National Venture Capital Association steps up ‘cleantech’ efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Venture Capital Association and the Cleantech Group are teaming up in an effort to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and investment in green or clean technology.

The trade groups announced their effort at a forum in the nation’s capital about clean tech.

“For the past five years, the clean technology sector has experienced significant growth and has become a critical investment sector for the venture capital industry,” said Mark Heesen, the NVCA’s president. “This partnership will bring additional strength to our advocacy work and for our members as they work with the country’s most promising start-up companies that are innovating in the clean tech marketplace.”

The NVCA had earlier set up a cleantech advisory council.

Founded as the Cleantech Venture Network in 2002, the group includes 8,000 investors and 9,500 companies and organizations. According to its website, 1,300 of its “elite members” have assets of more than $3 trillion.

“The cleantech investment category crosses many industries, technologies and geographies, making it increasingly important as this new market cycle scales for close cooperation between our respective and complementary communities,” said Nicholas Parker, who is founder and chairman of the Cleantech Group. “With strengthened ties between the Cleantech Group’s and the NVCA’s networks of investors, we are bringing additional efficiencies to this market and strategically accelerating growth in the cleantech sector.”

Through their partnerships, the groups said NVCA members would gain access to Cleantech Group research, investment and other information. NVCA also will assist Cleantech Group in expanding its reach to venture capital associations in Europe, India and China.