Young professionals will gather in San Francisco next month for a conference featuring cleantech entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.
The goal of the Jewish Response to the Energy Challenge conference, scheduled for November 8th, is to "share ideas and experiences that will advance a generational movement for clean and secure energy."
The conference agenda features keynote speakers and breakout sessions on U.S.-Israel energy cooperation, transportation, clean economy, policy reform, and sustainability.
Confirmed speakers include:
Alan Salzman, CEO VantagePoint Venture Partners
Adam Werbach, CEO Saatchi and Saatchi
Jason Wolf, Head of Better Place California
Yosef Abramowitz, Co-Founder Arava Power Company
David Arfin, VP Strategy Solar City
JB Straubel, CTO Tesla Motors
Joel Makower, Executive Director, GreenBiz.com
Sanjay Wagle, Special Advisor, DOE Recovery Team
Anne Korin, Chair, Set America Free Coalition
I am pleased to be moderating the panel on U.S.-Israel energy cooperation, which will feature the following panelists:
Arthur Haubenstock, General Counsel, BrightSource Energy
Eitan Yudelevich, Executive Director, BIRD Foundation
Matan Friedman, Senior Associate, Bessemer Venture Partners
Sagi Rubin, Associate, Virgin Green Fund
Martin Kace, Founder and President, Empax
Registration for the conference is required.
I hope to see you next month in San Francisco!
Showing posts with label Virgin Green Fund. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Virgin Green Fund. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Metrolight raises $3m, names Zvi Segal as new CEO
Metrolight Ltd., a leading provider of electronic ballast solutions for energy efficient lighting, announced today that it has raised $3 million and appointed Zvi Segal as a Chief Executive Officer.
Europe and the US. Metrolight's High Intensity Discharge (HID) eBallast reduces up to 60% of energy consumed and doubles the life of a lamp.
Existing Metrolight shareholders including Virgin Green Fund, Gemini Israel Funds, Israel Cleantech Ventures led the $3 million financing round. MetroLight raised $9 million from these investors in August 2007.
Metrolight was founded in 1996 and is based in Netanya, Israel. Metrolight's U.S. headquarters are in Franklin, Tennessee.
According to Metrolight's Chairman
"High power lighting is probably one of the very few utilities that has not yet benefited from a transition to electronic technology.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
GreenRoad raises $15m from DAG Ventures and existing investors
GreenRoad, which is developing technologies to encourage safe and fuel-efficient driving behavior, announced today that it has raised $15 million in growth funding.
DAG Ventures, a venture capital investment partnership, led the round with participation from existing investors Benchmark Capital, Virgin Green Fund, Amadeus Capital and Balderton Capital.
GreenRoad also announced that Nick Pianim, managing director at DAG Ventures, was appointed to the company’s board of directors.
“We are very proud to have earned the confidence of DAG Ventures, as well as our existing institutional investors,” said Dan Steere, CEO of GreenRoad. “This investment of capital will enable GreenRoad to accelerate its expansion with fleet customers and partners.”
“We were encouraged by the company’s successive quarters of revenue growth, despite the current economic climate,” said Pianim. “GreenRoad’s ability to cut crash costs up to 50 percent and generate fuel savings of up to 10 percent has broad appeal to insurers and enterprise fleets across several industries. The GreenRoad Service presents a scalable approach to improving safety and fuel economy that resonates with commercial fleets looking to mitigate risk, offset volatile insurance and fuel costs and impact their bottom line immediately.”
“GreenRoad has a track record of delivering results and we are excited to continue investing in a company that is successfully responding to the global challenge of unsafe and inefficient driving,” said Elie Wurtman, general partner at Benchmark Capital and Chairman of GreenRoad’s Board of Directors.
GreenRoad is headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, with sales offices throughout the U.S. and UK and an R&D Center in Or Yehuda, Israel. The company was founded in 2003 by Hod Fleishman and Ofer Raz.
Related Posts:
GreenRoad awarded contract for the world's largest teen driver technology-based safety program
UK bus company to deploy GreenRoad Safety Center
GreenRoad raises $17.5 million in Series C funding
DAG Ventures, a venture capital investment partnership, led the round with participation from existing investors Benchmark Capital, Virgin Green Fund, Amadeus Capital and Balderton Capital.
