Venture capitalists invested $210 million in cleantech companies in India in 2007, up 58% from 2006, says Cleantech Group in a February press release. The organization, which has Vinod Khosla among others on board, thinks clean energy and water are key opportunity areas in India for investors. There’s been some activity in terms of raising India-specific funds for cleantech — more here.
Going by the US and European deal flow reports, globally every fourth or fifth deal in the early stage category seems to be in a cleantech company. It is probably time to look at this sector in a more disciplined manner, especially since a clutch of local venture capital teams here are sizing up the market. A few names are familiar, among them Nexus India Capital, Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Baring Private Equity.
In other notable news this week, one more online media startup hit the road. Nikhil Pahwa, the former editor of Contensutra in India, launched his own outfit Medianama on Friday.
