Despite decreasing overall venture capital investments in cleantech worldwide, Northwest Energy Angels announced today that its members invested $4,696,500 in 15 clean technology companies in 2012— eight new and seven follow-on investments — marking the single biggest investment year since NWEA was founded back in 2006.
That’s a big increase from the $1.3 million the group invested for all of 2011. We reported last July that a total of six cleantech companies received $1,132,000 from the NWEA during the first half of 2012, and at the time, it was the fastest NWEA had ever reached the $1 million level. Today’s announcement means the group invested $3,568,000 in the second-half of 2012.
NWEA, the cleantech investment organization, set the record despite some discouraging numbers from industry analyst Cleantech Group. According to analysts, VC investments in cleantech worldwide were down 31 percent between Q1 2011 and Q1 2012 and 19 percent compared to Q4 2011. In total, cleantech companies around the world raised $6.46 billion, which is down compared to 2010 and 2011.
Lars Johansson, co-chair of the Northwest Energy Angels, remains optimistic.
“While overall investments in cleantech may have been down, the need to find solutions to climate change has never been greater,” Johansson said in a release. “We will continue to be a unique and valuable resource for clean technology entrepreneurs seeking seed capital for innovative new products and technologies.”
Here are the eight new investments:
- LED Lighting (Pacific Light Technologies)
- Clean energy marketing (Ethical Electric)
- Energy efficient windows (Indow Windows)
- Sustainability data management (Scope 5)
- Green business incubator (Fledge)
- Power inversion (Empower Micro System)
- Green roofs (Columbia Green)
- Biomass-based boilers (Greenwood Energy)
Comprised of more than 60 angel investors, NWEA and its members have invested more than $10 million in 39 companies in Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and British Columbia, Canada.
Previously on GeekWire: Energy storage upstart EnerG2 scores cash
