VC Investment In Cleantech Climbs - But So Do Others
This is from Greentech Media, which recorded a 56% jump in the number of dollars invested in green tech since second quarter and a 47% jump in the number of deals -- that's $1.9 billion invested in 112 deals for the third quarter ending tomorrow. Top VC investors included NEA, CMEA, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins and Foundation Capital, although it's worth noting that venture capitalists weren't the biggest contributors to some of Greentech's top deals. Solyndra, for instance, which makes photovoltaic systems for rooftops, got $198 million from Argonaut Private Equity and others and more than double that in a $535 million federal loan guarantee. Synthetic Genomics got a $300 million commitment from Exxon to develop biofuels from algae. Tesla Motors raised $82.5 million from Fjord Capital and Daimler Motors and will also get over five times that -- $465 million -- in federal low-interest loans.
