Clean Energy Trust
Model & Strategy
Clean Energy Trust (CET) accelerates the development of businesses and technologies from the Midwest that improve the ways we create, conserve and use energy and other scarce resources. CET provides venture development services to startup entrepreneurs and researchers, funds clean energy startups, and advocates politically on their behalf at the State and Federal levels. CET connects innovators with diverse industry participants to foster new partnerships and to align market demand.
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. He currently serves as a senior advisor to Metrus Energy (energy efficiency finance), and a board observer for GoElectric (smart grid) and SiNode Systems (advanced materials).
Erik’s co-DRK entrepreneur, Amy Francetic, left her role as CEO in December 2015 to join Invenergy and Erik moved from COO to CEO.
IMPACT
CET has invested $4.8 million in 27 companies from the Midwest and has served more than 275 companies at all stages of development since its inception in 2010.
CET’s catalytic capital crowds-in additional resources to address Midwest capital scarcity, with CET portfolio companies raising $18 of additional investment for every $1 of CET investment.
More than half (63%) of CET’s portfolio companies have female or minority founders, with 30% having first or second generation immigrant founders.
The vast majority (78%) of CET’s portfolio companies are generating revenues, with 30% recognizing greater than $1 million in annual sales; CET has profitably exited two investments and has reinvested these proceeds into new startups.
Clean Energy Trust News
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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 -
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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There’s no a16z for climate startups. There are dozens! (Sort of) https://t.co/Zv4vEKrhiX
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Good to see two innovative companies collaborating to deliver customer solutions! https://t.co/jSiS3C0Ghq
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Check out this great NPR story on how a Wisconsin community is using @Wellntel to help ensure it is managing its wa… https://t.co/CPghYzz4b9
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We work hard to help our companies succeed and are excited to see that effort paying off. Burnsville commercial co… https://t.co/jHDhQCdDnh
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. @jjacobs22, host of the excellent new podcast My Climate Journey, wondered aloud on Twitter this weekend what the… https://t.co/i5VAGJxpJa
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You might be surprised to find where experts expect most batteries to be installed in the next decade. Plus, a wind… https://t.co/GBwjrK1rnE
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Nice profile on CET portfolio company @75f_io: Bill Gates-backed startup wants to stop office temperature wars by… https://t.co/fvSh7Ghlxh
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Today is the deadline to apply for our Seed Fund's Fall Investment Cycle! If you are a high impact cleantech startu… https://t.co/0GM0obTSBf
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How A Growing Washington County Community Is Trying To Ensure Its Water Supply Lasts https://t.co/uKmwG8s5Xp Great… https://t.co/DWaJDXWJ7V
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Very long duration energy storage; fuel from industrial pollution; autonomous delivery robots. What do these have i… https://t.co/Fll4q6hdFq
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The deadline to apply for Clean Energy Trust's Fall Investment Cycle is only 3 days away! Submit your application b… https://t.co/8nvVvvYE7e
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Congratulations to @mobiuspbc for being selected to be in the inaugural cohort of the @Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Wa… https://t.co/PZPRESaEX5
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Why are corporations opposing regulatory rollbacks on their industry? https://t.co/K9EpyVdOyG
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2 years ago, 75F applied to the Clean Energy Trust Seed Fund. Yesterday, they announced raising $18 million from in… https://t.co/YKVhVSg5p4
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Bill Gates and Big Oil like this energy startup https://t.co/3iQUqN23kl #generate
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2018 Co_Invest Cleantech: @75f_io unveiled as new seed investment. 2019 Co_Invest Cleantech: @OGCInews CEO Pratima… https://t.co/S9tIe0QqS0
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RT @erikgbirkerts: Congrats @FlyingSardar and team @75f_io! $18 million Series A from @OGCInews and @btenergy is terrific validation of you…
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BIG NEWS! We're excited to share that our portfolio company @75f_io just raised an $18 million Series A round co-le… https://t.co/vnMOXKK3dB
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RT @DanforthCenter: We're excited to welcome @AkerAgUS to our @39NorthSTL innovation community! Aker is one of our current @IN2ecosystem co…