| CLEANTECH STARTUPS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA IN 2011 Opportunities and Realities of Funding |
| Chamber of Commerce International Consortium For Entrepreneurs |
CCICE Events
Tuesday April 26, 2011
Cleantech Startups in the United States and China in 2011; Opportunities
and Realities of Funding
The common interest in both China and the U.S. to reduce the demand for
fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions may cause more cooperation
and progress between the two countries on clean energy issues. The
increasing concern in both countries over the cost of oil, global warming
and energy security provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs who can help
solve these problems.
What opportunities does this provide for an entrepreneur doing a startup in
either country in 2011? What are the realities of a startup obtaining
investment to compete with larger and well-funded players in electric
vehicles, energy efficiency, smart grid, energy storage, lighting, clean coal or
other cleantech sectors? What will be the best source of funding in 2011,
venture capital, corporate strategic investors or government funding? Do
cross-border startups leveraging the best talent in both countries and
access to both markets have a better chance of funding?
Our panelists will discuss these and other issues in exploring the
synergies and conflicts between the U.S. and China for entrepreneurs
starting a cleantech business in 2011.
Panelists:
Anders B. Axelsson, Senior VP, Echelon
Shannon Fraser, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of
Commerce
William Hsu, VP Corporate Development, Clean Focus
Eric Wesoff, Senior Analyst, Greentech Media
Moderator:
Fred Greguras, Partner, Silicon Valley, K&L Gates
Bio's:
Anders Axelsson joined Echelon in 2003 from PowerFile, a private optical
storage company where he was CEO. He started his career with ABB
Industry, where he served for 11 years in many sales, marketing, and
engineering management positions, including director of marketing. After
ABB he joined Measurex (later acquired by Honeywell) and worked in
several senior positions, including vice president of business area
operations and president/managing director for Europe and Africa.
Following Honeywell, he joined Snap Appliances (a subsidiary of Quantum
Corporation) as president and general manager for the workgroup network-
attached storage business. Axelsson holds a B.S. from ED Technical
Institute in Jonkoping, Sweden, and is a graduate of the Executive Program
at the University of Michigan. Axelsson serves on PowerFile's board of
directors.
Shannon Fraser serves as a Senior International Trade Specialist
specializing in the sectors of clean energy, environmental technologies,
digital media, electronic commerce, and computer services. In partnership
with colleagues at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in San Jose and
Foreign Commercial Service officers at the Embassies and Consulates
worldwide, Shannon works with Silicon Valley-based companies to expand
their exports to overseas markets, thereby spurring economic growth, job
creation, and innovation for local small-and-medium enterprises based in
the Silicon Valley region.
Shannon previously served as an International Trade Specialist for the
energy sector at the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, Office of Energy and Environmental Industries in
Washington, D.C. where her areas of focus included: 1) smart grid, 2)
transmission and distribution, 3) energy efficiency, 4) clean coal technology,
and 5) European energy issues. In this capacity, Shannon collaborated
with government counterparts, trade associations, U.S. companies, and
energy conference organizers to promote U.S. polices and programs that
advance the exportation of U.S. clean energy technologies to overseas
markets. Specifically, Shannon collaborated with the Federal Smart Grid
Task Force members to implement the Smart Grid Stimulus Program under
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Shannon also
coordinated with international public and private Smart Grid members and
counterparts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to
promote a streamlined international approach for the implementation of
Smart Grid technologies worldwide.
Shannon holds a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and a Master’s in Pacific
International Affairs from U.C. San Diego, has resided in France (Lyon) and
Japan (Fukuoka and Nagoya), and is conversant in French and Japanese.
Fred Greguras is a partner in the Palo Alto office of K&L Gates who focuses
his practice on strategic issues for global software, internet, media and life
sciences companies - with an emphasis on the start-up and emerging
company stages. This includes, in particular, financings of various types,
M&A and a full range of other transactions in both domestic and
international marketplaces. In the international arena, Mr. Greguras has
substantial experience representing companies with a market focus on or
operations in China and India, and in supporting investors from those
countries. During his 25-plus year tenure in the Silicon Valley, Mr. Greguras
has also been a venture capitalist and a general counsel and CFO for a
startup. He received a BA in mathematics from University of Omaha in 1966,
a MS in mathematics and computer science in 1968, and his J.D. in 1975
from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Greguras is a member of the State Bar
of California.
