With any new business, the biggest challenge is promoting the product or service and finding investors for it.
For the cleantech sector, the Global Cleantech Cluster Association is here to help this process along for new companies doing exciting work in these fields.
The Global Cleantech Cluster Association (GCCA) serves a conduit to attract and service the most advanced and promising cleantech sectors. It guides cleantech companies from a compelling technology or service idea to viable business models, sustainable jobs, and attractive Return on Investment (ROI) for founders, incubators, and investors.
Founded in 2010 as a not-for-profit organization, GCCA harnesses the tremendous benefits of international cleantech cluster collaboration in an efficient, affordable, and structured way.
These benefits include access to potential investors, new markets, networks, innovative technologies, partnerships, as well as access to the best practices from established and emerging cleantech companies.
"The GCCA is filling a gap in the global cleantech industry," said co-founder Christian Hauselmann of Swisscleantech in a recent interview.
"Cleantech clusters are decentralized organizations with a strong regional footprint: We work to promote cleantech and green jobs in our respective regions and interact with other cluster organizations individually around the world. The GCCA offers a platform bringing us all together so we can collaborate more effectively and help our companies meet their goals faster."
GCCA Cluster members:
- Akron Global Business Accelerator, in Akron OH
- Eco World Styria in Austria
- Clean Technology & Sustainable Industries in Austin
- Flanders Cleantech Association in Belgium
- New England Clean Energy Council in Boston
- Chicago Clean Energy Alliance in Chicago, IL
- Colorado Cleantech IA in Colorado
- Copenhagen Cleantech Cluster in Copenhagen
- The Green Way in Dublin
- Finnish Cleantech Cluster in Finland
- French Cleantech in France
- CleanTechNRW in Germany
- CleanTech Korea in Korea
- Cleantech Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA
- NYC ACRE in New York City
- Grow Wellington in New Zealand
- UK CEED in Peterborough
- Cleantech Alliance Mid-Atlantic in Philadelphia
- Portland Development Commission in Portland
- Ecotech Quebec in Quebec
- Cleantech San Diego in San Diego
- Singapore Sustainability Alliance in Singapore
- Swisscleantech in Switzerland
- Cleantech Center Syracuse in Syracuse
- CleanTech Business Club in The Netherlands
- MaRS Discovery District in Toronto
- Eco Connect in the United Kingdom
- Greentech Exchange in Vancouver, BC
To find and build the next generation of global players in the cleantech sector, GCCA is launching the first ever "GCCA Later Stage Award", vetting out the most promising later-stage cleantech companies across the globe and introducing them to growth capital and management guidance.
"The world does not have the luxury to wait for the next game-changing clean technology to gradually rise to the surface," said Ben Taube, GCCA chair.
"With the GCCA Later Stage Awards, we spotlight the very best the industry has to offer and expose them to investment and business opportunities around the world."
Nominations will be announced August 22, 2011, at the ECOcity World Summit 2011 in Montreal, Canada.
Award categories include:
- Wind
- Solar
- Renewable Energy: others
- Transportation
- Green Buildings
- Advanced Materials
- Water
- Waste
- Energy Efficiency (incl. Smart Grid, Storage)
- Agriculture
Each of the 10 category winners will be announced November 14, 2011. Winners will be awarded the official title "Best in Class — GCCA Later Stage Award 2011" and actively promoted to a leading, hand-selected investment community across the globe.
For more on GCCA and what their member clusters are up to, make sure to check back over the next few weeks to read our spotlights on the individual clusters...
Until Next Time,
Angela Guss
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