{"id":13703,"date":"2013-03-06T16:40:52","date_gmt":"2013-03-06T21:40:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/?p=13703"},"modified":"2013-07-29T22:46:42","modified_gmt":"2013-07-30T02:46:42","slug":"three-years-later-the-progress-and-challenges-of-the-green-launching-pad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2013\/03\/06\/three-years-later-the-progress-and-challenges-of-the-green-launching-pad\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Years Later: The Progress And Challenges Of The Green Launching Pad"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_13721\"  class=\"wp-caption module image right\" style=\"max-width: 300px;\"><a class=\"fancybox\" title=\"Despite the challenges the GLP faces, Project Director Venky Venkatachalam is optimistic about the program's future.\" href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/03\/Altered-Venky-Portrait.jpg\" rel=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-13721\" title=\"Venky Portrait\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/03\/Altered-Venky-Portrait-300x248.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/03\/Altered-Venky-Portrait-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/03\/Altered-Venky-Portrait-620x513.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/03\/Altered-Venky-Portrait.jpg 1119w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Amanda Loder \/ StateImpact New Hampshire<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Despite the challenges the GLP faces, Project Director Venky Venkatachalam is optimistic about the program&#39;s future.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A taxpayer-funded eco-business program is paying off for New Hampshire.\u00a0 The <a href=\"http:\/\/greenlaunchingpad.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Green Launching Pad<\/a> at the <a href=\"http:\/\/unh.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\">University of New Hampshire<\/a>\u00a0has given grants to more than a dozen start-ups in the state.\u00a0 But it hasn\u2019t awarded any new funds since last year.<\/p>\n<p>But the scene at the statehouse last winter was one of optimism for a cadre of entrepreneurs and their supporters.\u00a0 \u00a0The Green Launching Pad was awarding its companies federal money.\u00a0 Over the course of two years, the program\u00a0 got $1.5 million in stimulus funding to give out to the most promising green start-ups in the state.\u00a0 Then-Governor John Lynch was optimistic about the program\u2019s future even as the federal funds were drying up.<!--more--><\/p>\n<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-13703-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/03\/nht030613al1.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/03\/nht030613al1.mp3\">https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2013\/03\/nht030613al1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>\u201cI think we all recognize the real value of these Green Launching Pad companies, and the partnerships with the University of New Hampshire.\u00a0 Because they will create manufacturing jobs in an important area for our state,&#8221; Lynch said. &#8220;So because of the recognition of the importance of this, I do think the funding will be available to continue the Green Launching Pad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lynch was a big supporter of the program.\u00a0 In fact, the state\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nh.gov\/oep\/\" target=\"_blank\">Office of Energy and Planning<\/a> actually got the $1.5 million in stimulus funding.\u00a0 And Lynch decided to use it to fund the Green Launching Pad.<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"related-content alignright\"><h4 class=\"related-header\">Related<\/h4><div class=\"links\"><h5>Posts<\/h5><ul><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2011\/07\/29\/nh-green-jobs-growth-picture-unclear\/\">NH Green Jobs Growth Picture Unclear<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/01\/23\/how-a-start-up-incubator-is-racing-against-the-clock-to-create-jobs\/\">How A Start-Up Incubator Is Racing Against The Clock To Create Jobs<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/01\/25\/stateimpact-talks-job-growth-and-the-green-launching-pad\/\">StateImpact Talks Job Growth And The Green Launching Pad<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2012\/05\/07\/stimulus-funding-dries-up-for-eco-biz-incubator\/\">Stimulus Funding Dries Up For Eco-Biz Incubator<\/a><\/li><li class=\"link\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/2013\/03\/05\/renewable-energy-entrepreneur-talks-benefits-challenges-of-going-green-in-n-h\/\">Renewable Energy Entrepreneur Talks Benefits, Challenges Of Going Green In N.H.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class=\"topics\"><h5>Topics<\/h5><p class=\"topic\"><img class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2012\/01\/2431794477_263d4c5acc-60x60.jpg\" height=\"60\" width=\"60\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/topic\/green-launching-pad\/\">How The Green Launching Pad Works<\/a><\/p><p class=\"topic\"><img class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2012\/01\/3036254720_052d0020cc-60x60.jpg\" height=\"60\" width=\"60\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/topic\/officeofenergyandplanning\/\">Inside The Office Of Energy And Planning<\/a><\/p><p class=\"topic\"><img class=\"alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/files\/2011\/07\/386108144_94112a950d-60x60.jpg\" height=\"60\" width=\"60\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/topic\/green-economy\/\">A Guide To NH&#8217;s Growing Green Economy<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>But he didn\u2019t advocate spending state money to continue the program.\u00a0 That\u2019s ok, says Venky Venkatachalam, the Project Director for the GLP. \u201cIt has been a goal of Green Launching Pad from the very beginning, is to move toward a privatized model from Day 1,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Venkatachalam also serves as associate dean at UNH\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/paulcollege.unh.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\">Paul College of Business and Economics<\/a>.\u00a0 He\u2019s been busy drumming up private donations.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t want to say yet how much the programs has raised, but he says it\u2019s \u201climited.\u201d\u00a0 Still, he has faith.