Pitching to investors? What could possibly go wrong? Mistake #1 Lost rapport with funder due to ignoring their subtle, non-verbal (but usually highly visible) cues Presenters often pay more attention to what they are saying (and how they are saying it) than to how the listener is receiving their message. A classic example of this is…
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7 July 2016 in San Francisco Bay Area: Renewables on the Rise Venture Showcase The second Impact Innovation Investor Forum (I3F) in the series will focus on three rising stars using renewables for producing high-performance biomaterials (bioplastics), “upcycling” waste, and innovative FinTech for renewable energy project finance. See below for the presenting company profiles or contact us to propose a presentation, sponsorship or other collaboration.…
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Mark your calendar for 7 January 2016 event in Salinas, CA: Cutting-edge Solutions for Sustainable Food, Water & Energy ABOUT: This event will present several major innovation themes and investment opportunities at the nexus of water, agriculture, and energy then open the floor for feedback and discussion on these and other relevant issues. WHO ATTENDS: …
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The rules are finally in place, opening up the playing field for investing online in 2016, as the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) finally approved new rules for crowdfunding, in a 3-to-1 vote. It has been a long, slow process (welcome to America’s federal government!) since President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act) into…
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According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO article or 2015 report), the global food system will need to meet a 30% increase in demand by 2025. Further, due to climate change, this will require not just greater efficiency, but also smarter systems — producers must be able to meet changing consumer expectations, and farming itself…
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Solving the Food/Water/Energy/Climate Conundrum New urban communities built around organic farming have grown in popularity recently. Well beyond conventional urban gardens, local food is the new green, with developers taking new pains to build for the segment of the population committed to responsible, healthy living. But water insecurity has reached new heights (as water table…
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Global Expansion Opportunities Abound By Daniel Robin Recent article in the Economist shows 2014 total investment in renewable energy, most notably in wind and solar, rose by a sixth to $270 billion globally. Further, changes in the Electricity Market in Mexico, juxtaposed already strong opportunities for greater energy security in emerging markets like the Caribbean,…
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According to this article, a recent report from the IEA explains that increasing access to modern forms of energy is crucial to unlocking faster economic and social development in Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than adequate resources available for this purpose — solar, wind, hydro, biofuels, and in some areas geothermal and waste-to-energy. Funding is also available for…
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Project managers and CEOs alike often look at me like I’m crazy when I advocate that they disclose all the major risks — the things that could go wrong, even if the chances are slim that they will. I’ve been doing this work for many years and still get “the look”. If this seems like…
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Why developers (should) seek to use Project Finance versus Venture Capital or other methods Impact innovators can now take advantage of quite affordable, low-cost Project Finance, which is a “method of long-term financing of infrastructure and industrial projects based upon the projected cash flows of the project rather than the balance sheets of its sponsors.” …
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Large numbers of people around the world have experienced the removal of historic constraints. Attainment of their newfound freedoms coincides with more wealth, longer life spans, better communication, and an array of [social and environmental] problems that necessitate the creation of new solutions. – From Social Entrepreneurship … what everyone needs to know, by David…
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Why talk about barriers to effective innovation? Certainly it helps to identify obstacles to assist with breaking through to solutions, but nobody intentionally torpedoes a splendid idea, so surfacing what goes wrong is a powerful way to reduce missteps. If a barrier gets in the way, slowing or stopping further development, you’ll never realize its value. How…
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What are the uses for, and sources of, different types of financing? What are the main distinctions between project finance, trade finance, corporate finance and venture capital? They all have much in common, especially at first glance. Most sources of capital specialize, so it is helpful to know what type of capital best fits your…
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Calling it a “potential game changer,” President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (known as the JOBS Act) into law on April 5, 2012. The SEC still has to implement changes in support of these new policies. Whether you’re already raising capital or just now contemplating the optimal campaign strategy, this will help ease…
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