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A Quiet Revolution in Clean-Energy Finance

Harvard Business Review

Between 2006 and 2008, more than $1 billion venture-capital dollars were channeled into startups focused on solar, wind and biofuel technologies. In the last year, however, early-stage investments in clean energy production technologies have fallen substantially (see the table at the end of this piece for more detail).

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Technology Progresses When Business, Government, and Academia Work Together

Harvard Business Review

Although US firms had pioneered and dominated the technology for two decades, they were now getting pummeled by cheaper Japanese imports. At the same time, the marketplace has become so fiercely competitive—and investors so demanding—that few are willing to take a flyer on an unproven technology.

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The 5 Things IBM Needs to Do to Win at AI

Harvard Business Review

Twenty years ago, Louis Gerstner transformed IBM by emphasizing consulting and technology services — not just technology — to solve customer problems. How technology is changing the way we work. Smart venture capitalists invest in a portfolio of startups with different risk profiles and timeframes for returns.

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Spotting the Great but Imperfect Resume

Harvard Business Review

The gripe: "We're pouring tremendous energy into finding the right resumes. Directors of summer internship programs, for example, have soured on seemingly "perfect" students with 3.9 Imagine the remorse of a venture capitalist unwilling to back Steve Jobs in 1977, because the personal-computer pioneer never finished college.

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Social Progress = Economic Success: Social Innovation at Work

Harvard Business Review

Alternative energy technologies have become big business. Titans of capitalism such as venture capitalist John Doerr and GE CEO Jeff Immelt are speaking out in favor of a price on carbon, to drive energy innovation. Executives from Shell call sustainability a "TINA" issue — "There Is No Alternative.".

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How Corporate HQ Can Get More from Innovation Outposts

Harvard Business Review

Setting up innovation outposts in global technology clusters, such as Silicon Valley, Boston, and Tel Aviv, is highly popular among Fortune 500 corporations. Consider a European energy company that decided to open an innovation outpost in Silicon Valley a number of years ago. They worked with little coordination and control from HQ.

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Get Your Budget Ready for the Upturn

Harvard Business Review

The shifting energy equation, for example, sets the stage for growth. Shale gas will allow the US to be energy independent, create an export industry, and reduce energy costs. Banks are now adequately capitalized and are beginning to lend, and venture capitalists are as hungry as ever.