Cleantech 2012: Navigating the Future

Wed. December 7, 2011 | 3:00pm-6:30pm, Fenwick & West in Mountain View CA

AGENDA
3:00-3:30: Registration & Networking
3:30-5:30: Panel Discussion, Q&A
5:30-6:30: Networking Reception

OVERVIEW
There are eggshells across the cleantech industry for 2012 and the uncertainty is leaving many skeptical about the success anticipated for emerging technologies. The retreat of M&As and IPOs observed in the third quarter combined with a lack of seed and Series A financing rounds leave many asking the question: Where is cleantech headed? We have invited New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Silicon Valley startup Switch, and Greentech Media to discuss their outlook for 2012. Join us and be a part of this intimate and dynamic discussion.

Panelists Include:

Vern Novstrup, Environmental Compliance Branch, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NAVFAC)
Ravi Viswanathan, General Partner, NEA
John Bissell, CEO, Micromidas
Thomas “Tracy” Bilbrough, CEO, Switch
Eric Wesoff, Editor-in-Chief, Greentech Media
[Moderator], Joe Muscat, Strategic Growth Markets Leader, Ernst & Young

VENUE

Fenwick & West
801 California Street
Mountain View, CA 94041

SPEAKER BIOS

Vern Novstrup, Environmental Compliance Branch, NAVFAC
Mr. Vern Novstrup has been the Environmental Compliance Branch Head in the Environmental Department of NAVFAC ESC in Port Hueneme California since July 2004. Previously he had served as a regulatory analyst supporting Navy-wide Environmental Compliance and Pollution Prevention Programs and Technology Implementation Coordinator in support of Navy-wide Environmental Restoration Programs. He has 25 years of experience in various Navy organizations including: Western Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command; Naval Energy and Environmental Support Activity; Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory; and NAVFAC ESC. Vern serves as a Navy representative to the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP) Energy-Water Program Technical Evaluation Committee. He is a strong advocate for development and demonstration of technologies which have a potential to improve our military and national environmental and energy sustainability.

Ravi Viswanathan, General Partner, New Enterprise Associates
Ravi is a seasoned clean energy venture investor and strategic advisor. He joined NEA in February 2004 as a Principal, became a Partner in December 2004 and was named General Partner in 2009. He focuses on information technology investments with special emphasis in energy and growth equity investments. Prior to joining NEA, Ravi was co-head of the technology practice in the private equity group of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and led direct, fund, and secondary investments in the areas of information technology and life sciences. Present board memberships include Boulder Wind Power, Deeya Energy, ISGN Technologies, One Block Off The Grid, Soraa, Stitcher, Skyline Solar, Suniva and ViXS and works closely with Availink, GlobalLogic, and OANDA. Prior investments include Tele Atlas (Euronext: TA, acquired by TomTom), Arcot (acquired by CA), Sanera (acquired by McData) and IM Logic (acquired by Symantec).

John Bissell, Chief Executive Officer, Micromidas
John Bissell is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Micromidas, Inc., an industrial biotechnology firm that ferments heterogeneous waste in place of conventional carbohydrate feedstocks. Mr. Bissell successfully raised over $7M in venture capital for his emerging company. He also runs the 22 person research and development laboratory that is at the core of Micromidas’ technology advancement in industrial biotechnology, wastewater processing, genetics, synthetic and process chemistry, fermentation, and process development. Mr. Bissell has technical expertise in process design, chemical and biochemical kinetics, and conventional chemical engineering. He has led Micromidas, Inc. to numerous successes in regional and national green technology competitions, including the UC Davis “Little Bang” Business Plan Competition, the California Business Ascent Competition, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s "People, Prosperity, and the Planet" Sustainable Design Competition, the National Clean Tech Open, and the Artemis Top 50.

Thomas “Tracy” Bilbrough, Chief Executive Officer, Switch
Tracy Bilbrough joined Switch as Chief Executive Officer in 2011, bringing over 30 years of strategic planning and leadership expertise to his new role. Switch is a Silicon Valley startup seen recently in the media for their LED lightbulbs: Wired Magazine, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, Fortune Magazine. Switch has created eco-friendly light bulbs that do just what consumers want their bulbs to do: Light beautifully while saving money. Their LED bulbs use 80% less energy and are designed to replace conventional 40-watt, 60-watt, 75-watt and 100-watt light bulbs. Mr. Bilbrough has served on the Board of Governors of the American Lighting Association, the Home Safety Council, and IPS Corporation.

Eric Wesoff, Editor-in-Chief, Greentech Media
Eric Wesoff is the Editor-in-Chief for Greentech Media and his expertise includes solar power, fuel cells, biofuels and advanced batteries. Mr. Wesoff has become a well-known, respected authority and speaker in the fields of venture capital, alternative energy and telecommunications. He was a publisher for the Venture Power newsletter, a subscription-only newsletter covering venture-capital investment in renewable energy. 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. 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.

[Moderator] Joe Muscat, Strategic Growth Markets Leader, Ernst & Young
Joe Muscat is the Strategic Growth Markets Leader for the West Region of Ernst & Young LLP. Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) serve high growth companies that range from the Russell 2000 through Venture Capital backed startups. SGM areas of focus includes the Cleantech Network, serving what Ernst & Young believes is an important growth industry for the firm and for the Economy as a whole. The Cleantech Network is a multi-disciplinary team of professionals serving biofuel, solar, energy efficiency, geothermal, sustainability and other clean technology related companies. Prior to being appointed SGM leaders, Joe was the co-founder and Americas Leader of the Cleantech Network. Joe been invited to present at numerous Cleantech conferences and has briefed legislators in Washington. .