GreenRoad raises $15M for safe driving technology
GreenRoad, maker of equipment and software that reinforces safe driving habits, has brought in $15 million in a fourth round of funding to build its customer base and attract partnerships with technology and insurance companies. DAG Ventures led the round, which also included Amadeus Capital, Balderton Capital, Benchmark Capital and Virgin Green Fund.
Based in Redwood Shores, Calif., the company makes a device that you place in a car. It monitors 120 factors like speed, acceleration,… Continue Reading
Solar co. Solyndra shines with $220M
Solar installation maker Solyndra has every reason to celebrate the new year, raising $219.2 million in fifth-round funding from a flock of 23 investors. This is the second largest investment received by any U.S. cleantech company in the last year, coming in behind the $300 million bagged by competitor Nanosolar. The amount breaks down into $96.6 million in working capital and $122.2 million in convertible promissory notes.
The Fremont, Calif. company has not disclosed its plans… Continue Reading
Solar: Solyndra finally shows its hand
Most of the heavily-funded solar panel makers out there have let the public know what they’re working on, if not all the specifics of their technology. So it’s somewhat remarkable that Solyndra has managed to stay stealthy for over three years, all while accumulating over half a billion dollars in funding.
Some details have emerged, to be sure. But the company has now opened up for the first time to give hard details on its product,… Continue Reading
GreenRoad Technologies raises $3M for fuel economy and driver safety technology
GreenRoad Technologies, a Redwood Shores, Calif.-based firm with offices in Israel and London, has added another $3 million in funding to its $14.5 million third round, courtesy of Amadeus Capital Partners. The European VC joins previous investors Virgin Green Fund, Benchmark Capital and Balderton Capital.
The company, which provides in-vehicle sensors and web-based services aimed at reducing crashes and improving fuel economy, will use the proceeds to expand its sales and marketing operations and R&D efforts…. Continue Reading
Gevo raises another $17M for synthetic biofuels
Gevo, the Pasadena, Calif., based developer of synthetic biofuels just wrapped up a $17 million third round of funding. New investors Burrill & Co. and Malaysian Life Sciences Capital Fund joined cleantech regulars Khosla Ventures and Virgin Green Fund; the biofuel start-up has already raised over $30 million since the beginning of last year.
Like competitors LS9, OPX Biotechnologies and Amyris (see our prior coverage here, here and here), Gevo is trying to change the face… Continue Reading
Seven Seas Water receives $20M for water desalination
Removing the salt and other minerals from sea water has always been an expensive process, due to the cost of both building and operating plants. Seven Seas Water handles the process for Caribbean municipalities, as well as hotels and other private facilities.
The company, which is based on the island of St. Thomas, designs, builds and operates its own facilities in locales where fresh water is both expensive and scarce, bringing in a continuous cash flow… Continue Reading
GreenRoad, for driver safety tech, raises $14.5M
GreenRoad Technologies is a Redwood Shores, Calif. company that installs accelerometers in cars to sense when their drivers are behaving unsafely.
We covered the company last year during its launch in September, when it also moved from its homebase in Israel. Its competitors include DriveCam and SmartDrive, which both use more expensive technology based around video cameras.
A new investor, Virgin Green Fund, co-led the $14.5 million investment with Benchmark Capital and participation from Balderton Capital. The… Continue Reading