Alternative finacing strategies in climate & clean energy
Traditional financing models often do not meet the needs of clean energy companies. Cleantech start-ups may need to finance hardware and CapEx at the earliest stages of financing, making equity prohibitively expensive. Multi-year applied science and engineering timelines can conflict with revenue and traction metrics typically expected from VC investors. Many early stage investors lack the capacity and industry knowledge to evaluate clean energy start-ups. And ‘first-of-a-kind’ projects lack the track record and standardization needed for debt financing.
For these reasons, understanding alternative financing strategies is essential in climate and clean energy. Grant funding, venture debt, crowdfunding, project finance and other financing options can be essential tools to extend runway, or simply to get off the ground when equity financing alone is not a fit.
In this panel, we will speak with investors and experts across various alternative financing domains to explore non-equity financing strategies in clean energy; benefits and trade-offs associated with different sources of funding; when to pursue such alternatives; and how to best integrate these strategies with broader financing and execution milestones.
Meet the Panelists:
Jordan Kanis, Climate Technology and Sustainability at Silicon Valley Bank – Gain insights on venture debt and start-up banking for startups.
Camille Richards, StartEngine – Discover the power of equity crowdfunding and how to tap into a broader investor base.
Jacob Schoenberg, grantx – Explore grant funding opportunities and how to access non-dilutive capital for your startup.
Craig Lawrence, Energy Transition Ventures - experience with different funding options for earlier stage (e.g., options for founders, implications for balance sheet, captable from investor perspective)
Special remarks by Trammell S. Crow, founder of EarthX. EarthX is a global non-profit and media company dedicated to amplifying awareness and accelerating action on climate and sustainability through community engagement, education and thought leadership.
Timing and Agenda:
Wednesday, February 12th
5:30 – 6:10pm: Drinks, apps and snacks, networking
6:10 - 6:15pm: Opening remarks and welcome by Trammell S. Crow, EarthX
6:15-7:15 pm: Panel discussion
7:15 – 8:30pm: More drinks, apps, snacks and networking
Location with RSVP