JTA: "Israeli firms invest in clean tech"

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) just published a lengthy article on the cleantech scene in Israel. JTA articles are often republished in local Jewish newspapers around the world, and it is nice to see Israel’s cleantech sector getting publicity in the Diaspora.

I am quoted in the article -- as the author of this blog and an organizer of the Cleantech Israel meetup group -- alongside industry players including Dov Raviv (CEO of MST), Yael Cohen-Paran (Director of the Israel Energy Forum), Yossi Abramowitz (Chairman of the Arava Power Company), Prof. David Faiman of Ben-Gurion University, and Dr. Isaac Berzin (Founder of GreenFuel Technologies).

The entire article is available online. Here is the section that includes my quote:

"Turning Israel into a center for clean technology could build new bridges between Israel and Diaspora Jews, says Jonathan Shapira, a recent American law school graduate living in Tel Aviv who organizes monthly meetings for entrepreneurs interested in clean tech and writes a blog on the subject.

As an example, Shapira cited the business park for renewable energy firms being built in the Arava with funding from Toronto's Jewish community.

"Rather than just making a charitable donation, people are helping create the infrastructure for economic growth and a cleaner environment in Israel," Shapira said."

Highlights from first Cleantech Israel meetup event

On March 27, Shai Agassi was in Copenhagen to announce a partnership between Project Better Place and DONG Energy to develop a network of electric-car recharging stations in Denmark.

Meanwhile, back in Israel, more than fifty people, including a mix of entrepreneurs, venture investors, government officials and other key stakeholders in the industry, participated in the launch of the new Cleantech Israel meetup group.

The event, held at Max Brenner on Hamenofim St. in Herzliya Pituach, included presentations by Jack Levy, General Partner at Israel Cleantech Ventures, who provided an overview of recent developments in the sector; and Eran Yarkoni, founder and CEO of EnStorage, who gave a start-up's perspective on licensing "clean-tech" technology. EnStorage recently completed a financing round from Greylock Partners, Canaan Partners of the US, and Siemens Venture Capital, and its technology is licensed from Tel Aviv University.

I would like to thank everyone who participated, including individuals from cleantech companies Aqwise, CheckLight, Edig Solar, Emefcy, En Gibton, Phoebus Energy, and TechnoSpin Wind; and from investors such as Genesis Partners, Lab-One Innovations, Magnolia Capital, Moreno Meister, Naiot, and Terra Venture Partners. Also in attendance were Yael Cohen Paran, the Director of the new Israel Energy Forum, and Tsvi Bisk, the creator of the Jewish Energy Project.

A special thanks to Noam Ilan, the Director of Renewable Energy in Eilat-Eilot, and our guest from the California Public Utilities Commission, both of whom traveled a long way to join us.

I would also like to acknowledge my fellow bloggers -- Tali Aben, Lisa Damast, and Kfir Pravda - it was great to meet you in person!

The event was sponsored by Goodwin Procter LLP, a U.S. law firm with an extensive Cleantech Practice.