Cleantech Venture Network announces winners of first annual pioneer awards

Four Clean Technology Industry Leaders Honored During Cleantech Venture Forum

• NEW YORK, NY, OCTOBER 22, 2003 – Cleantech Venture Network, a market
• facilitation service dedicated to accelerating the growth of venture investments in clean
• technology companies, today announced the recipients of its inaugural Pioneer Awards,
• presented during the Cleantech Venture Forum in New York. The Pioneer Awards
• recognize individuals who have contributed over time to the growth of cleantech
• venturing. The inaugural recipients include Rick Defieux, co-founder and chair of the
• Sustainable Jobs Corporation and chair of the SJF Investment Committee; Nancy Floyd
• and Maurice Gunderson, co-founders of Nth Power; Jeffrey Leonard, president and
• founding shareholder of the Global Environment Fund; and Robert Shaw, president of
• Arete Corporation.
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• “Given their outstanding contributions to the clean technology industry, it’s fitting this
• group of innovators and visionaries are the recipients of our first Pioneer Awards,” said
• Nicholas Parker, co-founder and chairman of the Cleantech Venture Network. “In
• selecting our Pioneer Award winners, CLEANTECH worked with its advisory board to
• consider the activities and impact of clean technology industry investors and advocates
• around the world. Rick, Nancy, Maurice, Jeff and Bob are truly pioneers in advancing
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• CLEANTECH Announces Pioneer Award Winners – Page Two
• the growth of the clean technology industry. We thank them for their efforts and look
• forward to honoring other clean technology leaders with future awards.”
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• About the Pioneer Award Winners
• Rick Defieux is the co-founder and chair of the Sustainable Jobs Corporation and chair of
• the SJF Investment Committee. The mission of SJF is to create quality employment for
• low wealth citizens and communities by financing and assisting companies that generate
• social, environmental, and financial gains. To date, SJF has made 15 high-impact
• investments. In his 19 years as a venture capitalist, Rick has led investments in more than
• 25 environmental, energy and communications companies.
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• Nancy Floyd and Maurice Gunderson co-founded Nth Power nearly 10 years ago, when
• little more than $20 million a year was invested in energy tech by professional investors.
• Today Nth Power manages over $200 million and is considered by many to be the
• leading "pure play" cleantech venture group, with many of the leading energy and
• industrial companies counted among their LPs. Nancy and Maurice have worked
• tirelessly to bring the cleantech space, particularly alternative energy generation, to the
• attention of the media and other stakeholders.
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• Jeffrey Leonard is president and founding shareholder of the Global Environment Fund
• based in Washington, DC. Established in 1990, GEF is an international fund
• management partnership that seeks superior financial returns through private equity
• investments in companies that have a positive impact on environmental quality, human
• health and the sustainable management of natural resources. GEF has invested in both
• developed and emerging market countries. According to GEF's most recent annual report,
• GEF's IRR on $165 million invested in private equity and early stage technology deals
• over 1998-2002 stands at 26.5 percent.
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• CLEANTECH Announces Pioneer Award Winners – Page Three
• Robert W. Shaw is the president of Arete Corp and arguably the "doyen" of clean energy
• venturing. Since 1985, he has raised and managed six venture funds with a focus on
• energy, materials and environment. His investment track record in micro-generation
• technologies is probably unmatched by any venture capitalist in the world. Bob is also a
• member of the investment committees of SAM Private Equity, Commons Capital and is
• an SLP with Nth Power.
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• About Cleantech Venture Forum
• Cleantech Venture Forum is a semi-annual event held each spring and fall on the East
• and West Coast that attracts more than 200 attendees and 20 presenting companies. A
• “Who’s Who” of investors from venture capital firms, corporations, fund management
• and private wealth attend the event – the largest gathering of investors interested in clean
• technology investment opportunities. During the event, attendees 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 take advantage of leading-edge information and research on the
• investment opportunities from leading thinkers on clean technology innovations and
• trends.
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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
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• 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.