GreenRoad also announced that Nick Pianim, managing director at DAG Ventures, was appointed to the company’s board of directors.
“We are very proud to have earned the confidence of DAG Ventures, as well as our existing institutional investors,” said Dan Steere, CEO of GreenRoad. “This investment of capital will enable GreenRoad to accelerate its expansion with fleet customers and partners.”
“We were encouraged by the company’s successive quarters of revenue growth, despite the current economic climate,” said Pianim. “GreenRoad’s ability to cut crash costs up to 50 percent and generate fuel savings of up to 10 percent has broad appeal to insurers and enterprise fleets across several industries. The GreenRoad Service presents a scalable approach to improving safety and fuel economy that resonates with commercial fleets looking to mitigate risk, offset volatile insurance and fuel costs and impact their bottom line immediately.”
“GreenRoad has a track record of delivering results and we are excited to continue investing in a company that is successfully responding to the global challenge of unsafe and inefficient driving,” said Elie Wurtman, general partner at Benchmark Capital and Chairman of GreenRoad’s Board of Directors.
GreenRoad is headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, with sales offices throughout the U.S. and UK and an R&D Center in Or Yehuda, Israel. The company was founded in 2003 by Hod Fleishman and Ofer Raz.
Related Posts:
GreenRoad awarded contract for the world's largest teen driver technology-based safety program
UK bus company to deploy GreenRoad Safety Center
GreenRoad raises $17.5 million in Series C funding
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Green Economy Conference in Tel Aviv
The annual Green Economy Conference, organized by Ernst & Young, The Marker, and Life and Environment (Chaim ve' Sviva), an umbrella organization incorporating the work of over 80 environmental organizations in Israel, is scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv on November 20th.
The organizers have put together an impressive agenda, which includes presentations from international cleantech leaders like Jeff Renaud (Director, Ecomagination, GE); Neil Auerbach (Managing Partner, Hudson Clean Energy Partners); Michel Goguen (General Partner, Sequoia Capital); Roger Saillant (Former CEO, Plug Power); Justin Adams (Head of Venturing, BP Alternative Energy); Shai Weiss (Managing Partner, Virgin Green Fund); and Nick Parker (Co-Founder and Chairman, Cleantech Group).
Israeli cleantech industry leaders participating in the conference include Glen Schwaber (General Partner, Israel Cleantech Ventures); Astorre Modena (General Partner, Terra Venture Partners); Booky Oren (President & CEO, Miya, Arison Group); Hillel Milo (Managing Partner, AquAgro Fund); and Tamar Naor (Founder, TN Ventures).
If you are in Israel this week, this event is a "can't miss" event.
I recently had a chance to speak with Itay Zetelny, Cleantech Leader for Ernst & Young Israel, about the Green Economy Conference and his take on Israel's cleantech industry.
JS: What are the origins of the Ernst & Young's Cleantech Conference?
IZ: The first CleanTech Conference took place in 2007 as an independent track within the WATEC Convention. The success of the event together with the enthusiastic feedback led Ernst & Young to organize its own event.
JS: What are the goals of the conference? Who should attend?
IZ: The object is to offer Israeli Cleantech entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to present their ventures to leading global investors and create a platform for in-depth discussions regarding possible partnerships and/or investment opportunities. In addition, we are aiming to raise the awareness of the business community as well as of decision makers to the growing importance and value of sustainability considerations in business today, vis-à-vis the climate crisis.The conference will be focusing on the Cleantech sector performance in global financial markets, climate change as a business opportunity, technology trends, project financing, collaboration and multinational companies’ perspective as well as rules and regulations. It is intended for R&D companies, project companies, VCs, investment banks, international technology providers and researchers.
JS: What is Ernst & Young's role in Israel's cleantech industry? What services do you and the Cleantech Advisory Group provide to investors and entrepreneurs?
IZ: Ernst & Young ia a pioneer in offering services to the growing Cleantech industry in Israel. Three years ago the firm has undertaken the task of developing a unique and comprehensive platform for water and energy companies. Today our Cleantech Advisory Group is the largest of its kind in Israel and offers ongoing assistance to entrepreneurs and companies which includes: identifying local and global VCs, management of technological cooperation, project financing, audit services and tax consulting services.
JS: What are the most important (emerging) trends in Israel's cleantech industry?
