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| SJF News |
October/November 2008 |
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Contact |
400 West Main Street
Suite 604
Durham, NC 27701
Tel. 919-530-1177
Fax. 919-530-1178
800 Third Avenue
21st Floor
New York, NY 10022
Tel. (212) 209-3063
Fax. (212) 371-5500
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 SJF Ventures Invests in CleanScapes $10MM Financing
SJF Ventures has closed a $1,600,000 investment as part of a $10,000,000 Series A preferred financing for CleanScapes, Inc. CleanScapes is a recycling, organics, and waste collection company with operations in Seattle and Shoreline, WA, Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA. The ten-year-old company initially provided innovative 'Dumpster Free Alley' streetscape services and has since expanded to provide municipal collection services. CleanScapes recently won contracts totaling $40MM annually in Shoreline and Seattle, WA.
"SJF seeks out forward-looking ventures nationwide that bring cleantech innovations to inefficient, mainstream industries and CleanScapes certainly fits the bill," said Cody Apperson, SJF Ventures Associate. "The company's strong environmental, civic, and workforce strategies helped it win new major contracts and bring a breath of fresh air to the waste management industry." Chris Martin, CEO of CleanScapes added "We are excited to have SJF Ventures join the CleanScapes team. SJF's focus on companies whose positive impacts drive business results is perfectly aligned with our company, and the SJF team's in-depth understanding of the recycling, organics and waste management industries is a great addition to our investor syndicate." Read More... | |
 Ryla Honored in Inc. 5000; Still Growing in Slow Economy
SJF portfolio company Ryla, a leading call center and customer contact solutions provider based in the Atlanta suburb of Kennesaw GA, has been ranked as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States in the annual Inc. 5000 list for the second consecutive year. Despite the recent downturn in the economy, Ryla has seen significant demand for customer service and technical support solutions. Ryla hired more than 400 employees in September and will be hiring an additional 1,000 temporary and 600 permanent employees within the next quarter. www.ryla.com |
 groSolar Signs Exclusive North American Distribution Agreement with PV Inverter Manufacturer Motech
SJF portfolio company groSolar, a premier provider of solar energy solutions based in White River Junction, VT, has announced an agreement with Motech Industries Inc. of Taiwan. The agreement provides groSolar with the exclusive right to distribute Motech's industry-leading PV inverters to their expansive network of solar dealers across North America. Read More ... |
 SJF to hold Getting Ready for Equity™ Event for Entrepreneurs in Chattanooga, TN
Following successful events in Orlando and Charleston, WV, SJF Advisory Services will hold one more Getting Ready for Equity™ seminar in 2008 to educate entrepreneurs about the process of working with equity investors. With the support of the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, and the F.B. Heron Foundation, SJFAS will also conduct a Getting Ready for Equity™ seminar in Chattanooga, TN on Dec. 4. Register now to guarantee your space! |
 The Green Collar Economy Hits NYTimes Bestseller List
As noted in the most recent presidential debate, renewable energy policy and green collar jobs could be a significant contributor to revitalizing the U.S. economy. Van Jones' new book, The Green Collar Economy is currently #12 for hardcover nonfiction on the New York Times bestseller list. Mr. Jones, an SJF Advisory Services' Board member, is the first African American author ever to have an environmental book on that list. There are many excellent examples of the new green collar economy in SJF's portfolio, including groSolar, which employs 105; Intechra, which employs 536; and CleanScapes, which currently employs 80 and will employ up to 250 individuals by mid-2009. All of these firms have competitive pay, good benefits and training opportunities, and career ladders. |
Tonight's REBN Event Features Presidential Energy Discussion
SJF Ventures, together with Cooley Godward Kronish, Credit Suisse, and Porter Novelli, is a founding member of the New York Chapter of the Renewable Energy Business Network (REBN). The chapter will hold a networking reception tonight in Manhattan which will include a discussion with representatives from both the Obama and McCain campaigns who will present the candidates' cleantech/energy policies. For more information on future REBN NY events, contact Arrun Kapoor at akapoor@sjfund.com. |
| Coming Events for SJF Team
Arrun Kapoor will serve as a panelist at the Venture Association NJ Fall Entrepreneurs Expo & Elevator Pitch Olympics on 10/24; he will also attend the Greenbuild International Conference in Boston Nov. 19-20. David Griest will speak at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Boston Nov. 20 and will attend NCN III (Nutrition Capital Network) in San Francisco Nov. 12-13. Cody Apperson will attend the Greenbuild International Conference in Boston Nov. 19-20. David Kirkpatrick will be speaking at Smart Metering East Coast conference Oct. 27, Raleigh, NC and at the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association's 30th Anniversary Celebration on Nov. 6 in Durham, NC. Anne Claire Broughton will attend Sustainable North Carolina's annual Conference in Raleigh, NC Nov. 11. |
 Investors' Circle Conference November 10-12 in Boston
Investors' Circle is a network of more than 200 angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations, family offices and others who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. The fall conference will feature a plenary session on "The Crisis on Wall Street and the Future of Social Investing," and SJF Advisory Services' Board member Majora Carter, founder of Sustainable South Bronx, will be the keynote speaker at the education day on November 12. To learn more and register, click here. |
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About SJF |
SJF Ventures is a venture capital fund that focuses on cleantech, business and web services, and premium consumer products companies. The fund looks for experienced management teams that are driving exceptional growth and positively impacting the world. SJF Ventures specializes in companies with revenues of $1 to $20 million seeking equity capital of $1 to $5 million. SJF Advisory Services is an affiliated business services firm. SJF has offices in Durham, NC and New York, NY and invests throughout the U.S.
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