Advent International’s Palo Alto,
• Calif., office. Advent is one of the world’s largest private equity firms with $6 billion in
• cumulative capital raised and offices in 13 countries.
•  
• “The Forum will take place in a positive climate for cleantech venturing. The $641
• million invested in clean technology ventures during the first two quarters of 2003 is 22
• percent higher than the $524 million invested over the same period last year,” said
• Nicholas Parker, co-founder and chairman of Cleantech Venture Network. "Our last
• Cleantech Venture Forum, held this past spring in San Francisco, received enthusiastic
• reviews from attendees who recognized that CLEANTECH is providing an outstanding
• networking and deal flow venue for exciting new technology companies in the clean
• energy and environmental spaces. We’re pleased to once again bring together some of
• the most innovative companies and forward-thinking investors for three days of
• information sharing.”
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• Just under $1.1 billion was invested in 179 emerging clean technology companies in
• 2002. The clean technology segment doubled its venture capital market share to 8
• percent during the first two quarters of 2003 from 4 percent in 2002. Nearly 100
• cleantech companies were venture funded in the first half of 2003. While energy
• technology is a key investment segment, clean technology investors are today
• diversifying into other clean technology segments including more efficient materials, air
• quality and water purification.
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• Cleantech Venture Forum Kicks Off On October 21 – Page Three
• More on Cleantech Venture Forum
• Cleantech Venture Forum III is hosted by Cleantech Venture Network in cooperation
• with the Environmental Business Association of New York State and sponsored by Heller
• Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP of New York. Other event sponsors include Advent
• International, Braemar Power, Capital Response Group, EasEnergy, ET Environmental,
• Expansion Capital Partners, Global Environment Fund, Kwik Power International,
• NGEN Partners, Nth Power, SJF Ventures, SDTC (Sustainable Development
• Technologies Canada), The Carbon Trust and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Risbat.
• During the event, CLEANTECH will also honor the winners of its first Pioneer Award
• recognizing individuals who have contributed over time to the growth of cleantech
• venturing, as well as the Most Promising Company. Interested attendees can register for
• Cleantech Venture Forum online at www.cleantechventure.com under “Events,” or by
• calling 734/528-2979. A complete agenda for the three-day event can also be accessed
• online.
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• About Cleantech Venture Network
• Cleantech Venture Network is a market facilitation service supported by private
• investors. The company believes “clean technologies” – from solar energy to water
• purification – are the next wave of venture investing. CLEANTECH introduces
• promising young companies to investors and investors to quality deal-flow. The company
• has developed a community of money managers, business executives, professional
• advisors, and other stakeholders active in the clean technology venture arena.
• CLEANTECH organizes venture forums, provides deal flow, publishes its quarterly
• venture monitors and offers related services to investors and entrepreneurs.
• CLEANTECH benefits from the expertise and counsel of an advisory board comprised of
• representatives from 13 leading venture capital and service provider firms specializing in
• clean technology. More about the company can be found at www.cleantechventure.com
• or by calling 734-528-2979.