June 6, 2013
Reporting on the Internet of Things
The most viable IoT: Healthcare IT, Energy Efficiency, and Enablement technologies, this and more in the new Silicon Valley Bank report.
The Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) strategic advisory experts have just put out a new report on the Internet of Things. This analysis explores the market forces, financing dynamics, and then looks at niche markets such as enablement, connected healthcare, and energy efficiency.
The Internet of Things (IoT) was coined by then product manager at Procter & Gamble, Kevin Ashton, back in 1999. Kevin wrote that “If we had computers that knew everything there was to know about things—using data they gathered without any help from us—we would be able to track and count everything, and greatly reduce waste, loss and cost. We would know when things needed replacing, repairing or recalling, and whether they were fresh or past their best. The Internet of Things has the potential to change the world, just as the Internet did. Maybe even more so.”
The SVB’s IoT report covers advancement in technology that has poised the IoT for a renaissance, and looks at the promise and hurdles ahead. It calls out the gap between the offering of large tech companies and the areas where growth is strongest. And it states that investors are shying away from IoT technologies until the benefits can be quantified.
The IoT encompasses a vast number of sectors such as Communication, Connected Healthcare, Monitoring, Enablement, Energy and Environment, Meter/Utilities, Enterprise and IT, Heavy Industry, Retail and Commerce, Smart Buildings, and more.
IoT companies are faced with funding challenges. Venture Capital funding of IoT is facing imbalances in supply and demand. There are more angel or seed financed companies now than there are institutional funds to continue to fund them as they move into series A stage.
SVB reports that to successfully bring a product to market and expand (Series C and beyond), $30M+ in total invested capital is required on average. Lack of investment may be attributed to things like s hardware development, inventory management, long sales cycles, and/or slower than expected up-take.
The most viable business cases have been in Healthcare IT, Energy Efficiency, and Enablement technologies. IoT enablement technologies are the base upon which all other IoT products are built, and while experiencing strong growth, these are also experiencing increased cost of goods sold and operating expenses.
There are certainly great socio-economic benefits to come from the Internet of Things. Capital to fuel the innovation will continue to be allotted slowly as investors watch for proven quantifiable business cases.
Read the full SVB Internet of Things report online.
About SVB Analytics Strategic Advisory Service
For over 30 years, SVB has been at the center of the venture capital world, reviewing business models and providing valuation services to thousands of early-stage disruptive companies. Because of this, SVB Analytics’ strategic advisory service has access to unique data that allows us to make both grounded valuations of companies, and forecasts of new markets that help investors evaluate opportunities with leading early-stage businesses.
May 30, 2013
Clean Energy Trends 2013
 Clean Energy Trends 2013 Report from Clean Edge, Inc. From Clean Edge Inc.
Clean Edge, a leading authority on the clean-tech market, released its 12th annual Clean Energy Trends report.
Last year was a challenge for the clean energy sectors. Layoffs, bankruptcies, decreased funding, and politics, beleaguered the industry. This year, politics are in play again; assaults on state-backed renewable portfolio standards are being mounted on several fronts.
There is plenty of good news too however.
The need for clean tech hasn’t gone away however. The world population continues to expand, straining precious resources of clean air and water. Climate change has undoubtedly played a role in an ever increasing number of weather disasters. The Obama administration has redoubled efforts to grow renewable power and energy efficiency. Clean-tech is increasingly competitive in terms of pricing, wind and solar are reaching cost parity in both utility-scale and distributed markets. (more…)
May 2, 2013
National Solar Jobs Census Reveals More Solar Jobs than Texas Ranchers, California Actors
Clean Tech Trends
The Solar Foundation, a 30-year old nonprofit organization, released a special report last year, and an interactive map this month, revealing the nationwide state of solar jobs.
Last year’s National Solar Jobs Census 2012 reported that the U.S. solar industry was employing 119,016 people. This represents 13,872 new solar jobs and a 13.2 percent employment growth rate over the previous year as compared to overall economy growth of only 2.3 percent at best. One in 230 jobs created nationally over the last year was created in the solar industry.
Drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics, and reported by CNNMoney, apparently there are now more solar workers in Texas than there are ranchers, more solar employees in California than actors, and nationwide more solar workers than coal miners. (more…)
April 25, 2013
 Hiring Trends – StartUps Silicon Valley Bank Tech Needs Talent!
Clean Tech and High Tech Trends
Eighty seven percent of technology startups plan to hire new employees in 2013, which is great news for tech talent. But it means competition for companies trying to attract and retain excellent human capital.
A new report by Silicon Valley Bank shows that in the US, hiring by technology, life science and cleantech companies is up 14% from four years ago when the annual survey began. Software companies plan to do the most hiring, with 90% planning to increase the size of their workforces this year.
The Startup Outlook study, conducted by SVB indicates that 74% of U.S. startups report that business is looking better this year. Texas startups are leading the hiring, followed by the states of Washington, Massachusetts, California, and New York.
The skills that are in highest demand are Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, as well as other business skills in management, operations, sales, and marketing, with most companies seeking a combination of STEM skills and business aptitude.
Startup employers face the challenges of funding salaries and benefits, and competition for needed talent. “Tech companies are a bright spot in the economy worldwide, which is evident from the significant number of startups in the US and the UK that expect to grow and hire this year,” said Greg Becker, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Bank.
A very spiffy interactive hiring report can be engaged with for both the US and the UK on SVB’s website. Results of the survey are being released in a series of reports, which are available at http://www.svb.com/startup-outlook-report.
April 18, 2013
Hot Tech Salary and Trend Highlights
 Choice Salary Tech Ranges – Info from Robert Half 2013 Technology Salary Guide from the Robert Half 2013 Technology Salary Guide
“Money may not be all IT employees consider when choosing to join or stay with your firm, but it’s certainly one of their key benchmarks.”
Attracting and retaining top tech talent requires a concerted plan. To attract the best and brightest, companies must be dynamic and growing, and must provide a work environment and benefits that motivate employees.
A lot of leading edge tech companies offer gyms, free healthy lunches, child care, transportation, flextime, work from home, and professional development opportunities in addition to good health insurance, 401Ks, and options. As the market improves, the competition over top talent only becomes more acute. Whether actively looking for new opportunities or not, top talent is being pitched on a consistent basis. In addition to these perks and benefits, your employees are shopping salaries. (more…)
April 4, 2013
 Affordable, Scalable Clean Energy Storage and Reuse
A Revolution for the Hydrogen Economy?
Clean Tech Trends
An exciting new discovery has been made by Canadian scientists that would allow the electrolysis of water for hydrogen generation. The discovery would allow renewable energy to be stored and reused at a cost of 1000 less than technologies previously developed.
One of the biggest impediments to affordable renewable energy use on a mass-scale has been timing. Peak use does not necessarily coincide with peak production of wind and solar energy, and storing the energy has not been an affordable option.
Such energy is clean and renewable, but it’s available only when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. The new technology opens the door to homeowners and energy companies being able to easily store and reuse solar and wind power.
(more…)
April 1, 2013
Redfish Technology Inc. Acquires DICE.com in Surprise Move
Completely unforeseen by industry analysts, Redfish Technology pulls off a surprise acquisition of Dice.com. Redfish will now offer even more extraordinary value to both candidates and client technology companies.
April 1, 2013 – Sun Valley, ID / Milpitas, CA / Newport, RI
Redfish Technology, Inc. (NYSE:RED), a leading nationwide recruiting company focused in the high tech and cleantech sectors, announced today that it has acquired Dice.com from Dice Holdings, Inc. This acquisition marks Redfish’s expansion into the career website market.