William Hsu works on project development and funding for Clean Focus. He
brings extensive experience in financing clean technologies as well as eight
years of investment management in venture capital and corporate
development in a Fortune 50 company. Before Clean Focus, William was
Director of Project Finance at SolFocus, where he financed global projects
with a focus on European Feed in Tariff markets. William closed financing
for over $75 million of solar projects in Greece, and he facilitated the first
commercial CPV project in Spain. Additionally, he developed a pipeline of
over 15 MW of projects in Italy and the United States. Previously, William
was Managing Director at Third Security, a venture capital firm with over $1.5
billion under management. He led the technology practice and sat on the
boards of Biological & Popular Culture LLC, Intellimat Inc, and Syncrony, Inc.
Prior to Third Security, he built two technology start-ups: a software solution
provider and an interactive advertising agency. William earned a BA in
Finance and Information Systems from George Washington University.
Eric Wesoff is a Senior Analyst at Greentech Media and Author of the
Greentech Innovations Report. Prior to joining Greentech Media, Eric Wesoff
founded Sage Marketing Partners in 2000 to provide sales and marketing-
consulting services to venture-capital firms and their portfolio companies in
the alternative energy and telecommunications sectors. Eric Wesoff has
become a well-known, respected authority and speaker in these fields. He
also was the publisher of the Venture Power newsletter, a subscription-only
newsletter covering venture-capital investment in renewable energy.
Eric Wesoff's expertise covers solar power, fuel cells, biofuels and
advanced batteries. His strengths are in market research and analysis,
business development and due diligence for investors. He frequently
consults for energy startups and Silicon Valley's premier venture capitalists.
From 1988 to 1996, Eric Wesoff served as product marketing manager for
Siemens Optoelectronics, where he oversaw complex product lines and
managed relationships with global customers. He then became the U.S.
marketing and sales manger for Akzo Nobel Photonics, which was acquired
by JDS Uniphase. Eric Wesoff later served as the sales director for Dicon
Fiber Optics, where he was responsible for selling millions of dollars of
fiber-optic telecom-equipment. He has consulted for Merck, JDSU,
Coherent, IBM and scores of other firms, governments and organizations.
and Realities of Funding
The common interest in both China and the U.S. to reduce the demand for
fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions may cause more cooperation
and progress between the two countries on clean energy issues. The
increasing concern in both countries over the cost of oil, global warming
and energy security provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs who can help
solve these problems.
What opportunities does this provide for an entrepreneur doing a startup in
either country in 2011? What are the realities of a startup obtaining
investment to compete with larger and well-funded players in electric
vehicles, energy efficiency, smart grid, energy storage, lighting, clean coal or
other cleantech sectors? What will be the best source of funding in 2011,
venture capital, corporate strategic investors or government funding? Do
cross-border startups leveraging the best talent in both countries and
access to both markets have a better chance of funding?
Our panelists will discuss these and other issues in exploring the
synergies and conflicts between the U.S. and China for entrepreneurs
starting a cleantech business in 2011.
Panelists:
Anders B. Axelsson, Senior VP, Echelon
Shannon Fraser, Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Department of
Commerce
William Hsu, VP Corporate Development, Clean Focus
Eric Wesoff, Senior Analyst, Greentech Media
Moderator:
Fred Greguras, Partner, Silicon Valley, K&L Gates
Bio's:
Anders Axelsson joined Echelon in 2003 from PowerFile, a private optical
storage company where he was CEO. He started his career with ABB
Industry, where he served for 11 years in many sales, marketing, and
engineering management positions, including director of marketing. After
ABB he joined Measurex (later acquired by Honeywell) and worked in
several senior positions, including vice president of business area
operations and president/managing director for Europe and Africa.
Following Honeywell, he joined Snap Appliances (a subsidiary of Quantum
Corporation) as president and general manager for the workgroup network-
attached storage business. Axelsson holds a B.S. from ED Technical
Institute in Jonkoping, Sweden, and is a graduate of the Executive Program
at the University of Michigan. Axelsson serves on PowerFile's board of
directors.
Shannon Fraser serves as a Senior International Trade Specialist
specializing in the sectors of clean energy, environmental technologies,
digital media, electronic commerce, and computer services. In partnership
with colleagues at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in San Jose and
Foreign Commercial Service officers at the Embassies and Consulates
worldwide, Shannon works with Silicon Valley-based companies to expand
their exports to overseas markets, thereby spurring economic growth, job
creation, and innovation for local small-and-medium enterprises based in
the Silicon Valley region.
