GreenBeat 2009, the seminal executive conference on the Smart Grid, is just around the corner on Nov. 18-19. And one of the key pieces of the event -- perhaps the one we're most excited about -- is the Innovation Competition, a chance for startups and big companies alike to go head-to-head showcasing their boldest, most disruptive technologies and business models.
We can't say too much about the more than 30 companies who applied to be a part of this year's contest (much more information on our picks to come), but we can introduce you to the prudent investors and analysts who will be hand-selecting some of the Smart Grid's earliest killer apps -- the devices, software and concepts that will take our aging electrical grid into the future.
We're especially excited to have Navin Chaddha from Mayfield Fund hosting the contest. As managing director, he specializes in energy technology, among other fields, and has been vocal on the importance of cleantech and the Smart Grid. Preferring the term "energy tech," he is leading the firm in a more holistic approach to the technology that's improving energy generation and transmission. So far, he has helped pick portfolio companies CPower, Inphi, Servomax and LatticePower -- startups taking on different pieces of the grid. Ranked #11 on Forbes Midas list of top 100 deal makers this year, Chaddha is certainly one of the investors to watch in the space.
Before we get to the rest of our panel of experts, here's another reminder to register for GreenBeat 2009 before we run out of tickets. Go to http://www.greenbeat2009.com for more information and to sign up. In the meantime, if you want to receive breaking news on the conference, or generally keep up to date with Smart Grid happenings, follow us on Twitter at @greenbeat2009.
We'd also like to acknowledge our strategic partners: Vantage Communications, DEMO, Matter Network, and Fora.TV; and our sponsors: Accenture, Southern California Edison, Accel Partners, Mayfield Fund, Oracle Utilities, Schwartz Communications, Cisco Systems, CPower, CSC and KPMG.
The Innovation Competition accepted applications from companies of any size and shape innovating for the Smart Grid. The goal is to recognize new submissions to the space that not only change the way we're thinking about our electrical system, but that embrace what we believe to be the three most important objectives behind Smart Grid development: 1) To decarbonize our modes for distributing energy; 2) to quickly and efficiently transmit data along side power; and 3) to drive increased energy efficiency and conservation.
The following judges will decide which of this year's submissions best fulfill these criteria.
Tim CareyPricewaterhouseCoopers. Charged with determining what makes green companies successful, Carey has seen his share of winners and losers in the space, especially during the recent economic turbulence. He is one of the thought leaders that has his eyes fixed on cleantech's rebound from the recession, accurately predicting that the sector would begin to grow back in the third quarter of this year, but still miss 2008 levels of investment. He is often called upon to decipher and remark on cleantech trends. Earlier this year, he said he believed that the stimulus funds being handed out by the U.S. Department of Energy will result in more green IPOs in 2010. Carey is keeping a close eye on the evolution of the Smart Grid as it plays a growing role in its energy and manufacturing practices.
Craig LobdellKPMG. As a seasoned management consultant, Lobdell has spent years working with clients to reengineer process designs and planning to boost revenue, mitigate risk and evolve with the times -- particularly in the cleantech and renewable energy sectors. He has worked closely with electric and gas utilities to navigate the transition to deregulation, as well as with independent power producers, solar energy companies and municipal construction firms to make their operations greener and more profitable. Before arriving at KPMG in 2004, Lobdell served as a senior manager at BearingPoint and Andersen LLP.
Sunil PaulSpring Ventures and co-founder and chairman of the Clean Economy Network. Paul is a longtime entrepreneur of and investor in clean energy companies. As the founder of Spring Ventures, he helps incubate startups that have the potential to become major, disruptive forces in the fight against global warming and energy dependence. Right now, the San Francisco-based firm's portfolio includes thin-film solar company Nanosolar, and Oorja Protonics, maker of alcohol-based fuel-cell systems. In 2008, Paul joined forces with a number of other leaders in the cleantech and investment businesses to found the Clean Economy Network, a national advocacy group that lobbies for policies consistent with the growth of green employment, sustainable work practices and energy independence. Paul was also an investor in Advent Solar, which sold its assets to Applied Materials earlier this week.
Richard WongAccel Partners. Wong may have established his expertise in the mobile and enterprise software sectors, but he’s also jumped on board to make the firm’s energy holdings some of the most ambitious in the business. Just one example of his foresight in cleantech — he threw his support behind SunRun, a residential solar power company that utilizes photovoltaic panels and their interaction with the grid in bold, innovative ways. Owning and operating the panels itself, SunRun hooks its equipment into the grid, and charges residents only for the amount of power they use. The company is a natural segue into Smart Grid technology — a perfect example of how smart metering, real-time energy data transfer, and new data points will give vendors of renewable energy the boost they need to become widespread. Seeing more than simply how these innovation fit together, Wong has a bird’s eye view of how both private and federal dollars will flow into grid development moving forward. Wong will be a judge in GreenBeat 2009’s Innovation Competition, showcasing the most promising and disruptive Smart Grid technology on offer.
VentureBeat is hosting GreenBeat, the seminal executive conference on the Smart Grid, on Nov. 18-19, featuring keynotes from Nobel Prize winner Al Gore and Kleiner Perkins’ John Doerr. Register for your ticket today at GreenBeat2009.com.