Green investing bounces back from recession
Venture Capital investment in green technology companies has jumped to tie pre-recessionary levels, according to a new report out of Greentech Media. With $1.9 billion spread over 112 deals, this year’s third quarter trounced figures from earlier this year, signaling a stronger than anticipated comeback for the sector, which took a beating during the economic downturn last fall.
To put the recent numbers in context: the second quarter this year saw $1.2 billion distributed across 85… Continue Reading
Serious Materials puts together $60M for green building supplies
Serious Materials, a developer and manufacturer of green building materials like windows and drywall, announced today that it has brought in $60 million in a third round of venture funding. The Sunnyvale, Calif. company didn’t say how it plans to use the money, though it has been building up its sales staff in recent months.
One of the highest-profile green buildings companies in the Silicon Valley, Serious Materials has now raised $120 million in financing…. Continue Reading
Autodesk announces software giveaway for cleantech companies
Autodesk, maker of 3-D modeling software used to design buildings and other structures, announced today that it will be choosing 100 companies to receive $150,000-worth of software each under the banner of its Clean Tech Partner Program. The application process is open to any young company working on sustainable technologies, though there is a slight focus on renewable energy innovations.
Startups chosen for the program will receive five licenses for the following suite of Autodesk applications:… Continue Reading
Small wind and green building get boosts in California
In a few years, the sight of a small wind turbine poking up above the roof of a house might not seem that unusual for residents of San Francisco, if mayor Gavin Newsom has his way.
The city, which just gave the greenlight to the nation’s biggest municipal solar subsidy, is turning its attention to wind turbines for energy-conscious homeowners and businesses. In a small meeting with reporters yesterday, Newsom said that permitting for turbines was… Continue Reading
Green cement maker Hycrete raises $15M
Hycrete, a Carlstadt, New Jersey-based green cement maker, has nabbed $15 million in third round funding led by Mohr Davidow Ventures. Returning investors included NGEN Partners and RockPort Capital Partners, according to VentureWire.
The company will use the funding to expand its operations overseas, particularly in fast-growing Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Hycrete does not plan on licensing its technology and says it is ready to expend a large amount of capital building and operating its… Continue Reading
Aspen Aerogels raises $37M for nano-insulation materials
Aspen Aerogels, a Northborough, Mass.-based company that uses nanotech-processes to make insulation materials, has wrapped up a $37 million fourth round of funding. The round was led by Arcapita Ventures and joined by existing investors Lehman Brothers Venture Partners Reservoir Capital Group and RockPort Capital Partners.
Its patented aerogels, silica-based jelly-like materials, have a wide range of insulating applications in the apparel, building, transport and energy markets. The firm sells them in fabricated packages and easy-to-apply… Continue Reading
Green builder Serious Materials scoops up Alpen Windows
Serious Materials, one of the better-funded green building startups with its recent round of $50 million in the bank, has bought up an energy-efficient window manufacturer called Alpen Windows.
Started as Quiet Solution, a maker of highly soundproofed building materials, Serious moved more aggressively into green building last year. It has several lines of insulating or environmentally friendly wall material.
The acquisition, for an undisclosed price, should help the Serious round out its offerings. Alpen windows are… Continue Reading
Shaky housing market fails to make a dent in surging green building sector
You wouldn’t believe it from the sturm und drang rocking the housing and construction markets, but the green building sector is experiencing a quiet surge.
The green building industry, a catchall phrase meant to encompass any practice or technology that increases the efficiency with which buildings consume resources, raked in an estimated $12 billion in revenues last year. Those revenues could top $42 billion by 2015, according to a new report from Frost & Sullivan.
For its forecast,… Continue Reading
Investment in the green building sector is booming
The green building sector has been awash with VC cash in recent months: Despite there only being a few dozen startups in the nascent field, investors have started paying close attention — helping several raise new rounds of funding.
Newark, California-based CalStar Cement has received $3.4 million from several investors, including Foundation Capital, while Serious Materials landed a hefty $50 million second funding round, led by New Enterprise Associates, Rustic Canyon Partners and Foundation Capital. The… Continue Reading
Serious Materials raises a serious round of $50M for green building materials
Indoor building material-maker Serious Materials has taken on a large $50 million second round of financing to launch a line of environmentally friendly drywall, the most common indoor building material in the United States.
The funding will help the company cover the costs of a manufacturing plant, to open next year. The cost for new plants commonly runs into tens of millions of dollars.
Serious will make three product lines: EcoRock, ThermaProof, and Quiet Solution. EcoRock is… Continue Reading
Green building co., Serious Materials, raising $40M plus
Serious Materials, the Sunnyvale, Calif. company that says it makes buildings with environmentally friendly materials, is looking to raise $40 million to $50 million to finance construction of its third manufacturing facility, according to VentureWire (subscription required).
The company plans to launch its drywall product in 2008, according to information available on the Serious Materials Web site. “We’ve developed a process that generates zero carbon dioxide in its manufacture,” [chief exec Kevin] Surace said. Data from… Continue Reading