Cleantech Venture Forum V opens in Toronto

Industry’s Premier International Clean Technology Venture and Networking Event Welcomes More Than 250 Investors and Executives to Canada

• TORONTO, OCTOBER 25, 2004 – Today the Cleantech Venture Network announced that
• more than 250 attendees are expected to attend Cleantech Venture Forum V, the premier
• networking and deal-flow venue for the clean technology community running today through
• Wednesday, October 27th at the InterContinental Hotel, Toronto Centre. Attendees include clean
• technology entrepreneurs and investors, as well as corporate executives, professional advisors and
• senior policy makers who will exchange information and ideas about cleantech business and
• investment opportunities.
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• RBC Technology Ventures, a subsidiary of RBC Financial Group, is a major sponsor of the
• conference. “RBC is pleased to be involved with the Cleantech Venture Forum,” said RBC
• Financial Group president and CEO Gordon M. Nixon. “We have been investing in the
• development of the clean energy technology sector for several years now. Since 2001, for
• example, RBC Capital Markets has become the North American leader in researching and raising
• capital for energy technology firms.
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• “I want to congratulate the event organizers and wish them success this week. In particular, I
• want to recognize the work of Nick Parker and Keith Raab for forming Cleantech Venture Forum
• and returning the event and its participants to Toronto,” Nixon said.
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• The Cleantech Venture Forum is the largest single gathering of its kind in the industry today,
• reflecting the rapidly growing interest in the emerging clean technology investment category.
• More than $240 million has been raised by companies presenting at the previous four forums in
• Toronto, New York and San Francisco. Attendance at Cleantech V will be three times the size of
• the first Forum held two years ago.
•  
• “We are honored be have the support of RBC and Gordon M. Nixon to kick off the fifth edition
• of the Cleantech Venture Forum,” said Nicholas Parker, co-founder and chairman of Cleantech
• Venture Network. “His participation illustrates that major financial institutions in North America
• and around the world have recognized the opportunity cleantech represents for the communities
• and clients they serve.”
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• During the Forum, attendees will hear presentations from 19 innovative companies in the clean
• technology industry, which have collectively generated $25 million in revenues; participate in
• meetings with key investors including business angels, venture capitalists, fund managers,
• investment bankers and corporations; and take advantage of the latest information and research
• on investment opportunities from leading thinkers on clean technology innovations and trends.
•  
• About Cleantech Venture Forum Series
• Cleantech Venture Forum is held twice annually, once on both the East and West Coasts, and in
• 2005 will expand to Europe. During the Forum, 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 investment opportunities from leading
• thinkers on clean technology innovations and trends. Cleantech Venture Forum V takes place in
• Toronto, Canada, from October 25 to 27. Global Environment Fund is the premier sponsor. Lead
• sponsors include EnerTech Capital, Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP, NGEN Partners,
• and Odyssey Venture Partners. Other keynote speakers at Cleantech Venture Forum V include
• Ira Ehrenpreis, General Partner, Technology Partners and Mossadiq Umedaly, Chairman, Xantrex
• Technology Inc.
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• About the Cleantech Venture Network
• The Cleantech Venture Network (Cleantech) is a grouping of member investors managing over
• $3 billion in cleantech venture assets. The company believes “clean technologies” – from solar
• energy to water purification – are the next and necessary 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 a quarterly venture monitor and offers
• related services to investors and entrepreneurs. Cleantech benefits from the expertise and counsel
• of an advisory board comprised of representatives from 20 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 517-223-9607.
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• Cleantech Venture Network invites companies and investors engaged in commercializing or
• investing in clean technologies to apply for membership as a Company or Investor. For details,
• contact Lauren Bigelow at lauren@cleantechventure.com.