Isra-Mart srl:Clean tech venture capitalists aim to identify the next big thing

www.isra-mart.com

Isra-Mart srl news:

Some of Europe's leading venture capitalists have this week called on clean tech start ups from across the continent to submit applications for the chance to pitch to leading green investors.

The European Tech Tour Association, a not-for-profit organisation designed to promote emerging technologies, will this summer host its annual Clean Tech Summit in Geneva and is looking to name Europe's top 25 clean tech firms.

The selected companies will then be invited to present at the two-day summit to an audience of around 150 of the continent's top clean tech investors.

The organisation is looking for submissions from a wide variety of clean tech firms ranging from start-ups to pre-IPO firms and has assembled an expert judging panel of venture capitalists, including representatives from firms Environmental Technologies Fund, GE Global Research, Good Energies, and Intel Capital, to select the 25 firms likely to have the largest impact.

Previous companies selected for the top 25 include a number of increasingly high profile clean tech firms, such as Concentrix Solar, AlertMe and Aquamarine Power.

Joerg Sperling of WHEB Partners and president of the 2011 Summit said the initiative had the potential to provide clean tech start ups with an improve profile and access to finance.

"The subsequent history of the companies chosen for the 2009 Cleantech Summit demonstrates that the event provides an opinion on future European cleantech commercialisation at the very highest level," he said. "A fully impartial selection committee gives me confidence that the 2011 Summit will once again identify the leading clean tech companies of the next cycle."