IZ: Over the first half of 2008 the amount invested in Cleantech companies reached $140 M as opposed to $122M in 2007. These sums do not include two major investments: “Better Place Project” - $200 M in 2007 and “Brightsource” - $115 M in 2008 which involved venture capital funds, PEs and banks. The substantial increase in investment is a result of the VCs' penetration into the market and the growing participation of traditional funds in Cleantech investments. As expected, since the end of 2006, most Israeli VCs have been investing in Cleantech, a trend which is expected to grow in the future.
Additional reasons for increased investments include:
1) Continuous search for technologies and Cleantech companies by Arison, Ofer Brothers, Dankner, Recanati and others
2) Foreign funds which are establishing local operations to ensure continuous exposure to the local industry including: Virgin, Sequoia and Greylock
3) International companies which are establishing local business development activities such as GE and Siemens
4) Israeli private equities which have begun expressing interest in the field and are currently searching for ways to penetrate it
5) Although angels are investing low sums of money in each company the total amount invested is significant
In conclusion, the local Cleantech industry has attracted much attention over the past year. And despite the sub-prime crisis which is affecting all markets, the Cleantech industry will continue to appeal to investors.
The organizers have put together an impressive agenda, which includes presentations from international cleantech leaders like Jeff Renaud (Director, Ecomagination, GE); Neil Auerbach (Managing Partner, Hudson Clean Energy Partners); Michel Goguen (General Partner, Sequoia Capital); Roger Saillant (Former CEO, Plug Power); Justin Adams (Head of Venturing, BP Alternative Energy); Shai Weiss (Managing Partner, Virgin Green Fund); and Nick Parker (Co-Founder and Chairman, Cleantech Group).Israeli cleantech industry leaders participating in the conference include Glen Schwaber (General Partner, Israel Cleantech Ventures); Astorre Modena (General Partner, Terra Venture Partners); Booky Oren (President & CEO, Miya, Arison Group); Hillel Milo (Managing Partner, AquAgro Fund); and Tamar Naor (Founder, TN Ventures).
If you are in Israel this week, this event is a "can't miss" event.
I recently had a chance to speak with Itay Zetelny, Cleantech Leader for Ernst & Young Israel, about the Green Economy Conference and his take on Israel's cleantech industry.
JS: What are the origins of the Ernst & Young's Cleantech Conference?
IZ: The first CleanTech Conference took place in 2007 as an independent track within the WATEC Convention. The success of the event together with the enthusiastic feedback led Ernst & Young to organize its own event.
JS: What are the goals of the conference? Who should attend?
JS: What is Ernst & Young's role in Israel's cleantech industry? What services do you and the Cleantech Advisory Group provide to investors and entrepreneurs?
IZ: Ernst & Young ia a pioneer in offering services to the growing Cleantech industry in Israel. Three years ago the firm has undertaken the task of developing a unique and comprehensive platform for water and energy companies. Today our Cleantech Advisory Group is the largest of its kind in Israel and offers ongoing assistance to entrepreneurs and companies which includes: identifying local and global VCs, management of technological cooperation, project financing, audit services and tax consulting services.
JS: What are the most important (emerging) trends in Israel's cleantech industry?
IZ: Over the first half of 2008 the amount invested in Cleantech companies reached $140 M as opposed to $122M in 2007. These sums do not include two major investments: “Better Place Project” - $200 M in 2007 and “Brightsource” - $115 M in 2008 which involved venture capital funds, PEs and banks. The substantial increase in investment is a result of the VCs' penetration into the market and the growing participation of traditional funds in Cleantech investments. As expected, since the end of 2006, most Israeli VCs have been investing in Cleantech, a trend which is expected to grow in the future.
Additional reasons for increased investments include:
1) Continuous search for technologies and Cleantech companies by Arison, Ofer Brothers, Dankner, Recanati and others
2) Foreign funds which are establishing local operations to ensure continuous exposure to the local industry including: Virgin, Sequoia and Greylock
3) International companies which are establishing local business development activities such as GE and Siemens
4) Israeli private equities which have begun expressing interest in the field and are currently searching for ways to penetrate it
5) Although angels are investing low sums of money in each company the total amount invested is significant
In conclusion, the local Cleantech industry has attracted much attention over the past year. And despite the sub-prime crisis which is affecting all markets, the Cleantech industry will continue to appeal to investors.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
GreenRoad awarded contract for the world's largest teen driver technology-based safety program
GreenRoad Technologies, a leader in driver safety technologies, announced last week that Or Yarok, Israel’s largest road safety organization, is making GreenRoad’s Safety Center available to 5000 families with teen drivers. This follows Or Yarok’s two-year study of 400 drivers’ use of Safety Center to determine its long-term impact on safety.
