The tree-hugging sector has found its way back into the spotlight. A new report from the Cleantech Group, in conjunction with Deloitte & Touche, pegs venture capital in the cleantech sector up 29% from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of this year -- and up 83% year over year. In fact, VC action in cleantech set a new record for the number of deals closed (the previous best, 165, was set in the prior quarter). A total of $1.9 billion was invested last quarter in 180 cleantech companies.

According to Sheeraz Haji, president of the Cleantech Group, "The first quarter's bounce back in terms of venture capital investment compared to 2009's early lows bodes well for what we think is in store for the remainder of the year." Haji continues, "North America was particularly dominant this quarter."

Continue reading Cleantech Sector Picks Up $1.9 Billion in Q1

Cleantech Sector Picks Up $1.9 Billion in Q1 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Venture capitalists betting on Democrats? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

General Motors (GM) launches joint venture in ex-Soviet territory originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"If you want what you never had, then do what you have never done."

I don't know to whom to attribute that quote. It was on a T-shirt my niece was wearing when we went to her home for Christmas dinner. When I saw it, it hit me like a warm balmy breeze on a cold December day. Those are the simple words which I have never condensed into such a simple statement, yet they are representative of the dynamics which have colored my life. Yes, I'm that guy you never really got to know when you worked with him or went to school with him. I'm that guy who was "over there". I'm that guy who fights against conventional wisdom. It's not because I can't buy into the concepts of what already works. It's a matter of a bull headed refusal to be limited by a blind acceptance of the status quo. What already works isn't always good enough to satisfy me.

That's my position on eBay, Inc. (NYSE: EBAY). As a matter of fact, what already works over there doesn't seem to be working so well these days. I received an unofficial report today that as of Dec. 24, 2006, eBay listing count has dropped below 10 million. If that's true, it equals an over 30% decrease of average listing volume in the last quarter. This does somewhat mimic historical performance over the last three years.The most up-to-date figures that I can get which I trust are from medved up to Dec. 16, which show eBay listing volume at about 14.3 million on that date. In any case, based on my tracking of the numbers, things aren't really too good on eBay for overall listing quality and volume. The numbers over the next 30 days will tell the story as to the true effects of the eBay "revolutionaries" on that site and their future. If there is not a significant jump in listing volume beginning in January, be ready for some heads to roll.

Continue reading How should eBay grow now?

How should eBay grow now? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Dec 2006 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As I mentioned in my post about Blogher, AIM is where it's at for the sorts of people who use instant messenger programs to communicate. Not only do teenagers love the product, with all the spiraling viral effects that has for AOL, but I use it for work -- and many other businesses are becoming IM-savvy.

AIM, however, may have come to a bit of an innovation plateau -- the unit seems to be focusing on cuteness and personality rather than functionality. AOL needed to get working if the company wished to expand into the nether reaches of instant communication and electronic networking. Today's announcement of the company's acquisition of Userplane (for an undisclosed sum) underscored Time Warner's dual strategies in this market, which are (1) dominate and innovate and (2) do it by acquisition, whenever possible.

Userplane CEO Mike Jones says the company will remain a separate unit, and the company's venture capitalist lauds Userplane for having been cashflow positive "for a long time." Userplane brings a very strong position in the dating and social networking market, and it's oh-so-Web 2.0. According to TechCrunch, Userplane "uses Flash and Ajax to offer video, audio and text chat in the browser, in single or multiple chat rooms. Those video and audio chats can be recorded using the company's Webrecorder application."

Continue reading AOL acquires even more of IM market with Userplane

AOL acquires even more of IM market with Userplane originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.