The concept of “More with Less” was always central to the founders of Cleantech Group’s vision of the emergent innovation theme they coined as cleantech in 2002.

Doing more with less (less inputs, less costs, less environmental impacts), aka resource productivity and efficiency, is as relevant today as it was in 2002– probably more so – and will be thematically front and center at the 2016 Cleantech Forum San Francisco.

We will run two tracks: the More with Less Track and the i3 Connect Track. Themes across all sessions will include the mega-trends we have found in our research for the upcoming Global Cleantech 100 report.

*Find speaker bios on our Forum Event App (learn to download here)

The Entrepreneur & Investor Speed Networking session will connect investors, corporates, and entrepreneurs via a facilitated “speed dating” format. Entrepreneurs will have the chance to give a 3-4 minute pitch to multiple investors throughout the session. By Invitation Only

Join us as we welcome you to the start of the 14th annual Cleantech Forum San Francisco. We will begin the Forum – for the first time ever – with the unveiling the Global Cleantech 100 list! Be the first to know which top 100 private companies are leading the way in cleantech.

Cyril Magnin Foyer

Cleantech Group will provide the ‘State of the Nation’ as to what is happening in the converging worlds of cleantech innovation and sustainability.

We will then hear from Nat Simons, Co-Founder of Prelude Ventures, followed by a fireside chat between Maryrose Sylvester of Current and Greentech Media’s Eric Wesoff.

Energy storage is the hot trend currently (so says our Global Cleantech 100 research). The possibilities of More with Less grow as battery costs come down and business model combination possibilities multiply. Not only is there the solar + storage model, but with the emergence of the “virtual power plant,” energy storage is becoming the key component in the future of energy.

In this session, we will highlight the biggest trends in energy storage and hear from the leaders across the sector.

Six CEOs from companies who have made the Global Cleantech 100 list for the first time will tell us about what they are doing and why their innovation matters – and what impact they will make on the 2020s.

We have some exciting companies lined up for this session, but they won’t be announced until the start of the event! 

The federal Clean Power Plan and California’s SB 350 are accelerating innovation in clean energy technology and finance. The climate change talks in Paris also highlight the need for such innovation in both the private and public sectors to support research and bridge traditional barriers to commercialization of new technologies. Panelists will share their insights on the drivers behind and impediments to this innovation, and offer their predictions on its trajectory from a variety of perspectives.

Hosted by: Morrison & Foerster LLP

The advanced manufacturing mega-trend continues to progress, enabled by the growing ubiquity of 3D printing and industrial robotics. A key driver is the need for resource efficiency, as more goods and products are needed around the world.

In this session, we will be exploring the new technologies and advancements in manufacturing, including speakers from leading manufacturing companies and those who are bringing new technologies to the forefront.

Some of the companies presenting within this session have made our 2015 Ones to Watch list. The purpose of this sister list to the Global Cleantech 100 is to highlight other companies beyond the 100 that are gaining traction with leading players in cleantech. They are joined by a few others have been selected by CTG as ones we think you should be on the look-out for. The CEOs of all these companies will tell us about what they are doing, why their innovation matters, and why we should expect to see more of them in the coming years.

We have some exciting companies lined up for this session, but they won’t be announced until the start of the event! 

As we begin to shift away from a traditional “take, use, and dispose” based economic model, the circular economy encourages a model that is designed to be restorative and regenerative. From efficient utilization of renewable raw materials to the reuse of wastes, the circular economy is moving ahead and transitioning to one that resembles our natural ecosystem.

In this session, we will meet some companies who have made our inaugural Under the Radar list, which puts the spotlight on companies that are flying “under the radar,” but who have strongly caught the interest of a few of our Global Cleantech 100 expert panelists. The line-up of presenting companies will be completed by others deserving of this title, but not on the 2015 Under the Radar list. The CEOs of all these companies will tell us about what they are doing and why their innovation matters, and what impact they will make on the 2020s.

We have some exciting companies lined up for this session, but they won’t be announced until the start of the event! 

No challenge could more obviously be framed as More with Less than feeding the growing population of the world. As the availability of usable land and water shrinks, ag-tech has blossomed into a diverse sector of its own. From hardware and sensors, to sustainable and new organic compounds, to software platforms, there is a range of companies who are charting the future of food and agriculture.

We will feature a mix of start-ups, corporate leaders, and others who will showcase their solutions to feed and serve the growing population.

We will hear from another six CEOs from companies who have made the Global Cleantech 100 for the first time. They will tell us about what they are doing and why their innovation matters – and what impact they will make on the 2020s.

We have some exciting companies lined up for this session, but they won’t be announced until the start of the event! 

Reception is hosted by PG&E. 

As an alternative to the general breakfast networking, come take your breakfast in a more intimate setting – to hear thoughts on the growing trend of western technology companies seeking to leverage ‘the China advantage’ and what this can mean for you.

