GreenTechMedia senior analyst and blogger Michael Kanellos, an expert on the global cleantech scene, visited Folsom Thursday to take a closer look at the regional cleantech environment here in the Sacramento area. His visit was arranged by Dan Francisco of the Francisco Group tech PR shop. On his tour, Kanellos met with representatives of SynapSense, Marquiss Windpower, TechCoire and SARTA, among others.
Photo by Dan Francisco
Francisco asked him for his impressions on the region after his visit, and this is what Kanellos had to say.
1. What cleantech companies caught your eye on your recent visit to Sacramento, and why are they interesting?
“Marquiss Wind Power was particulary interesting. A lot of people are looking at small wind turbine (s), and if Marquiss can do what it says, the company is moving toward the front of the pack. I’ve also always liked SynapSense. The company solves a problem for customers are willing to implement their solution.”
2. What do you think of the Sacramento region and its budding cleantech scene?
” It’s got a lot of the requisite elements: An existing tech community that should spawn employees, a university in UC Davis that is hell bent on commercializing technology in its labs, good relationships with government agencies, VCs and big companies and a willingness to recruit employers. That said, there are a bunch of places trying to do this, so it’s tough to say where this will take off.”
3. How can the Sacramento region better tie in to the broader green and cleantech landscapes on a more national level in your opinion?
“Branding comes with success. It’s like band names. You can have the greatest name in the world, but if your music stinks, who cares. If a breakout company or two emerge, the Sacramento region will have a brand.”
* article submitted by special correspondent
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