Thursday, November 19, 2009

Following the Money in Smart Grid

We saw the public names in yesterday's "Reviewing the New Smart Grid ETF (GRID)" and Tuesday's "First Trust Rolls Out Electric-Grid-Linked ETF (GRID)". Here are some Venture Capital thoughts from Greenlight:
Camille Ricketts of Venture Beat moderated a panel on VC investment in smart grid at the Greenbeat event this morning.

Here are a few notable observations and quotes from the investors on the panel.

Peter Wagner of Accel Partners:
  • "Wouldn't be surprised to see Cisco acquire Silver Spring Networks – although Cisco is probably tired of being extorted in the M&A market." (See Tandberg.)
  • The negative with government smart grid funding is the risk of "false positives" – chasing pools of dollars that seem to exist but are really a mirage.

Don Wood of DFJ on greentech exit action in China:

  • Wind turbine blade manufacturer "Tang Energy will go public" and I think you will see an EV company go public in 2010.">>>MORE
Also at Greenlight:
Google PowerMeter: It’s Our Gift to Humanity, Really