Tech Valley Energy Forum - February 24 2011

The Energy & Environmental Technology Applications Center (E2TAC) and Holland & Knight LLP are proud to present
  Photovoltaics: How to Identify Investors and Funding Sources
The second in a six part series of the ENTREPRENEURIALBOOTCAMP

Photovoltaics
Developing technologies that take advantage of the clean abundant energy of the sun is important to reducing greenhouse gasses and helps stimulate the economy. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity and are made of semiconductors such as crystalline silicon or various thin-film materials. Photovoltaics can provide tiny amounts of power for watches, large amounts for the electric grid, and everything in between.  Our panel of experts explained what's up and coming in this industry, and what venture capitalists and other investors are looking for in 2011.

The photovoltaics program was sponsored by Holland & Knight LLP.  Holland & Knight provides legal clarity to complex issues, including structuring funding and identifying investors.

To view photos from the event, please click here.

Watch this series on the New Energy New York YouTube Channel!  The first video, one of several from this event, can be viewed below.

Agenda
3:00 - 4:30 pm: Panel Discussion
4:30 - 5:30 pm: Cocktail Reception

Details
Date:
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Time: 3:00 - 5:30 pm
Location: NanoFab South Auditorium and Rotunda | The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering | 255 Fuller Rd. Albany, NY 12203
Cost: There was no cost to attend this event
Directions: Click here for directions to the College.  Please note that for larger events such as this, you do not need to sign in with security and can proceed directly to the event site after parking. 

The Panel
E2TAC assembled a first-class panel focusing on the opportunities for established and emerging photovoltaic organizations in New York State.  Panelists included:

  • Richard Lewandowski, President and Chief Executive Officer, Prism Solar Technologies
  • J. Peter Lynch, President, Salem Financial
  • Jeff Peterson, Program Manager, The New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) | Presentation
  • Yash Puri, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Magnolia Solar, Inc.
  • Richard Raysman, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP | Presentation
  • Jeff Seul, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP | Presentation
  • Guy Sliker, Program Manager, New York Power Authority
    Moderator:
    Pradeep Haldar, E2TAC

About the ENTREPRENEURIALBOOTCAMP
Developed by the Incubators for Collaborating & Leveraging Energy And Nanotechnology (iCLEAN), the
ENTREPRENEURIALBOOTCAMP was a six part series designed to provide insight and education on some of the hottest topics in the energy arena:

  • Energy Storage: Develop Competitive Strategies and Target Markets - February 3, 2011
  • Photovoltaics: How to Identify Investors and Funding Sources - February 24, 2011
  • Energy Efficiency: Build Successful Teams and Strategic Partnerships - March 10, 2011
  • Cleantech Start-Ups: Lessons Learned from Clean Energy CEOs - March 31, 2011
  • Understanding Legal Issues (IP, Governance) and Policy for Cleantech Businesses - April 14, 2011
  • Cyber Security for Smart Grids: Build a Successful Business Plan and Model - April 21, 2011

Each forum featured expert speakers and panelists within the field.  Though the events had a stronger emphasis on small and start-up companies, they were designed to benefit anyone with an interest in the topic, not simply entrepreneurs.  Typical participants included representatives from industry, academia, and government.  Panels were designed for maximum audience interaction.  

This program was supported by the National Science Foundation's Partnerships for Innovation program: CLEAN; iCLEAN, a NYSERDA-funded clean energy incubator serving the Tech Valley region; E2TAC at the College of Nanoscale Science & Engineering (CNSE); New Energy New York; and the Clean Energy Alliance.   

 

About E2TAC
The Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center (E2TAC) was created in 1998. It was established as an active expansion of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering to work with companies in the rapidly emerging energy and environmental industries. E2TAC provides a critical platform for CNSE to leverage its intellectual power base and state-of-the-art infrastructure to provide an applications-targeted resource supporting technology development, leading to the integration of nanoelectronics and nanotechnology in advanced energy and environmental applications. For more information, visit http://www.e2tac.org/.

About CNSE
The UAlbany CNSE is the first college in the world dedicated to education, research, development, and deployment in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics. CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex is the most advanced research enterprise of its kind at any university in the world. With over $6 billion in high-tech investments, the 800,000-square-foot complex attracts corporate partners from around the world and offers students a one-of-a-kind academic experience. The UAlbany NanoCollege houses the only fully-integrated, 300mm wafer, computer chip pilot prototyping and demonstration line within 80,000 square feet of Class 1 capable cleanrooms. More than 2,500 scientists, researchers, engineers, students, and faculty work on site at CNSE's Albany NanoTech, from companies including IBM, AMD, GlobalFoundries, SEMATECH, Toshiba, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron, ASML, Novellus Systems, Vistec Lithography and Atotech. For more information, visit http://www.cnse.albany.edu/