This will be a sharing breakfast – a very practical and interactive exchange on market entry strategies, challenges and experiences of how a China strategy can help accelerate the commercialization and growth of Western cleantech companies. To seed the conversation, Cleantech Group’s China team will provide learnings from its experiences in helping such companies. We will also hear from  CEOs who have started on their China journey, to provide their thoughts as conversation-starters. Finally, we will invite a few China-based investors to share their perspectives on China’s cleantech market and opportunities for Western cleantech companies.

We will begin our morning with an Incubator Spotlights from Powerhouse and Cyclotron Road,  our morning keynote address.

The term “planet management” refers to the increasing sophistication of communication and IoT platforms that have enabled us to better manage our limited resources, whether through tracking, mapping, or other real-time data. Where will these new platforms and enablers of better planet management going to take us? What new (more) applications and business models could be opened up in the 2020s by the ubiquity of low power and low cost connectivity – via drones, satellites, sensors and low cost data on everything?

Just as an interception in (American) football can change the course of the game – and ultimately decide the winner – these cleantech companies are changing the way we think about traditional industries. Join us as we hear from these six selected companies making game-changing plays across all sectors in cleantech. The leaders of these companies will tell us about what they are doing and why their innovation is the “big play.”

Virtual power plants (VPPs) are the latest technological enablers of distributed generation, and new competitors are not only being born, but gaining traction fast. VPP software systems have vast advantages of not only aggregating and instantly dispatching the output of multiple distributed power stations, but also collecting cheap and ubiquitous data on energy customers – ensuring better forecasting, demand response and grid stability.

In this session, we will hear from experts and start-ups leading the way in distributed generation and VPPs.

Hosted by: GE Ventures

Water scarcity and variability concerns have become increasingly more commonplace, with major droughts, flooding, and other water-related natural disasters plaguing many regions around the world. What innovations and advancements in the water and wastewater sectors can help industries both save water resources and improve the water ecosystem?

In this session, presenting companies will pitch their wide variety of solutions for the water and wastewater sectors.

As firms from Apple to Google, to Nike and GE will tell you, great branding and brand engagement are key to success. Companies in relatively new industries must work harder than others to establish credible, compelling brands and secure customer loyalty. This special workshop will provide attendees with a real-world case study and a crash course on creating a powerful corporate brand that resonates with end users.

Topics will include:
1. The difference between marketing and branding
2. Defining your values and knowing your audience
3. Steps to designing and differentiating your brand
4. Best practices for launching and marketing your brand in competitive (or less well-known) industries
5. How a strong brand can provide competitive advantage and drive sales

Please note: space is limited and seats will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

Join us for this special lunch session with the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO), Invest Japan, and the Japanese Ministry for Economy, Trade, and Industry on opportunities for cleantech innovators within the Japanese grid as the country seeks to de-regulate this hugely important industry. Investors and innovators will hear guidance from these organizations as well as other Western companies that have successfully set up businesses in Japan to drive innovation in the electricity markets.

Hosted by: JETRO

Several factors have contributed in recent years to the burgeoning use of natural gas in North America’s energy mix. The preference of commercial and industrial utility customers to produce more of their own power onsite is growing, just as improved technologies provide for the harvest of methane from waste streams. Gas even presents one of the most promising technology platforms in the red-hot energy storage space, with power-to-gas technologies that capture excess renewable power. In this session, we’ll hear from industry experts steering the direction of innovative gas technologies for the clean energy economy.

At the core of the More with Less theme are materials. How do we power industries, manufacture and transport products, and move ourselves around the world using less scarce, less environmentally toxic, lighter-weight, and inherently recyclable or biodegradable materials? Advanced materials companies are increasingly more prevalent across all cleantech sectors, some well-known and developed, and others the new kids on the block.

Select companies will have the chance to pitch directly to the audience, as well as discuss their innovations with a panel of experts.

Flexible off grid solar solutions and mobile “pay as you go” energy services are reaching remote areas across the developing world. New scalable business models are emerging to provide time and cost efficient alternatives to kerosene, along with flexible approaches to harnessing power for the everyday cooking, charging and lighting. The number of companies addressing this market has exploded, and they are inspiring changes to the lives of thousands in poor and rural communities.

Hear from some of the inspiring leaders who are bringing accessible, affordable, and clean energy to the developing world.

Next-generation building systems are moving toward much lighter HVAC installations, automated energy management, and integrating building portfolios via SaaS products – among other innovations. There are multiple applications and industrial settings for building management systems, and there continues to be a need to integrate – as well as finance – energy and resource efficiency, and occupancy comfort across building portfolios. What do visionaries have in mind for the next chapter of innovation? What companies are coming down the pipe?

Join us as we hear from a selection of experts discuss the future of the connected building, and hear from select innovative companies aiming to provide the solutions.

Join us for our closing keynotes from cleantech leaders in the finance and corporate worlds.

We will see you next year!