Steve Westly joins GreenBeat’s top-tier roster
We are thrilled to announce investor and former California state controller Steve Westly as the newest speaker for GreenBeat 2009, the seminal executive conference on the Smart Grid taking place Nov. 18 and 19 in San Mateo.
Bringing combined expertise in politics, energy and entrepreneurship, Westly is an ideal addition to the agenda. A vocal proponent of the green economy, he heads up the Westly Group, a venture firm that backs Smart Grid startup Eka Systems,… Continue Reading
Glacier Bay solidifies $10M for power management systems
Glacier Bay, maker of high efficiency power and thermal management systems for trucking and aquatic applications, announced that it raised $10 million in new capital from the Westly Group, New Enterprise Associates and Quercus Trust.
The 18-year old company shifted to building energy-efficient HVAC and power generation systems in the last two years. This has proved much more lucrative than its previous focus on researching related topics.
The Union City, Calif. company’s lead product right now is… Continue Reading
ShotSpotter refines gunshot sensors with QinetiQ buy
ShotSpotter, maker of sensory systems used to detect gunshots, has acquired technology from British defense firm QinetiQ for an undisclosed amount. The deal will extend ShotSpotter’s reach into new markets, including law enforcement and military combat.
The Mountain View, Calif., company provides equipment used to pinpoint the exact location of gunshots, allowing authorities to properly respond. Unsurprisingly, its roster of 40 customers includes city governments, police departments and military groups. Its sensors are currently active in… Continue Reading
Cleantech: Verdiem raises $8 million from Kleiner Perkins, others, to save PC energy
Verdiem, a growing Seattle company that makes computer networks use less energy, has raised $8.33 million from seven investors including big-name venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
It is one of many companies riding a wave of public commitments by cities, companies, universities and other organizations to make their IT operations more energy efficient. The City of Boston and the City University of New York are two of Verdiem’s clients.
The company has been “toiling… Continue Reading
QuickHealth’s walk-in medical clinics — a solution to the “Sicko” problem
QuickHealth, a Burlingame, Calf. company that operates walk-in medical clinics, said it has raised an $8.5 million in a second round of financing.
With the nation’s healthcare system in serious disarray (whatever you think of Michael Moore’s controversial documentary on the topic, Sicko, it has resonated strongly with people for a reason), these sorts of companies are getting increased attention. They bypass health insurance system entirely.
The Westly Group led this financing, according to VentureWire (subscription required),… Continue Reading
Solar installer, Akeena, raises $4.1M in PIPE
Akeena Solar, a Los Gatos, Calif. installer of solar power systems, said it raised about $4.1 million from a private investment.
The cash is to help it keep up with new competitors such as SolarCity, and comes at a time when the solar sector is growing rapidly.
Akeena is already public, and so the private investment is called a PIPE (Private Investment in a Public Entity).
The Westly Group, run by former state controller Steve Westly, also… Continue Reading