2005 Cleantech investment hits $1.6 billion surpassing Semiconductors as 5th largest North American venture capital investment category

2005 Cleantech investment hits $1.6 billion surpassing Semiconductors as 5th largest North American venture capital investment category

ANN ARBOR, MI, March 8, 2006 - The Cleantech Venture Network LLC today announced in their Cleantech Venture Monitor' report that a record $502 million in venture capital was invested in cleantech during Q4 2005 in North America. This investment represented an 18.1% increase over Q3 2005 and a 59.8% increase over Q4 2004. There were 73 separate deals done in the quarter, averaging $6.88 million, up 11.5% over the Q3 2005 average. According to research data to be officially released March 21st at Cleantech Venture Forum IX in San Francisco, the total 2005 North American Venture Capital investment in the cleantech category totaled more than $1.6 billion, an increase of $423 million, or 34.9% over 2004.

"Cleantech investment accounted for 9.9% of all North American Venture Capital investment in Q4 compared to 7.8% in Q3 2005 and 5.5% in Q4 2004," said Nicholas Parker, Chairman and Co-Founder of Cleantech Capital Group LLC. Parker goes on to state that "We are very pleased to see that this is the 6th consecutive quarter of increasing venture investment in the Cleantech sector moving it to the fifth largest VC investment sector behind Biotechnology, Software, Medical, and Telecommunications".

"Cleantech is an increasingly attractive investment segment with latter stage deals continuing to receive the bulk of investment capital accounting for $361.4 million of the $502 million total", said Keith Raab, CEO and Co-Founder of Cleantech Capital Group LLC. Raab continues "The five largest investments in Q4 accounted for 32.3% of the total and were made in Nanosys for $40 million, $32 million in Cellfor, $30.2 million in Lilliputan Systems, and $30 million each in Advent Solar and Synthetic Genomics".

The Cleantech Venture Monitor', is the leading source for quarterly Cleantech deal information, has tracked more than $8.3 billion in Cleantech deals since 1999. "We will officially release the drill-down from the Cleantech Venture Monitor' to over 400 investors and global thought leaders on March 21st at the Cleantech Venture Forum IX at the San Francisco Marriott," said Keith Raab, CEO and Co-Founder of the Cleantech Capital Group. "The analysis of various sectors and regional performance provides revealing information for investors, senior policy makers, and business executives alike and will stimulate interesting discussions," Mr. Raab continues.

This quarter's data brings the total amount of North American venture capital invested in the Cleantech sector since 1999 to more than $8.3 billion. In the recently released comprehensive "Cleantech Venture Capital Report -2006", Cleantech Capital Group estimates that capital requirements of Cleantech companies between 2006 and 2009 may reach $8.7 billion in North America.

About the Cleantech Venture Network, LLC
The Cleantech Venture NetworkTM LLC is a membership group that brings investors and Cleantech entrepreneurs together to do deals through the Cleantech Venture Forum' series of events. Cleantech Venture Networks also provides the industry with research reports, advisory services, and various online services. The organization's mission is to accelerate the next and necessary wave of venture innovation and investment worldwide through their network of over 900 affiliate investors.

The organization has tracked more than $8.3 billion invested in cleantech ventures since 1999, of which over $400 million has been raised by Cleantech Venture Forum presenting companies. Cleantech Venture Network has offices in Canada, Europe and the US. Further information can be found at www.cleantech.com or by calling (+1) 517-223-9607.