Cleantech Venture network announces second annual pioneer awards winners

Cleantech Industry Leaders Honored at Cleantech Venture Forum V

• TORONTO, CANADA, OCTOBER 27, 2004 – Cleantech Venture Network today announced
• the recipients of its second annual Pioneer Awards, presented during Cleantech Venture Forum
• V, the premier networking and deal-flow venue for the clean technology community. The 2004
• recipients are Michael J. Brown, Executive Chairman of the Board, Chrysalix Energy and the
• National Energy Renewable Laboratory; and George S. Reichenbach, Managing Director and
• Chairman of the Investment Committee, Braemar Energy Ventures. The Pioneer Awards
• recognize individuals who have contributed to the growth of cleantech venturing.
• “As cleantech continues to attract attention and investment from the venture community and
• beyond, it’s very important that we recognize the influence and vision of patrons such as Michael
• Brown and George Reichenbach,” said Nicholas Parker, co-founder and chairman of Cleantech
• Venture Network. “On behalf of the Cleantech Venture Network and our advisory board, I thank
• Michael and George for their contributions to the development of the cleantech industry over
• their career. We look ahead with great anticipation to the next Pioneer Award announcement at
• Cleantech Venture Forum VIII in 2005.”
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• About the 2004 Pioneer Award Winners
• Michael J. Brown is the Executive Chairman of the Board for Chrysalix Energy and the National
• Energy Renewable Laboratory of Canada. Brown was the co-founder and president of Ventures
• West Capital Ltd., one of Canada’s largest private sources of capital for early-stage technology
• companies. Brown has been directly involved in several companies in the fuel cell/energy
• technology space including Ballard Power Systems, Inc., Questair Technologies Inc., Cellex
• Power Products, Inc., Greenlight Power Technologies, Inc. and NxtPhase Corporation.
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• George S. Reichenbach, is the Managing Director and Chairman and co-founder of the Braemar
• Energy Ventures, a venture capital fund focused exclusively on energy technology. Reichenbach
• has more than 30 years of venture capital and operating experience in the energy, environmental
• and applied materials businesses and has served on various committees for the Department of
• Energy and the National Energy Renewable Laboratory. During his career, he has invested in
• more then 20 energy and environmental technology companies including Ballard Power Systems,
• Active Power and AstroPower. Reichenbach currently serves on the board of directors of
• Questair Technologies Inc., Auripay Inc. and Capital Management Associates.
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• 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. The keynote speakers at Cleantech Venture Forum V are Gordon
• M. Nixon, president and CEO of the RBC Financial Group; 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.