True North Venture Partners announced this week the launch of its new venture capital company along with its $300 million greentech fund. Founded by Michael Ahearn, former CEO of First Solar, the company said the fund would be used to invest primarily in early stage companies in the energy, water, agriculture and waste industries. Investments will range from $100,000 to $25 million.
“We are focused on sectors where the global problems are pressing, the need for disruptive innovation is great and the challenges faced by early stage entrepreneurs and investors are particularly daunting,” said Ahearn. “Our goal is to identify exceptionally talented entrepreneurs with the vision, drive and business potential to significantly improve the world and help them realize their ambitions.”
“We are assembling a team of partners and advisors who combine successful investment experience with proven track records in developing start-up businesses into significant enterprises,” said Ahearn. “We can help entrepreneurs navigate the obstacles that they will inevitably face in fundamentally transforming global industries.”
True North Venture Partners, which has offices in Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ, has officially begun operations and expects to be fully staffed by the end of 2011.
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– This post was written by Rob Stewart, a graduate student pursuing an M.A. in Urban Sustainability at the Antioch University of Los Angeles, and edited by Leonard Adler, Founder and Publisher of Green VC.