Inside Greentech acquired

The Cleantech Network, originator of the cleantech investment category, today announced its expansion into publishing with the acquisition of industry trade publication Inside Greentech.

Formerly the Cleantech Venture Network, the Cleantech Network runs the industry's leading investor membership service. Its Cleantech Forums are the most popular investor events in the sector, and it also publishes respected data and research.

The company has other affiliated businesses, including a cleantech-specific executive search service and a cleantech Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).

"The acquisition of Inside Greentech provides us with a strong platform to reach wider audiences and deliver top-tier information, research and marketing products and services," said John Balbach, Managing Partner and head of the Cleantech Network's San Francisco office.

"We look forward to introducing a full suite of media services enhancing our world class research, thought leadership and investment services."

Inside Greentech is a widely read online publication covering the latest technology and business developments across the clean technology investment category. It has become a daily information source for thousands of investors, service providers, consultants, utilities, enterprise buyers of clean technologies, vendors, distributors, analysts and others throughout the category value chain.

Since October of 2006, Inside Greentech has been publishing daily reporting of industry developments worldwide, as well as investigative features, interviews, web-based seminars, newsletters, cleantech sector deal tracking, staff blogs and an industry gossip column.

Dallas Kachan, founder and publisher of Inside Greentech, has been named Managing Director of Cleantech Media, the Cleantech Network's new publishing company.

"We can now collectively offer a wider portfolio of products and services leveraging Cleantech Network's industry-shaping data, research services and global events," said Kachan.

"Working within the Cleantech family of companies also gives us enhanced resources, scalability and global reach in order to develop the category's most integrated media platform."

Inside Greentech will be rebranded as the Cleantech Group, the flagship publication of Cleantech Media. The unit will be based in Cleantech's San Francisco office, and draw upon resources in the company's Ann Arbor, London, Toronto and Beijing offices.

Industry observers said the acquisition wasn't entirely unexpected.

"The rumor mill was whirring! I've been waiting patiently to hear something official," said Neal Dikeman, partner at Jane Capital Partners.

"I’m excited. I think it's a good move. I've been watching the Cleantech Network since 2002. They're a fascinating group. I think it's great they're going to the media side of the fence."

Rob Day, principal of venture capital firm @Ventures, said he'd also heard about the deal "a while back from other sources."

"I'm very happy to see the news, as an Inside Greentech reader and a long-time member of the Cleantech Network. It's also another great sign that this sector continues to grow and mature," said Day.

"The rising interest in all kinds of green media efforts and, in particular, the rising interest in cleantech venture capital says a lot about the huge mindshifts we've seen just over the last couple of years within the financial community and the economy as a whole."

The Cleantech Network provides insight, opportunities and builds relationships that catalyze and accelerate market adoption and commercialization of clean technologies globally.

Since introducing cleantech as an investment category in 2002, Cleantech Network companies have spawned a new investment class with an annual growth rate exceeding 50 percent, and with more than $4.1 billion in venture capital invested in North America, Europe and China in 2006.

Read a letter about the acquisition from Inside Greentech publisher Dallas Kachan here.

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