In a survey released in September 2008 by KPMG, the audit, tax and advisory firm, two-thirds of those polled said that green technology investment is sustainable. Almost all said they expected venture capital for start-ups producing these technologies to continue to increase in 2009. Half predicted an increase of 20 percent or more over 2008 levels. [via NYTimes]
I wonder what the current statistics look like for the first half of 2009? I have a feeling they were very close. Green is not only trendy right now, but it’s the way of the future. Green is sustainable, and makes good business sense. Message to firms out there: get in before you’re toast.
The man who popularized the Web browser has started a venture capital fund to back the next generation of new technologies.
Marc Andreessen, who co-founded Netscape, is announcing on Monday that he and Ben Horowitz, a longtime business associate, have raised $300 million that they intend to invest in technology companies. The venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz, will risk small sums, as little as $50,000, on new ideas.
Then, if they work, they will put in more money, as much as $50 million, for the companies to grow globally. The fund will have its offices on Sand Hill Road, the stretch in Menlo Park, Calif., that is home to top venture firms.
Andreessen Horowitz will be testing a theory of investing, one that has lost favor in recent years in Silicon Valley, that smaller funds making smaller investments in very young companies will yield higher returns.
I think this concept makes complete sense. Take a visionary leader a ton of money, small projects, and higher stakes in new companies sounds like it’s a no brainer to me. Any thoughts?
