Attracting Private Capital to Cleantech Start-ups

The world of private capital isn’t in a horrible hurry to invest in cleantech start-ups–especially those that represent some level of technology risk.  What’s interesting is how the entrepreneurs behind these new companies are thinking and behaving as a result.  To be sure, there is a lot of whining: the world is cruel, it’s unfair, why don’t people understand how valuable my idea is? 

I have much more respect for people like my comrade Bob Huff and his unruffled all-out commitment to his run-of-river hydro projects in Southern Brazil.  He’s experienced a “no” or two here and there, but he is still in there telling his story to the investor community, ever-confident that the strength of his message and the sheer intention with which he presents it will ultimately win the day–and I believe he’s correct.  Next week, before he and I have lunch in Santa Barbara, he will have flown north from Curitiba for meetings all over New York and Northern California.

Bob: I like the cut of your jib.