“Dice Holdings approached me last quarter about acquiring Redfish Technology,” reported Rob Reeves, President and CEO of Redfish Technology. “Redfish’s growing number of clients and the increasing hiring made us a logical complement to the voluminous technology talent that Dice encompasses.” (more…)
March 28, 2013
 Crowd Funding Economics
Web 3.0 Community Financing meets Social Networks
Tech Trends
There’s been a huge roar building around crowdfunding and the marketing implications are clear. The democratization of accessing capital sped through Congress at a speed previously thought unachievable, led by the Crowd Fund Advisors. Crowdfunding platforms raised almost $1.5 billion in 2011, doubled to $3 billion in 2012, and is predicted to double again to $6 billion in 2013.
Crowdfunding can take various forms: Lending, Reward, Donation, and Equity. The forms currently legal in the US include the first three. In lending crowdfunding, funders receive interest income from their loan and expect repayment of original principal investment. In reward crowdfunding, there is a non-pecuniary benefit. Donation crowdfunding provides for not return and is purely philanthropic.
Equity crowdfunding allows companies to raise startup capital by selling small amounts of stock online to a large number of buyers. (more…)
March 7, 2013
 Greg Neichin Reigniting Cleantech
Top 5 Reasons for a Post Bubble Party
by Greg Neichin (reposted with permission, from the Cleantech blog.)
It is quite fashionable these days, especially amongst those in and around Silicon Valley, to talk about the demise of cleantech. This discussion has always seemed silly to me.
There are only two groups fascinated by this dialogue: (a) US investors who were burned in deals that they likely should not have touched in the first place and (b) industry pundits & consultants with too much time on their hands. Both of these groups are frustrated and vocal, so they create substantial noise, but far less signal.
As Khosla Venture’s Andrew Chung recently said, in a thoughtful piece by Katie Fehrenbacher covering the “cleantech is dead” meme, “venture is a highly cyclical business”. (more…)
February 28, 2013
 Startup Outlook 2013 – Silicon Valley Bank CleanTech/High Tech Trends: Start Up Hiring & Retention Struggles, Silicon Bank Survey Reports
Hiring and Retention of Tech Talent is a Challenge.
“Every time I meet with a group of tech company CEOs they say the same thing: hiring world-class talent is one of their biggest challenges. They struggle to find, attract and retain the engineering, scientific and technical talent they need to grow their businesses.” – Greg Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Silicon Valley Bank.
(more…)
February 21, 2013
Tech Trends: Salaries Are Highest in a Decade
The latest Dice Tech Salary Survey results show that salaries jumped in 2012 the most they have in a decade. Competition for tech talent is putting upward pressure on the sector’s salary requirements.
 from the 2013-2012 Dice Tech Salary Survey With only a 3.8% tech unemployment rate, tech professionals’ confidence is growing and there is more movement in the technology sector. The mobility of the workforce and the improving performance of many tech companies means more professionals are open to new career opportunities, whether they are actively pursuing those or simply keeping their profile av
ailable and responding to inquiries.
“The fact is you either pay to recruit or pay to retain and these days, at least for technology teams, companies are doing both.” — Scot Melland, Chairman, President & CEO Dice Holdings, Inc. (more…)
January 31, 2013
Tech Trends: The Mobile Wave
Catching a wave is about timing, positioning and paddling hard.
In the recent book by technologist Michael Saylor, CEO of MicroStrategy The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything, Saylor argues that coming indispensability of mobile technologies. This “the fifth wave of computer technology” will transform the possibilities of mobile computing on business, society, economies and everyday life. (more…)
January 24, 2013
 SEIA – Solar Energy Facts, from website: www.seia.or Clean Tech Trends: Solar
Great Strides in Affordability Made, Many Opportunities Ahead
Solar had a great third quarter in 2012, it was in fact the third largest on record for the U.S. Solar industry. The U.S. market installed 1,992 MW in the first three quarters, exceeding 2011’s annual total of 1,885 MW. 2012’s total is estimated to surpass 3,000 MW. The U.S. total is now over 6.400 MW, enough to power more than 1 million American households.
