CAMBRIDGE, MA--(Marketwire - November 20, 2008) - On December 3, the MIT Enterprise Forum of
Cambridge, in collaboration with the MIT Energy Club, will host one of
New England's first conversations to discuss opportunities and challenges
for startup companies seeking to advance water technology. The session will
feature leaders in business, investment and regulation within the water
industry.
Jim Matheson of Flagship Ventures will begin the evening by offering
perspectives on the various fronts involved in "The War for Water" and New
England's resource base for emerging as a leader in the water industry.
Heather Landis, senior water analyst at Lux Research, will provide an
executive summary of Lux's recent water report followed by a panel of
experts discussing the current water landscape including emerging
technologies, the profitability of water and the impact of water
regulations on the industry.
Panelists:
Eric Emmons is an investment partner at Siemens Venture Capitalist
specializing in energy, materials and industrial solutions. Before joining
Siemens in 2008, Emmons was a general partner at the Massachusetts Green
Energy Fund, where he invested in photovoltaics, biofuels, industrial
process efficiency and new materials. He also worked with Commons Capital,
a venture capital firm in the Boston area investing in energy, medical and
technology companies.
Sally Gutierrez is director of the National Risk Management Research
Laboratory (NRMRL), a division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to EPA, she was responsible for
administering several water programs for the state of Texas environmental
agency in the areas of drinking water, water monitoring, wastewater
treatment permitting and utility rates. Previously, she was president of
the Texas Environmental Health Association and also sits on the Board of
Directors for the Inter-American Association of Sanitary Engineering and
Ambiental (AIDIS) USA.
Rob McGinnis is founder and CTO of Oasys Water, a startup company focused
on water desalination and treatment using a proprietary technology platform
based on osmotically driven separation systems. McGinnis is completing his
PhD at Yale University, where his research focuses on seawater and brackish
water desalination, impaired and waste water treatment and sustainable
power production from renewable sources. His work on forward osmosis
desalination has been supported by a consortium of funding agencies and the
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.
Trent Yang is founder of Clean Membranes, an MIT spin-out focused on
next-generation water filtration membranes. Previously, Yang was at
Globespan Capital Partners, where he focused on investments in cleantech
and consumer media and technology. Prior to Globespan, Yang helped start a
technology-focused strategy group at Booz Allen Hamilton, which advised
Fortune 1000 companies and top government research labs. Yang currently
sits on the Steering Committee of the New England Venture Network and is an
active participant in a number of energy, start-up and MIT Alumni
committees.
The panel will be moderated by Tom Burton, member of the Corporate Practice
at Mintz Levin, and founder and chair of the firm's Energy and Clean Tech
Practice Group.
When: Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Networking: 5:30 p.m.
Program: 6:15-8:00 p.m.
Reception: 8:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Stata Center (Bldg. 32), Kirsch Auditorium, 32 Vassar St., Cambridge
Sponsors: Energy
SIG, Flagship Ventures,
Greentech Media, Mass High Tech, Mintz Levin, MIT Energy Club
Registration and information: http://www.mitforumcambridge.org/dec.html
Pricing: Forum members: $20; Non-members: $30; Students from all
universities, free with college ID.
Contact Information: MIT ENTERPRISE FORUM OF CAMBRIDGE CONTACT:
Regina Smith
MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge
617-253-3937
PRESS CONTACT :
Brad Baker (for MIT Enterprise Forum)
CHEN PR, Inc.
781-672-3118