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat we have developed in the past two years is a very sound and very effective innovation ecosystem in the state, by identifying and providing funding and other business development to help the high-potential entrepreneurs in this green space,&#8221; Venkatachalam says, &#8220;and providing them with support through funding and also through teams of faculty researchers, students, and industry mentors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Green Launching Pad is actually part of a growing national trend.\u00a0 Over the past decade or so, universities have been establishing so-called \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/sites.kauffman.org\/pdf\/poc_centers_01242008.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Proof of Concept centers<\/a>.&#8221;\u00a0 The idea is to help research faculty and entrepreneurs in the very early stages of starting-up, when they don\u2019t know how to attract investors.\u00a0 Many of these companies are too young to even have angel investors or set-up in business incubators.\u00a0 Ted Zoller, Senior Fellow at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kauffman.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Kauffman Foundation<\/a>, says Proof of Concept centers are especially important in today\u2019s economy, when investors are shying away from riskier, brand-new ventures.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo a given project may be $50,000 or $75,000.\u00a0 And it\u2019s affordable loss.\u00a0 It\u2019s money that if it turns out to be a very successful foray, it will grow 100-x.\u00a0 If it\u2019s not successful, it\u2019s not a critical problem,&#8221; Zoller says.<\/p>\n<p>So far, it\u2019s been a \u201csuccessful foray\u201d for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.rev-en.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Revolution Energy<\/a> in Portsmouth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Green Launching Pad for us has been a very pivotal element in our growth and success,\u201d says Mike Behrmann, one of the company&#8217;s founders.<\/p>\n<p>Revolution Energy tries to make renewable energy more affordably by financing, building, metering, and maintaining systems for clients.\u00a0 And clients then pay the company for that power, thus paying back the cost of the system over the long-term.\u00a0 Revolution Energy was one of the first companies to get Green Launching Pad funding&#8211;$60,000.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the time, it truly helped keep the lights on!\u00a0 We are your typical, start-in-the-basement, have an idea type of company,&#8221; Behrmann recalls with a dry chuckle.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, Revolution has been remarkably successful, growing from a single project to 10-projects today.\u00a0 That might not seem like a lot, but Behrmann points out, \u201cIt\u2019s basically like saying we\u2019ve grown 1,200 percent each year.\u00a0 Because of the scale of the projects that we\u2019re developing now, because of the dollar figure that we\u2019re working with.\u00a0 It\u2019s enormous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s not the only GLP company that\u2019s seen huge growth.\u00a0 Take <a href=\"http:\/\/www.enertrac.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">EnerTrac<\/a>, in Hudson.\u00a0 It specializes in low-cost machine-to-machine communication [M2M], like creating a special monitor for a propane tank that tells the dealer exactly when to make a delivery.\u00a0 While EnerTrac raked-in a$20,000 grant, founder and CEO Steve Owens says the publicity was worth a lot more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are just so many early stage companies out there! The idea that there\u2019s your picture with the governor, that can be the thing that sort of gets you above the noise floor that now this early-stage investor says, well, I want to talk to those guys and learn more about them,\u201d Owens says.<\/p>\n<p>Of the 14 companies the Green Launching Pad has supported, Revolution Energy and EnerTrac are among the Big Four, along with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.therma-hexx.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Therma-HEXX<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sustainx.com\/\">SustainX<\/a>.\u00a0 These are the companies that have taken off quickly, are adding jobs, and are getting big publicity.\u00a0 The other ten start-ups are more mixed.\u00a0 Some are doing well, but growing more slowly.\u00a0 Others appear to have stalled, their websites not indicating any progress. Then, there\u2019s the case of Portsmouth-based <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EARTHTEC\" target=\"_blank\">Earth Tec<\/a>, the eco-friendly clothing manufacturer.<\/p>\n<p>Earth Tec <a href=\"http:\/\/www.seacoastonline.com\/articles\/20120518-NEWS-205180407\" target=\"_blank\">shuttered<\/a> just months after being awarded a $60,000 grant.<\/p>\n<p>The GLP ultimately didn\u2019t give Earth Tec the money, realizing the company was dealing with serious problems.<\/p>\n<p>Still, despite the risk of funding start-up ventures, Governor Maggie Hassan is willing to bet state money on the Green Launching Pad.\u00a0 In her <a href=\"http:\/\/admin.state.nh.us\/budget\/\">budget<\/a> last month, Hassan called for allocating $500,000 to the program over the next two years.<\/p>\n<p>For his part, GLP Project Director Venky Venkatachalam hopes to begin funding start-ups again this summer.\u00a0 In this round of funding, however, he wants to focus on student innovation.\u00a0 &#8220;After all, we are here to help create and sustain the next generation of entrepreneurs,&#8221; Venkatachalam says.\u00a0 &#8220;And they are the next generation of entrepreneurs that the whole state is relying on.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A taxpayer-funded eco-business program is paying off for New Hampshire.\u00a0 The Green Launching Pad at the University of New Hampshire\u00a0has given grants to more than a dozen start-ups in the state.\u00a0 But it hasn\u2019t awarded any new funds since last year. But the scene at the statehouse last winter was one of optimism for a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":13721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[473],"tags":[553,518,80,527,503,232,519,552,364,124],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13703"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13703"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13736,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13703\/revisions\/13736"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/new-hampshire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}