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 -
Clean Energy Trust Welcomes 4 New Portfolio Companies at 2019 Co_Invest CleantechClick here to read the full article.May 2019 -
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 -
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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RT @mediumpauly: Another productive week @CleanEnergyTrst’s home office. Had our first virtual Inv. Comm. mtg, closed a new investment, & c…
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The deadline to apply for @elementalexcel's 2020 Cohort 9 has been extended to Tuesday, April 7 at 5:00 pm PST. Ap… https://t.co/fseCd9DIxY
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RT @NorthwesternU: How do you lead your organization through a crisis like #COVID19? @KelloggSchool Prof. Harry Kraemer provides two key pr…
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Apply today for the CET University Accelerator, a remote accelerator program for student-led cleantech startups in… https://t.co/2UFZ81cOTz
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RT @marinakoren: Our planet under a pandemic: less seismic activity from the rumble of daily life, cleaner air, profoundly quieter cities a…
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“Data centers are expanding, they’re going everywhere. They need to be built in a way that ensures they are not tak… https://t.co/dGZGJKMDwd
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We’re proud to announce we received a Channel Partner Award from @IN2ecosystem for supporting educational programs… https://t.co/iOICBOplJ3
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Ann Arbor has outlined more than 40 actions to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2030 “It will necessitate collaboratio… https://t.co/KWmlwZOgaf
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We provide catalytic capital and support to early-stage startups working on solutions for clean energy, decarboniza… https://t.co/9l8amTkagn
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Entrepreneurship and innovation are powerful forces that can be leveraged to address environmental challenges, crea… https://t.co/uFe6U0Frnq
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We agree with @crounse @TheGarageNU that "we need founders who aren’t afraid to fail and dream bigger." Apply for… https://t.co/hzFvROO3Vm
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RT @agentisenergy: How are you coping with Covid induced cabin fever? At Agentis, we're helping small businesses reduce their energy costs…
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RT @getheropower: Don't miss it! Hero Power CEO @tybenefiel is on the @JoanEspositoCHI Show today at 3:15 pm on @WCPT820! Listen in to le…
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RT @pattrn: More than 5 billion plastic flower pots are sold in the U.S. every year. But chemist Tony Bova has found a way to build them be…
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Feeling down?😐 Get inspired by exploring the latest in scientific research and innovation.☀️😌 Researchers… https://t.co/9uw4fsIqQa
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RT @75f_io: A recent report from @GasTechnology demonstrates that a 75F install can save up to 45% on #HVAC costs over one year. #BuildingA…
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RT @devindthorpe: I know many small business owners are struggling right now. The SBA Administrator is hosting a free webinar on Friday to…
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Looking for a job opportunity? Midwest startups are hiring! In fact, two of our Chicago-based portfolio companies… https://t.co/ruJahroa5P