The growing affordability due to falling costs has spurred the expansion. Q3 2012’s average cost of a completed PV system dropped by 33% since the beginning 2011. Solar panel prices decreased by 58% in that same time period according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (more…)
January 3, 2013
Global cleantech to “backtrack” in 2013, predicts consulting & analysis firm Kachan & Co.
 Dallas Kachan Cleantech venture investment expected to decline even further, corporate involvement to increase, and long-term risks coming in solar, wind, electric vehicles and elsewhere, says company
Developments in 2013 will call into question some of cleantech’s traditional leading indicators of health, and risks will develop with the sector’s stalwart solar, wind and electric vehicle and other markets while others will grow, according to cleantech analysis and consulting firm Kachan & Co. (more…)
December 27, 2012
Exciting, Well-Paying Tech Jobs in 2013
Tech Trends
 The recent study by 2013 Salary Guides from Robert Half Technology and The Creative Group shows exciting promise for salary gains in information technology (IT) and creative roles. There is a high demand for these professionals as companies focus on building and improving their digital communications and make investments in IT infrastructure.
“The pressure on salaries is being felt wherever there is competition for tech savvy talent,” stated Logan Knight, IT Recruiter at Redfish Technology. “We are seeing a trend of rising pay for top-notch IT talent extends across industries such as healthcare IT, social and mobile applications, and big data.” (more…)
December 13, 2012
Strategic Technology Trends for 2013
 Gartner, the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company, identifies the top 10 technologies that will be strategic for most organizations by 2013. “IT leaders should factor into their strategic planning processes over the next two years,” said David Cearley, vice president and Gartner fellow.
The forces of social, mobile, cloud and information are converging with new and advancing technologies to revolutionize business and society, disrupting old models and creating new opportunities. Garnet calls this the “Nexus of Forces” and it is the basis of the technology platform of the future.
The top ten list:
Mobile Device Battles
Next year is the year that more mobile phones will access the internet worldwide than personal computers, and by 2015 in mature markets more than 80 percent of the handsets sold will be smartphones. (more…)
December 6, 2012
CleanTech Trends:
Industries That Will Be ‘Green’ Hot in 2013!
Solar Panel Manufacturing, and Green & Sustainable Building Construction including Energy Efficiency are leading the green sectors in terms of fastest growing industries for 2013-2017. According to IBISWorld Inc.’s Top 10 Fastest- Growing Industries report the Green & Sustainable Building Construction looks set to surpass 20% growth year over year from 2013 through 2016, reaching $124,693M in 2013 and attaining $287,868M by 2017. Solar Panel Manufacturing is predicted to grow by between 4 and 11% each of the consecutive years 2013-2017, with revenue forecast at $5,030M in 2013 and $6,828M in 2017. (more…)
November 15, 2012
The Technology of Voting:
What does the Future Hold?
The electronic age has transformed voting options and voting tallying enormously. Widely adopted and ever evolving, electronic voting supervised physically in polling stations has improved efficiencies enormously.
(more…)
November 1, 2012
 Tech Trends: Big Data Opportunities
How big is Big Data?
Walmart handles more than 1 million customer transactions per hour, over 400 million tweets are sent per day, over 6 billion cell phone calls per day in the U.S., 10,000 payment card transactions made every second worldwide, etc., etc. Just imagine the hard drive and computing power the NSA needs to record all electronic communications across the entire world. (more…)
October 25, 2012
Pacific States Taking the Lead in Advanced Transportation, Green Buildings, Clean Electricity, and Clean Tech Investment
 Find more on the Clean Edge Website Information from the Clean Edge 2012 U.S. Metro Clean Tech Index
You probably already know the Clean Edge State Clean Energy Index but have you seen the new Metro Clean Tech Index? This report evaluates the biggest 50 metro areas to highlight clean-tech leadership, innovation, and cluster development. The evaluation categories focus on four sectors: green buildings; advanced transportation; clean electricity & carbon management; and clean-tech investment, innovation, & workforce. (more…)
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