Recently, MITCNC hosted a forum entitled Multiple Ways to Fund Your Clean Energy Startup. Numerous experts provided CleanTech entrepreneurs with new ideas to fund their companies. Some of the alternative funding sources included: angels, private equity, corporate venture funds, federal or state grants, international venture investors, and prizes.

We’re pleased to invite Dan Ahn, Partner of Envision Ventures and a panel speaker, to share additional thoughts on the panel discussion, as well as the partnership he seeks and builds with his portfolio companies.

Anna: Welcome, Dan! Why did many CleanTech startups fail over the past years?

Dan: Good question. Let me start with a “historical” perspective: “CleanTech,” from an institutional investor perspective, has been a dirty word. Continue reading →