The Cleantech Forum San Francisco 2012 focused on global partnerships.  We heard from companies big and small that were working together.  We heard about public-private partnerships that are influencing better buildings and smarter cities.  We even saw some partnerships in action – like that of Ford and SunPower (see the video below).

Today, an alert from our i3 database caught my eye - Urban Green Energy (UGE) and GE have announced a new technology partnership (get whole scoop here).  They unveiled the world’s first integrated wind-powered electric vehicle charging station which pairs UGE’s cutting-edge vertical wind turbines with GE’s electric vehicle (EV) charging technology.  In case you missed it, Urban Green Energy was one of our exhibitors at the Cleantech Forum Eco City.…

In our 2011 Global Cleantech 100 report, we reported on the corporations with the most engagements (partnerships or investments) with Global Cleantech 100 companies on the 2011 list.    It’s clear that there is a mutually beneficial relationship between corporation and startups: Corporations need start-ups to source innovation; start-ups need corporations to scale innovation.   Quarter by quarter, year by year and from one event to the next, we see these relationships unfold through direct investments, research and development partnerships, and even mergers & acquisitions.  The question now is which corporations are leading the way?  Have more Global 100 companies benefited from corporate investments and partnerships?

In 2011, the top five most active corporations engaged with 50 of the Global Cleantech 100 companies. GE led the way with 22 investments.  Siemens, Google, IBM and PG&E rounded out the top five.

The top 20 corporations from our 2011 Global Cleantech 100 Report

2011 marked a record year for Cleantech mergers & acquisitions with $41.6 billion involved across 395 transactions, an increase of 155% from 2010.  However, we’ve seen the M&A trend slow down a little in 2012 (especially with venture-backed  European Cleantech companies).  In the 2Q 2012 Cleantech Investment Monitor Briefing, we …

Nine months ago, we unveiled the 2011 Global Cleantech 100 list at a Gala dinner in Washington, DC.  These 100 innovators were identified as trailblazers delivering the very best clean technology solutions, companies that, according to the collective judgment of the world’s cleantech industry insiders, were the most likely to make the most significant market impact over the next 5-10 years.

As we prepare for this year’s Global Cleantech 100 list (remember, nominations are open until June 30^th) and the corresponding Global Cleantech 100 Summit and Gala, I find myself thinking about the 2011 top 100 companies and wondering, “where are they now?”  Over the next few weeks, I’ll take a look back to see what has happened to our favorite companies, the rising stars, the international standouts and more.  Who has raised more capital?  What new partnerships were announced?  Who will we see on stage again this October?

To kick things off, let’s take a look at the group as a whole.  In the past nine months, the Global Cleantech 100 companies have collectively raised $2,346,461,951 in total capital across 56 deals.  There have been a limited number of exit opportunities – with one acquisition, …