Cheryl Blain Expands Cleantech’s West Coast Presence

Howell, MI – January 20, 2005 - Cleantech Venture Network LLC, an organization that connects venture, corporate and institutional investors with "clean technology" entrepreneurs, announced today the appointment of Cheryl Blain as Director of Business Development. Blain’s hiring coincides with the opening of Cleantech's new San Francisco Bay Area office.

"Cheryl brings a wealth of experience to Cleantech's plans to expand and promote the profile of cleantech investment and deal flow on the West Coast and around the world," said Nicholas Parker, co-founder and chairman of Cleantech Venture Network. "The opening of our West Coast office and the addition of Cheryl is a commitment by Cleantech to support and cultivate the cleantech investment category in one of the global hubs of venture investment. Additionally, we are looking forward to Cheryl's involvement in the upcoming Cleantech Venture Network Forum VI, being held at the San Francisco Marriot, March 22-24."

Blain has worked as a business strategist with a variety of companies including Applied Development Economics; SOLO Energy Corporation; and Emerging Technologies Institute, where she ran the day-to-day operations incorporating sustainability practices and improved productivity in business systems. She has assisted a number of cleantech companies, primarily focused on building competitive strategies, writing business and marketing plans, and presenting companies to investors to raise seed capital, growth capital and mezzanine financing. Additionally, Blain conducted a study funded by the State of California on behalf of the Goldstrike Program which led to additional funding for the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance.

Blain received her MBA with a concentration in finance, from St. Mary's College in Moraga, California and a second concentration in sustainable enterprise, from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business School.

About the Cleantech Venture Network, LLC
The Cleantech Venture Network LLC is an organization that connects venture, corporate and institutional investors with "clean technology" entrepreneurs through related information products, online services and the Cleantech Venture Forum series of events. We serve over 500 affiliate investor member firms worldwide. We have tracked more than $3 billion invested in cleantech ventures since 2002, of which nearly $275 million has been raised by Forum-presenting companies. Further information can be found at www.cleantechventure.com or by calling (+1) 517-223-9607.

Cleantech Venture Network invites companies and investors engaged in commercializing or investing in clean technologies to apply for membership as a Company or Investor. For details, contact Lauren Bigelow at lauren@cleantechventure.com.