Citi and the EBC Team Up to Provide Financial Solutions to Cleantech

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 25, 2009 -- San Jose, CA – March 25, 2009 – The Environmental Business Cluster (EBC) announced a new program in conjunction with Citi. In light of the difficult funding environment, Citi and the EBC will produce a four-part industry panel series on “Financing a Cleantech Company,” the goal to facilitate and accelerate the funding of high potential cleantech companies in Silicon Valley. The first of the Series will take place in San Jose, CA on April 21, 2009.

“Emerging cleantech companies face enormous challenges when seeking financing in the current economic climate,” says Melinda Richter, Executive Director of the EBC. “The focus of this program is to mitigate the financing crisis currently facing emerging companies. With Citi’s experience and networks, this series can help position companies to not only survive, but to thrive in these times.”

The Financing a Cleantech Company Series is designed to provide viewpoints from a variety of funding sources, including government agencies, foundations, corporations, angel and venture communities, in addition to helping emerging companies understand the commercial banking options. “Our programs will bring real funding sources and opportunities to early stage companies,” says Richter. The Financing a Cleantech Company Series will take place in San Jose, Ca on April 21, June 16, September 15 and October 13 of this year. For more information, visit www.environmentalcluster.og/events.html.

Citi has supported the EBC since 2004. “Citi is an ideal sponsor for the EBC because of their focus on supporting early stage companies that promise societal solutions,” says Richter.

“The EBC’s mission to help entrepreneurs create successful clean energy and environmental companies, and to increase the availability of environmentally friendly products and services complements two of Citi’s key community goals,” says Citi Community Relations Director Cheryl Evans. “We work hard to support small business owners and entrepreneurs, particularly those who traditionally have been underserved, and we look constantly for opportunities to make sustainable investments, and develop products and services with positive environmental and social impacts.“ For more information on Citi’s Corporate Citizenship programs, visit http://www.citigroup.com/citi/citizen/.


About the Environmental Business Cluster

Established in 1994, the Environmental Business Cluster (EBC) is a nonprofit technology commercialization center created to assist early stage for-profit companies developing products or services that will have a positive impact on the environment. Since 2003, the EBC has specialized in assisting clean energy and energy efficiency emerging technology companies and has also been working with the California Energy Commission and the National Renewable Energy Lab to provide commercialization services to selected applied research grant recipients.