Last Friday, I met with Linda Holroyd, CEO of Mountain View based FountainBlue to discuss her views on the resiliency of green tech in today’s economy. Given that the oil price has now tumbled to under $50 a barrel and gas prices are half of last summer’s high of $4+ a gallon in Silicon Valley, is there still a pressing case for clean energy and green tech investment? We discuss:
In Part Two of our interview with Mayor Chuck Reed, the Green Mayor discusses how the city is changing its rules and practices to move “at the speed of business” to attract clean tech companies like Tesla Motors to Silicon Valley. The interview includes:
Why the Mayor’s Green Vision had to be bold and aggressive
Which green achievement makes him most proud
Why Mayor Reed thanks Governor Schwarzenegger for his part in Tesla’s decision to relocate to San Jose
The phone call to Tesla’s CEO and how it got San Jose on the company’s shortlist
What rule changes the City of San Jose put in place to accommodate clean tech business
What entrepreneurial practices does the city use that are models for the rest of the world?
How did the city reduce one approval process from 3-6 months to one HOUR?
The interview took place in November 2008 at San Jose City Hall.
To check out part one of the interview with Mayor Chuck Reed, on his humble beginnings, his inspiration for the Green Vision and his views on Obama’s presidency, click here
In this second part of Heidi Roizen’s interview, she talks about her Silicon Valley career and her new venture; she has some good advice for entrepreneurs.
Working at Apple in the 90’s, the work/family balance
How she became a venture capitalist
The challenges of working from home
Pursuing your passion as a business
Dealing with doors slamming in your face
Keeping the ball moving forward
Why the Roizen family is going green
To listen to Heidi’s interview about Skinny Songs and her new bookclick here
I met with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed at his swanky corner office on the 18th floor of the gleaming City Hall just three days after Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. We discuss what this historic election means for Chuck and his Green Vision for Silicon Valley; and how he got his moniker The Green Mayor. We also explore:
1. Chuck’s own dramatic journey from poverty in Garden City, Kansas (digging trenches) to top public servant in Silicon Valley
2. How the Beach Boys influenced that journey
3. Why his military background helped shape his green motivations today
4. What Mike Honda said to inspire his bold Green Vision
5. Why Silicon Valley companies from Fairchild to startups are getting into clean tech.
6. How a Green Mayor walks the green walk at home and why his lawn has brown spots.
To listen to Part Two of the interview on Tesla, tactics for attracting clean tech etc, click here
I met with Growth Point Technology Partners Managing Director, Laurie Yoler just 12 days after the historic bailout of the US financial system was signed into law. She’s a seasoned investor in emerging technology, a specialist in clean tech and serves on the board of Tesla Motors, where she was an angel investor. Laurie gives a fascinating insight into the psyche of venture capitalists at this historic time and explains why she remains optimistic. We also explore these questions:
How long will it take before the market stabilizes?
How will the IPO, Merger & Aquisition and private placement markets be affected by the financial turmoil? What about those frothy valuations?
What clean tech trends have emerged this year?
What’s hot in clean tech and why is clean tech in Europe ahead of the US?
