
Clean Energy Trust
Model & Strategy
Clean Energy Trust provides catalytic capital and support to early-stage startups in the Mid-Continent region of the United States working on solutions for clean energy, decarbonization, and environmental sustainability. Clean Energy Trust believes in the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to conserve natural resources, protect the environment, and combat climate change. Moreover, entrepreneurship and innovation create jobs and stimulate economic development in underserved regions of the Mid-Continent region. To date, Clean Energy Trust has invested in 31 portfolio companies.



Erik Birkerts has over 25 years of operational and general management experience, including project financing and strategy development for energy efficiency and clean technology companies. Erik currently serves on the board of Milbank Manufacturing, acts as a senior advisor to Metrus Energy, and serves as a board observer for multiple CET portfolio companies. He also serves as a Mentor for the Obama Foundation Scholars program and as an Executive Mentor for the Baumhart Scholars MBA program at Chicago’s Loyola University. He earned an MBA at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a BA with honors in Economics and International Relations from Tufts University.
IMPACT
Clean Energy Trust has invested $5.3 million in 31 companies from the Midwest and has helped to create over 550 jobs since its inception in 2010.
Clean Energy Trust provides catalytic capital to address Midwest capital scarcity and support to early-stage startups working on solutions for clean energy, decarbonization, and environmental sustainability. Clean Energy Trust’s portfolio companies have raised $26 of additional investment for every $1 of Clean Energy Trust investment.
More than half (55%) of Clean Energy Trust’s portfolio companies have female or minority founders. The vast majority (68%) of Clean Energy Trust’s portfolio companies are generating revenues, with 29% recognizing greater than $1 million in annual sales; Clean Energy Trust has profitably exited four investments and reinvests the proceeds into new startups.
Clean Energy Trust News
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Clean Energy Trust Elects GE and ARPA-E Alumnae to Board of DirectorsClean Energy Trust provides catalytic capital and support to early-stage startups in the Mid-Continent region of the United States working on solutions for clean energy,…Feb 2020
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Clean Energy Trust Welcomes 4 New Portfolio Companies at 2019 Co_Invest CleantechClick here to read the full article.May 2019
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Q&A: Clean Energy Trust’s New Leader ‘Extremely Optimistic’ About Midwest EnergyRecently, Clean Energy Trust announced that executive vice president Erik Birkerts would take over as CEO, picking up the reins from founding CEO Amy Francetic.…Dec 2015
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Clean Energy Trust Awarded 8 Start Ups $1 Million in the Clean Energy ChallengePut on by Chicago’s Clean Energy Trust, the Clean Energy Challenge aims to seed clean energy startups and has been a launching pad for more than 60…Apr 2015
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⚡️We’re transforming energy!⚡️ Join us at @NREL’s virtual Industry Growth Forum, April 20-22. Connect with indus… https://t.co/LgbWUhV13A
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RT @IdleSmart: Idle reduction isn't just good for your company and its bottom line - it's good for the environment and the future of trucki…
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Our portfolio company @MITO_Materials is hiring a Material Applications Engineer! MITO develops & integrates mate… https://t.co/dWAMT71PrJ
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Interested in cleantech innovation? Discover our portfolio of climate technology startups at https://t.co/9Yx65PtW4D
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Did you know that computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist Annie Easley worked on solar, wind, and e… https://t.co/QzuM3jgXRo
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RT @IN2ecosystem: .@CleanEnergyTrst. is providing grant opportunities for female and minority founders and CEOs. Apply today for the $25,00…
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RT @mrp: @axios @JoannMuller @united @GM “I have 7 kids and I want to leave a better world for them… We started investing a few years ago…
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Climate tech/ cleantech entrepreneurs 👩🔬🔋 Apply today for the @Nicor_Gas Multicultural Innovator Award! Recipi… https://t.co/cWopcy3a4M
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"The renewable energy equipment that we make in the Midwest creates jobs, saves money & reduces pollution. Exportin… https://t.co/juU8V9uSRV
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Green investing paid off in spades last year, according to a new report from @MorganStanley. The study provides f… https://t.co/7TQESWmfia
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The @ComEd Emerging Technologies Team is currently accepting proposals for 2021 Q2 pilot or research project ideas!… https://t.co/5xOrIsSUUp
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RT @InnovateNREL: The selection committee is hard at work and at the end of the month we'll announce all 40 #cleantech startups that will b…
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Scientists with @UChicago, @UWMadison & @BrookhavenLab published a new breakthrough that promises to bring us close… https://t.co/cGNpXDTGN2
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Loved reading this case study on how our portfolio company @Igor_PoE helped the Evendale Fire Department update the… https://t.co/FFklks5ivv
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In celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, we thought we'd highlight the work of Dr. Warren M. Washington, recipient of… https://t.co/I8jUiEhwj8
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Vote today for our portfolio company @Intellihot who has been nominated as The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois! 😎 I… https://t.co/83b9ETUskS
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☀️Cleantech/ climate entrepreneurs☀️ Apply today for the @usbank Foundation Cleantech Inclusion Award! Clean Ener… https://t.co/pC0Aosbw8U