SAN RAFAEL – A new seed and angel funding investment forum featuring green technology is planned for Marin this Fall, part of a statewide push to bring together early stage investors with early-stage technology companies.
Two incubators and two investment groups are partnering to present the North Bay Green Technology Investment Showcase on Oct. 12.
Keiretsu Forum of San Francisco, the North Bay Angels of Sonoma County, the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster and iHub and Venture Greenhouse, a new green technology incubator at Dominican University, are looking for eight green startups to feature at the event.
[caption id="attachment_37857" align="alignleft" width="154" caption="Paul Bozzo"][/caption]
“We hope most of them will be located in the North Bay,” said Paul Bozzo, cofounder of Venture Greenhouse, “but we’ll consider startups from all over the Bay Area.”
Unlike the venture forums put on by Keiretsu and North Bay Angels with the Business Cluster, the October event will feature seed-funding as well as angel funding, which can run to $1 million.
“Seed funding involves much smaller amounts, just enough to pay the office bills while an entrepreneur gets an idea off the ground,” said Mr. Bozzo.
Venture Greenhouse was founded as an extension of Dominican’s Green MBA program, although it’s not limited to Dominican graduates. The program incubates its startups for only one year, to the point where they can qualify for more long-term incubation elsewhere or win sufficient seed funds to function on their own.
“We hope some of them will graduate into the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster,” said Mr. Bozzo.
Roy Martinez, chairman of the North Bay Angels, expects that the Venture Greenhouse will provide his group with opportunities for Angel funding as well.
“It’s wonderful that we’re developing a network in the North Bay for both investors of different levels and companies and individuals in need of different levels of funding,” he said.
The event on Oct. 12 will include at least three presentations from the 12 green tech startups at Venture Greenhouse, which holds its own ribbon cutting on October 5.
Investors at the Showcase will hear pitches from the providers of bio-based lubricants for commercial and industrial applications, sustainable food containers for the consumer market and utility-scale solar operations and preventative maintenance.
Seed-stage or A-round clean and green tech entrepreneurs or startup companies who wish to present should contact Paul Bozzo at greentech@keiretsuforum.com.. Accredited investors who wish to attend can contact Sonja Markova, managing director of Keiretsu Forum Northern California at sonja@deiretsuforum.com.
The event is invitation only. Guest speakers will discuss investing in socially responsible companies, the future of the clean tech space and practical aspects of investments in clean tech ventures.
“This Showcase is an exciting opportunity to bring together the key stakeholders in Marin County and the North Bay to support entrepreneurs developing ventures that offer environmental benefits,” said Mr. Bozzo.