By analyzing each young driver’s performance and continuously providing them with real-time coaching, GreenRoad Safety Center improves driver safety and fuel efficiency.
GreenRoad is backed by Benchmark Capital, Virgin Green Fund, Amadeus Capital Partners and Balderton Capital. Headquartered in California, the company's R&D office is located in Beit Dagan, Israel.
Related Posts:
UK bus company to deploy GreenRoad Safety Center
GreenRoad raises $17.5 million in Series C funding
By analyzing each young driver’s performance and continuously providing them with real-time coaching, GreenRoad Safety Center improves driver safety and fuel efficiency.GreenRoad is backed by Benchmark Capital, Virgin Green Fund, Amadeus Capital Partners and Balderton Capital. Headquartered in California, the company's R&D office is located in Beit Dagan, Israel.
Related Posts:
UK bus company to deploy GreenRoad Safety Center
GreenRoad raises $17.5 million in Series C funding
Monday, July 21, 2008
GreenRoad raises $17.5 million in Series C funding
GreenRoad Technologies, a leader in driver safety technologies, today announced that Amadeus Capital Partners, a European technology investor, has joined Virgin Green Fund, Benchmark Capital, and Balderton Capital in providing C round financing of $17.5 million. The funding will be used to expand the company’s R&D, sales and marketing efforts. Richard Anton, Amadeus Partner, becomes the newest member of GreenRoad’s Board of Directors.
GreenRoad is headquartered in Silicon Valley and London, but its R&D center is in Or Yehuda, Israel. The company was founded by CTO Ofer Raz and Senior VP Hod Fleishman.
GreenRoad Safety Center, the company’s flagship product, addresses two important issues that are a major contributor to the overall cost of doing business these days - vehicle crashes and fuel economy. Aggressive driving behavior contributes to 95% of road accidents and leads to injuries and fatalities. Unsafe drivers also waste fuel and increase carbon emissions, as aggressively-driven vehicles burn 10-15% more fuel.
For more information about GreenRoad's technology and services, check out the company's web site.
The company is partnering with commercial fleets, insurance companies, and local governments in the US, EU and Israel, where the combined estimated market potential exceeds 77 million vehicles. Customers already include Amdocs, T-Mobile, and the UK Ministry of Defence.
Benchmark Capital and Balderton Capital have been investors in GreenRoad since 2006. Virgin Green Fund joined in January 2008.
Advising Amadeus on the funding was Israeli law firm Meitar Liquornik Geva & Leshem Brandwein. GreenRoad was advised by Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co.
Related Posts:
Traffilog develops solution to improve fuel efficiency
GreenRoad is headquartered in Silicon Valley and London, but its R&D center is in Or Yehuda, Israel. The company was founded by CTO Ofer Raz and Senior VP Hod Fleishman.
GreenRoad Safety Center, the company’s flagship product, addresses two important issues that are a major contributor to the overall cost of doing business these days - vehicle crashes and fuel economy. Aggressive driving behavior contributes to 95% of road accidents and leads to injuries and fatalities. Unsafe drivers also waste fuel and increase carbon emissions, as aggressively-driven vehicles burn 10-15% more fuel.For more information about GreenRoad's technology and services, check out the company's web site.
The company is partnering with commercial fleets, insurance companies, and local governments in the US, EU and Israel, where the combined estimated market potential exceeds 77 million vehicles. Customers already include Amdocs, T-Mobile, and the UK Ministry of Defence.
Benchmark Capital and Balderton Capital have been investors in GreenRoad since 2006. Virgin Green Fund joined in January 2008.
Advising Amadeus on the funding was Israeli law firm Meitar Liquornik Geva & Leshem Brandwein. GreenRoad was advised by Gross, Kleinhendler, Hodak, Halevy, Greenberg & Co.
Related Posts:
Traffilog develops solution to improve fuel efficiency
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