Shannon previously served as an International Trade Specialist for the
energy sector at the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade
Administration, Office of Energy and Environmental Industries in
Washington, D.C. where her areas of focus included: 1) smart grid, 2)
transmission and distribution, 3) energy efficiency, 4) clean coal technology,
and 5) European energy issues. In this capacity, Shannon collaborated
with government counterparts, trade associations, U.S. companies, and
energy conference organizers to promote U.S. polices and programs that
advance the exportation of U.S. clean energy technologies to overseas
markets. Specifically, Shannon collaborated with the Federal Smart Grid
Task Force members to implement the Smart Grid Stimulus Program under
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Shannon also
coordinated with international public and private Smart Grid members and
counterparts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to
promote a streamlined international approach for the implementation of
Smart Grid technologies worldwide.
Shannon holds a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley and a Master’s in Pacific
International Affairs from U.C. San Diego, has resided in France (Lyon) and
Japan (Fukuoka and Nagoya), and is conversant in French and Japanese.
Fred Greguras is a partner in the Palo Alto office of K&L Gates who focuses
his practice on strategic issues for global software, internet, media and life
sciences companies - with an emphasis on the start-up and emerging
company stages. This includes, in particular, financings of various types,
M&A and a full range of other transactions in both domestic and
international marketplaces. In the international arena, Mr. Greguras has
substantial experience representing companies with a market focus on or
operations in China and India, and in supporting investors from those
countries. During his 25-plus year tenure in the Silicon Valley, Mr. Greguras
has also been a venture capitalist and a general counsel and CFO for a
startup. He received a BA in mathematics from University of Omaha in 1966,
a MS in mathematics and computer science in 1968, and his J.D. in 1975
from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Greguras is a member of the State Bar
of California.
William Hsu works on project development and funding for Clean Focus. He
brings extensive experience in financing clean technologies as well as eight
years of investment management in venture capital and corporate
development in a Fortune 50 company. Before Clean Focus, William was
Director of Project Finance at SolFocus, where he financed global projects
with a focus on European Feed in Tariff markets. William closed financing
for over $75 million of solar projects in Greece, and he facilitated the first
commercial CPV project in Spain. Additionally, he developed a pipeline of
over 15 MW of projects in Italy and the United States. Previously, William
was Managing Director at Third Security, a venture capital firm with over $1.5
billion under management. He led the technology practice and sat on the
boards of Biological & Popular Culture LLC, Intellimat Inc, and Syncrony, Inc.
Prior to Third Security, he built two technology start-ups: a software solution
provider and an interactive advertising agency. William earned a BA in
Finance and Information Systems from George Washington University.
Eric Wesoff is a Senior Analyst at Greentech Media and Author of the
Greentech Innovations Report. Prior to joining Greentech Media, Eric Wesoff
founded Sage Marketing Partners in 2000 to provide sales and marketing-
consulting services to venture-capital firms and their portfolio companies in
the alternative energy and telecommunications sectors. Eric Wesoff has
become a well-known, respected authority and speaker in these fields. He
also was the publisher of the Venture Power newsletter, a subscription-only
newsletter covering venture-capital investment in renewable energy.
Eric Wesoff's expertise covers solar power, fuel cells, biofuels and
advanced batteries. His strengths are in market research and analysis,
business development and due diligence for investors. He frequently
consults for energy startups and Silicon Valley's premier venture capitalists.
From 1988 to 1996, Eric Wesoff served as product marketing manager for
Siemens Optoelectronics, where he oversaw complex product lines and
managed relationships with global customers. He then became the U.S.
marketing and sales manger for Akzo Nobel Photonics, which was acquired
by JDS Uniphase. Eric Wesoff later served as the sales director for Dicon
Fiber Optics, where he was responsible for selling millions of dollars of
fiber-optic telecom-equipment. He has consulted for Merck, JDSU,
Coherent, IBM and scores of other firms, governments and organizations.
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| Copyright 2011 CCICE. All Rights Reserved. |
| Presentations: Anders Axelsson - Echelon PDF Presentation Shannon Fraser - USCS PDF Presentation Eric Wesoff - Greentech Media Presentation |
