Cleantech Ventures

Cleantech Ventures’ “Cleantech Australia Fund” is a $50 million venture capital fund which had its first close in September 2007.

The current fund is made up of $20 million provided through the Australian government’s Innovation Investment Fund (IIF) program and $30 million from VicSuper, a superannuation fund committed to sustainability.

The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources announced the closing of the fund on 11 October 2007.

The Cleantech Australia Fund focuses on investments in eligible companies that are commercialising clean technologies; those which generate superior commercial benefits to customers whilst simultaneously addressing significant environmental concerns such as climate change, water scarcity, water quality and resource constraints.

International investment in the cleantech sector has grown significantly in recent years and the Cleantech Australia Fund will leverage Australia’s strong innovation and R&D skill base. The fund will focus mainly on investments in expansion stage companies that are addressing local and international markets. A proportion of the fund will also be directed to seed stage investments.

Companies seeking investment funds for the development and commercialisation of clean technologies are invited to submit a detailed business plan or information memorandum.…

Cleantech Ventures and Cleantech Network LLC (USA) have co-authored a benchmark report representing the first-ever comprehensive analysis of cleantech venture capital, buyouts, merger and acquisition and IPO activity in Australia.

Cleantech Ventures is a specialist venture capital fund manager focused on investments in companies developing clean technologies.

Cleantech, or Clean Technologies, are technologies which generate superior commercial benefits to customers whilst simultaneously addressing significant environmental concerns such as global warming, water scarcity, water quality and waste. These technologies include renewable energy, energy storage, biofuels, cleaner fossil fuel processes, water purification and waste water treatment, recycling, energy efficiency, pollution reduction and advanced materials (including nanotechnologies).

Clean technologies are emerging as the enablers of the modern industrial society, the next and necessary wave of venture innovation in a natural resource constrained world. While the environmental benefits of clean technologies can be significant, the primary drivers for investments in them are the commercial advantages offered by the technologies to underpin their successful commercialisation and quality returns for investors.

Australia has a strong technology and R&D skills base through universities, CSIRO, Co-operative Research Centres and industry and is recognised globally as being a centre for innovation, punching well above its weight on the world stage. Significant opportunities exist for new technologies that provide solutions to the worldwide structural changes that are under way to address global warming, water scarcity, water quality, waste and pollution.…